Kaysen:Ownership Obstacle To Fixing “The Hole”

Cheyenne Mayor Rick Kaysen says the fact the city only owns 1/3 of the property on West Lincolnway commonly known as “the hole” presents a major obstacle to doing something with the site..

A Kansas company owns 2/3 of the property, and Kaysen says so far the city has not been able to reach an agreement to purchase that portion. He goes on to say that some people have suggested “cost be damned. Go out and acquire the money” for a purchase “however you can”. But Kaysen says “that really isn’t a solution”.

The mayor says he’s also often heard suggestions that the city invoke eminent domain and condemn the property. But he says that legal process “has lots of complications” and should only be used as a last resort.

Kaysen says at this point the city is continuing to try to find a solution to the problem. He calls the property “a sore spot for downtown and a sore spot for our entire community”.

The property has been vacant since a 2004 fire destroyed a bake shop that had been located there.