Aspen looks to move ACRA amid Armory remodel

Aspen City Council decided on Tuesday to reallocate tax funding, so they could move Aspen Chamber Resort Association administrators to a new home.

The decision comes as the city approved new land use for the Armory — where the ACRA visitor center and destination marketing operations have been since May — so they can turn the 1892 building into a community gathering space. The city expects to begin construction for the remodel in mid-to-late 2026 and will have to close the building to its current tenants.

Jeff Bay, vice chair of ACRA, recognized the need for a permanent home for some of the organization’s operations, as he said ACRA’s board has had to operate in five different locations in the past decade.

“It’s been very challenging to find a consistent location to have our administrative offices,” Bay said. “It’s proven to be quite disruptive in terms of the flow of work.”

In an attempt to mitigate challenges for ACRA, the city unanimously approved a revision to the uses of the “Visitor Benefit and Promotion Tax” — a 2% lodging tax on Aspen room rentals under 30 days — to include “acquisition of leased or purchased property.” 

“As the council looks to advance the Armory forward for another community space, we obviously need to vacate that space, one of which would include ACRA as a tenant currently,” Interim City Manager Pete Strecker said in the Tuesday council meeting. “So this ordinance will give the council a little bit more flexibility by adding real estate leasing and acquisition as an allowable use under the lodging tax revenue.”

Before Tuesday, the “Visitor Benefit and Promotion Tax” was adopted by vote in 2000 and 2010 “for the promotion of tourism and transportation services within the Roaring Fork Valley (to) serve a public purpose, (to) promote the health, safety, prosperity, security, and general welfare of the inhabitants and visitors of the City.”

With the revision, though, the city could use the tax funding to purchase or lease a permanent office space for ACRA administrators once construction begins on the Armory. 

“We understand how disruptive these moves have been to ACRA,” Council member Bill Guth said. “I think the majority of us want ACRA to have a permanent home.”

The Armory was first used for military purposes and by lodges and clubs after it opened 137 years ago, according to the city. In the early 20th century, the historic structure, owned by the Fraternal Hall Association, held a roller rink, general community space, a gymnasium, and hosted classes. 

The city moved most of its operations into the building in the mid-20th century, buying it in the 1950s. In 2021, it relocated from the Armory to Rio Grande Place. Over the past four years, the Armory building has been used temporarily by various groups, including ACRA.

When ACRA relocates, the city will, as Strecker said, “advance” the Armory to turn it into a community gathering space. The first floor will focus on dining, employing three kitchens and offering some alcohol service. The mezzanine will offer billiards and shuffle board, and the upstairs will include a bar. The basement will provide community meeting space, among other uses.

Guth said he would not have supported placing ACRA in the Armory on a temporary basis, as the city knew the Armory remodel was coming, but supports the tax revision.

“I am hopeful that ACRA does find a permanent home where it doesn’t get disrupted, where it can not be under the city’s ever-changing needs and ever-changing priorities, and (is) something that you can rely on for the long term,” he said. “And that’s why I’m supportive of this.”

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.