Aspen extends talks on Given

ASPEN – Negotiations between the city and the University of Colorado’s medical school that will decide whether The Given Institute will be demolished have been extended until Oct. 26.

The Aspen City Council voted unanimously to extend the talks Monday night.

CU has been trying to sell the property since May because it can no longer afford the operating costs tied to owning the building, which can exceed $200,000 a year, university officials have said.

When it announced that it was trying to sell the property to a buyer that didn’t want it unless the buildings were demolished, the city implemented efforts to preserve them. University spokesman Dan Meyers said CU lost the initial interested party. But multiple entities have expressed interest in the site since, he said.

The city earlier this month announced it was considering an emergency order that would rezone the property to be used for academic purposes only; a future owner would not be able to build a single-family home on it if the rezoning is approved.

The ordinance was scheduled for approval or denial on Sept. 20, but the City Council tabled it indefinitely.

It would go into effect within 24 hours, instead of the normal 30 days for an ordinance.

Emergency ordinances are not allowed by the city charter unless they deal with an issue that affects the immediate public health, safety or peace.

ahedge@aspentimes.com