As we look west from the current City Hall, it's exciting to see signs of progress as CityCenter Englewood takes shape. Construction of the street grid is under way -- the underground utilities are in place, and curbs and gutters are being poured. Wal-Mart is under construction, and remains on schedule to open in August. Plans for the residential development are also under way, with the property closing scheduled in early April. Negotiations with retail and restaurant tenants for the site are being reviewed and should be finalized by May. Soon after closing with the retail developer, many of the tenants should begin construction.
Renovation of the Civic Center is now 65 to 70 percent complete -- right on schedule for our mid-June move. We are excited about all the new Civic Center will offer. The expanded library will offer 25 percent more shelving, quiet study rooms, a children's activity room, and a large central reading area. In addition to The Museum of Outdoor Arts, 4,000 square feet of the building will be devoted to recreation and cultural activities sponsored by our Parks and Recreation Department and Cultural Arts Commission. The Civic Center will also boast a water feature in the third floor lobby and large open atrium areas on all three floors. Our goal is to have the public feel a sense of belonging at the new Civic Center. We have worked with the architect to design an attractive, welcoming, and functional environment. Much of our time and energies are taken up with our current projects and programs, but we never want to lose sight of our primary function here -- our service to you, the citizens. As always, we encourage you to contact us with any concerns, needs, or suggestions you have. You can reach the City Manager's Office at 303.762.2310, or send us an e-mail at info@ci.englewood.co.us.