Photo by Rhonda Van Pelt
Over the past few months, the Bulletin has received inquiries about activity at the former Cheyenne Village property on Crystal Park Road. We haven’t been ignoring the situation; our tiny staff (two full-timers) has just been really busy.
The 9-acre property sold in early January 2021 for $1,220,000. The former group-home setting closed and its special-needs clients were mainstreamed to homes throughout the region, as required by state law.
The new owner, Manitou Cabins LLC, did not reply to the Bulletin’s emails in mid-July 2021. Martin D. Johnson, vice president of advisory and transaction services for CBRE, declined to talk to the Bulletin at that time, saying that “our plans are still a bit up in the air.”
CBRE’s website describes the firm as “the global leader in commercial real estate services and investment.” Its 500 offices on six continents include one in downtown Colorado Springs.
William Guman & Associates Ltd. is providing development support.
Throughout the process, representatives of the involved entities are communicating with the relevant Manitou Springs boards and commissions and the Planning Department during the process. They’ve also hosted informative meetings for the area’s residents.
On Friday, Nov. 5, Daniel Clearo, project manager for T-Bone Construction, talked about the project with the Bulletin. He said that he loves the property and wants to preserve its beauty.
He explained that arborists had inspected trees on the property and identified a few that were dying or diseased; they were cut down. The project should not affect any other trees.
Clearo recommended checking out the project website, tstamp7.wixsite.com/manitou-cabins.
That website includes detailed information about what’s being called a two-part neighborhood project.
One part will be to restore and revitalize the 18 buildings built before 1953 near Crystal Park Road; they are protected in the Historic Log Cabin District. According to the website, most have been neglected for 20-plus years.
A total of 21 units have been divided into duplexes and fourplexes, but the owners plan to convert some into single units.
“The goal is to bring the site back to its original condition and retain the natural setting that it once was in its prime,” the website states.
The owners hope to remove the Cheyenne Village land east of Sutherland Creek from the historic district. It does have one historic cabin that will be restored to remain in the historic district.
They are proposing 11 “raw land” lots, a total of approximately 4 acres, for new residential sites that can be accessed from Sutherland Road. The lot sizes will be similar to those up the hill on Indian Oaks Place.
The existing garage building will be demolished to open up that area, which faces Mountain View Road.
Three other lots have cottages built in the 1970s that will be restored. Two duplex units that were built in the 1960s will be removed to allow space for a cul-de-sac street proposed for the residential area.
“The goal is to bring the site back to its original condition and retain the natural setting that it once was in its prime,” the website states.