Governing bodies want to share USOC building

Two leaders of national governing bodies of Olympic sports like the idea of sharing downtown Colorado Springs offices in the city's bid to retain the U.S. Olympic Committee.

Several NGBs will move from the Olympic Training Center to a former Colorado Springs Utilities building if the proposal package unveiled Friday by Colorado Springs leaders is approved Monday by the City Council and the USOC.

The building, at 30 S. Cimino Drive near America the Beautiful Park, should be ready by Dec. 15 after the city and the El Pomar Foundation spend $7.1 million in acquisition costs and renovations.

Possible suitors include NGBs in badminton, boxing, judo, taekwondo and weightlifting, all headquartered at an aging OTC building that the USOC wants to demolish.

David Askinas, chief executive officer of USA Taekwondo, and USA Boxing CEO Jim Millman said their organizations prefer the Cimino Drive building because joint staff and facilities means lower operational costs.

"There are some advantages to moving," Askinas said. "It would create synergies with various department heads being able to get together and brainstorm, the sharing of best practices. ... The consolidation of NGBs into one space makes a lot of sense."

Said Millman: "It was something under consideration. We are looking forward to learning the specific plan and proposal. We're interested, but we haven't heard any details."

USA Cycling spokesman Andy Lee said his organization, also housed at the OTC, will not join other NGBs after Nor'Wood Development last month gave it a free deed to a 1.91-acre property at 5935 Delmonico Drive.

"We're moving forward with our own plans," Lee said, adding that relocation to Ogden, Utah, remains a possibility. "We've had some discussions with the USOC about some of the plans they've had for some of the NGBs that are being displaced. Those plans, at least right now, won't include us."

The city is aiming to pay for the Cimino Drive building through $5.6 million in certificates of participation, low-interest, long-term financing that government agencies use for large-scale public projects.

Renovation costs are estimated at $3 million, to be split by the city and El Pomar. Purchasing the building will cost the city $4.1 million.

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