FAQs

The City of Wheat Ridge works with Magellan Strategies to conduct statistically valid community surveys, which are sent out to randomly selected Wheat Ridge residents until enough complete the survey to make it statistically valid. If you did not receive the survey, don't worry. If City Council decides to move forward with a ballot measure, you can make your voice heard by voting in November. 

Voters strongly favor a sales tax over a property tax for funding community investments, with 50% identifying a sales tax increase as their preferred funding mechanism. When using sales tax, non-residents help pay for community improvements because approximately half of the revenue comes from visitors and shoppers located outside of Wheat Ridge. 

Funding would support projects such as:

• Completing missing sidewalk segments.
• Filling gaps in the city's bicycle network.
• Building safer pedestrian crossings at busy streets.
• Improving connections to parks, schools, and commercial areas.
• Upgrading ADA accessibility where needed.
• Expanding neighborhood trail connections.
• Installing safety improvements such as lighting, signage, and traffic calming where appropriate.

This investment is about much more than bicycles.

Everyone walks at some point, and safer sidewalks, crossings, and trails benefit every resident regardless of how they usually travel.

Better pedestrian infrastructure also makes driving safer by creating more predictable places for people to cross streets.

Maintaining streets remains a priority, and both types of investments are important. A complete transportation system includes safe roads for drivers as well as safe facilities for people walking and biking. Residents rely on all parts of the transportation network.

While many people enjoy walking or biking for recreation, these facilities are also used for everyday trips to schools, parks, transit stops, businesses, and community destinations. The goal is to provide safe transportation choices—not just recreational amenities.

No. If the properties are acquired, future planning and design will include public engagement to identify desired amenities.

The City is exploring partnership opportunities that could allow compatible redevelopment of portions of the sites while preserving public parkland.

Large parcels suitable for parks rarely become available. Acquiring them now preserves recreation opportunities before they are permanently lost to other forms of development.

Engineering evaluations determined that many critical components requiring replacement are underground or integral to the original structure. Continuing to repair these systems would require significant investment without addressing the facility's overall age.

No. Design is just beginning. Community engagement will continue throughout the design process.

Yes. Renderings will be developed after a design consultant is selected and conceptual designs are prepared.

• The former Lutheran Hospital campus provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
• Rather than constructing an entirely new campus elsewhere, the City is exploring adaptive reuse of historic buildings combined with thoughtfully designed new construction.
• The preferred concept preserves significant historic features, including the 1921 Pavilion and the 1932 Women's Wing, while creating a modern civic campus.
• This approach honors Wheat Ridge's heritage while creating a community destination for future generations.

• Today's policing requires specialized facilities that simply didn't exist when the current building was designed.
• Officers need modern evidence storage, interview rooms, training areas, emergency operations space, secure technology infrastructure, and facilities designed for today's public safety standards.
• Investing in our Police Department is an investment in community safety and our ability to recruit and retain outstanding officers.

Yes! One of the most exciting aspects of this project is that it doesn't erase history—it celebrates it.

The preferred design preserves some of the most iconic portions of the Lutheran Legacy Campus while adapting them for public use, creating a civic destination that reflects Wheat Ridge's past and future.

No. Council has directed continued design work, cost validation, financing analysis, and public engagement before any final decisions on construction or funding are made.

That option was carefully evaluated through the Facilities Master Plan.

The studies concluded that continued investment in the existing facilities would not adequately address long-term operational, security, accessibility, or space needs.

No. This project includes both City Hall and the Police Department and is designed to improve public services, public safety, and community access.