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Cortez council discusses Osprey, Calkins buildings

Last July, Brad Finch took photos as part of a survey to obtain information about the Calkins building’s historical status.

Cortez City Council members on Tuesday approved a site development plan for the new Osprey Basecamp building at 800 N. Park St.

The 26,310-square-foot building will become Osprey Packs’ world headquarters, said architect Lauren Jackson. It will contain offices, meeting spaces, a lobby and a showroom, according to city planning documents. A courtyard is planned outside the building’s south side.

Jackson said the project might break ground at the end of July.

“Osprey got excited about purchasing this property and expanding their vision,” she said. “The company wants to give back to the community and develop an attractive site.”

The tallest, central portion of the building will feature Osprey’s signature red color and will be built with stucco. The red, white and gray building also will feature concrete and metal sections and large windows. The design of the building, which has an east-west orientation, includes a balcony and overhangs above many of the windows, Jackson said.

She said the design incorporates the Osprey logo in several building features.

Calkins project moves ahead

Also Tuesday, the council approved a conditional-use permit and primary plat for the Calkins building redevelopment project.

The permit allows for a multifamily development at the site, 121 E. First St. Thirteen apartment units are planned in the historic school building, and an annex on the northwest side of the property will hold 34 units, according to planning documents.

The Calkins building is 6,540 square feet, and the annex building will be 35,963 square feet. Calkins Redevelopment LLC, which is planning the project, doesn’t yet own the property. The Montezuma-Cortez School District still owns the property, but Calkins Redevelopment representative Becky Barber told the council that she expects to take ownership this fall.

Calkins Redevelopment is seeking tax credits from the Colorado Finance and Housing Authority to develop the affordable-housing units at Calkins and should learn in August whether they’ve been granted. Barber said she’s waiting to hear about the tax credits before buying the building.

Council members also approved the reallocation of water taps for the Re-1 School District so that the sports field at the retired Montezuma-Cortez High School can be irrigated sufficiently.

Other council actions

Council members also approved:

A renewed tavern liquor license for the Cortez Elks No. 1787, 2100 N. Dolores Road.A liquor store license and change of manager for Liquid Assets, 718 E. Main St.A renewed medical marijuana center and on-site cultivation license for Durango Organics, 1104 E. Main St.Four special-event permits for the Cortez Retail Enhancement Association for a street market on S. Market Street from 4-9 p.m. on July 21, Aug. 18, Sept. 15 and Oct. 20.A change of premises for La Casita de Cortez, 332 E. Main St., which will allow the addition of a patio area to the front of the business.The purchase of a replacement bucket truck from I-80 Equipment at $78,600, from the 2017 budget.The purchase of a police pickup from New Country Auto at $30,075 and a small cargo van from Keesee Motors at $26,684.An amended plat for the Southern Bluffs subdivision.The council also set a public hearing date of July 12 for two Good 2 Go stores, one at 717 S. Broadway and the other at 302 W. Main St., to receive 3.2-percent beer retail liquor licenses.

jklopfenstein@the-journal.com

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