Aspen's Armory Hall

Identifying future programming use and remodel options for Aspen’s historic community asset

Project Updates:

May 13, 2022:
A memo to Council of staff findings and a report of themes heard during the second round of engagement (questionnaire, focus groups, open house) have been posted in the “Documents” section.

The project team will discuss this item with Council at the May 16 work session, which starts at 4 p.m. You can watch the City Council's Work Session on Zoom at http://ow.ly/xlHL50J9oEf or by phone (1-253-215-8782). Use webinar ID #985 1333 0484 and passcode 472804. You can also watch on aspen.gov or the City's YouTube channel at http://ow.ly/2Nai50J9oGw.

March 21, 2022:
Thank you to everyone for bringing your expertise, experience and opinions to one of our focus groups, the Open House, the Refining Future Options Questionnaire, or side/question submission. We are working through all the feedback and will develop an engagement report for this round of the process to transparently share all that we heard on this page and with Council. We appreciate the constructive and open exchanges throughout the engagement process to ensure the future use and remodel of the Armory reflects the community's vision. Our next step is to then incorporate this feedback into the recommendations and questions being presented to Council at a Work Session on May 16.

April 6, 2022:

We want to hear from you again! We have put together a second questionnaire designed to confirm what the Community’s programming preferences for the Armory are. It also takes a deeper dive into to some remodel and operational questions. You can find this engagement opportunity below to share your input with us. Additionally, we’ve scheduled two focus group opportunities - one in-person and one virtual - to learn more about your thoughts on how we can meet multiple needs in a finite space, this information, and a form to submit your interest can be found under the “Key Dates” section. Finally, the project team will host an Open House where you can come discuss the project, provide input, and learn what others in the community have to say as well. This information is also located in the “Key Dates” section.

April 5, 2022:
An Information Only memo to Council, results of the first questionnaire and the History of Armory Hall have been posted in the “Documents” section.

March 21, 2022:
Thank you to everyone who provided input on the Community Values Questionnaire or submitted/voted on an idea. Your input helps to ensure the recommended plan encompasses the variety of perspectives and needs in our community.

We are currently processing and evaluating all the feedback to refine it through the project's guiding principles and new ideas that may have been shared. We will be sharing a report of this engagement and how it has moved the project forward in an Information Packet to City Council. The memo and the engagement report will be posted on this page when completed in the "Documents" section.

Please mark your calendars for April 6 as this is when we will come back to you with another opportunity to engage on this project through a second questionnaire that will build upon the foundational knowledge gained in the first questionnaire. We are also planning to host a public meeting on the topic (date to be finalized for early-mid April).

Project Overview
The City of Aspen is currently updating its long-term plan for Armory Hall (The Armory), located at 130 South Galena Street. For many decades, the Armory served as Aspen’s City Hall, though many departments recently relocated to the new city hall facility at 427 Rio Grande Place. Through fall/winter 2022, the facility will continue to house some remaining City departments alongside the Pitkin County courts per an intergovernmental agreement while their facilities remodel occurs. As the City of Aspen organization prepares for the next phase of the Armory’s history, we would like to discuss the future possibilities for the building’s programming use and remodel options, as well as the strategies necessary to achieve proposed goals.

Project Information:
The Armory sits on a 6,000 sq. ft. lot in Aspen’s downtown Commercial Core Historic District, adjacent to Conner Park. It is located within the Public zone district and is designated as a historic resource. The City has earmarked funding for the remodel of the Armory, however, decisions on future programming and the extent of the property’s remodel will affect the timeline and associated project costs.

The City recognizes the importance of community use as an element of future programming and remodel options. In 2015, the city initiated an advisory ballot question to gauge the electorate’s preference for the Armory site as a future community use or city offices; the community use narrowly passed. Once again in 2018, the election cycle included a ballot question presenting two locations for a new city hall; the results confirmed a preference for the Rio Grande/Galena Plaza site with a 57 to 43 percent margin.

The project team developed several Guiding Principles, presented by City Council in a February 7, 2022 work session, to assist in considering and evaluating any proposed remodel and programming options. The factors staff will consider include:

• The building remodel will incorporate sustainable systems showing a commitment to the environment.
• The Armory should be able to be used by a diverse range of people.
• The uses within the Armory should provide meaningful and affordable participation in programs and offerings.
• The operational structure of the Armory should limit the public financial burden of operating and maintaining the building.
• The remodel will respect the historic context and contribute to Aspen’s small-town character.
• The programming of the Armory should contribute to a lively and diverse downtown.
• The programming at the Armory should focus on unmet needs within the community.

Engagement Goals:

• Develop a long-term use strategy in consultation with key stakeholders and the Aspen community.
• Guide identification for a long-term programming option with support from the community, stakeholders and City Council through alignment with the community’s preferred values and the City’s strategic mission and goals.
• Inform the community, internal and external stakeholders, as appropriate, to build awareness and solicit feedback, and report back on how feedback may be incorporated into the recommendations.

How to Participate:

• Subscribe to receive project updates
• Share your ideas, stories and questions below
• Take the questionnaire, complete the Focus Group form to indicate your interest, attend the Open House
• Email Project Manager, Jennifer Phelan (Capital Asset Department Development Manager) at jennifer.phelan@aspen.gov