City of Glenwood Springs inspecting ICE office after missing occupancy certificate discovered

Glenwood Springs is addressing an occupancy certificate issue involving two suites at 100 Midland Ave. after officials discovered the final certificate was never issued more than two decades ago, according to a news release issued on Thursday.

The suites — 110 and 210 — have been occupied by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since 2004, according to the release.

The issue surfaced publicly during the Feb. 19 Glenwood Springs City Council meeting, when residents raised concerns during public comment about the facility operating at the Midland Avenue address.

Glenwood Springs resident Ashley Stahl said on Feb. 19 the facility had allegedly operated without a valid certificate of occupancy for about two decades.

Stahl said a temporary certificate of occupancy issued in 2004 expired in 2005 and that required corrections were never completed. She asked the city to conduct an immediate building inspection, enforce compliance or shut down detention operations and provide a public accounting of the facility’s history.

Mae Gray of New Castle, chair of the Garfield County Democratic Party, echoed those concerns and questioned whether the facility is properly zoned. Gray also noted ICE’s lease for the space is set to expire March 31 and urged city leaders to review the situation.

City Attorney Karl Hanlon said during the meeting that staff and legal counsel were compiling a full history and packet of information about the facility to provide to council and the public at a later date.

Council members said they appreciated the concerns raised and looked forward to reviewing additional information once it becomes available.

According to the city’s Thursday news release, the issue came to light in February during a Colorado Open Records Act request involving the property, which revealed that a final certificate of occupancy had never been issued for the suites.

After reviewing available records, city staff were unable to locate documentation showing the certificate was issued following construction. The city said the missing certificate appears to be the result of an administrative oversight dating back to 2006.

After discovering the issue, the city conducted an inspection of the suites on Feb. 25. The inspection was performed by the city’s building official, building inspector and fire marshal, according to the release.

Officials identified several items that must be corrected before a final certificate of occupancy can be issued. The city said it currently has no evidence that the building is unsafe for occupancy.

“The city understands that the use of this facility is a matter of strong opinions within the community,” City Manager Steve Boyd said in the release. “The city’s responsibility in this case is not to evaluate federal policy or agency operations. Legally, the city’s role is limited to ensuring compliance with local building codes and public safety standards.”

Boyd added that the city’s goal is to apply regulations fairly, transparently and consistently while prioritizing public safety.

The Feb. 25 inspection identified several corrective items, including replacing nonfunctioning exit and emergency lighting, patching holes in the garage ceiling above a heater unit and ensuring fire sprinkler systems meet current standards. Some issues have already been resolved, according to the release.

Fire sprinkler heads in the building are more than 20 years old and must either pass a certified UL test or be replaced to meet National Fire Protection Association standards. The requirement applies to the entire building.

Since mid-2025, the entire building at 100 Midland Ave. has been “yellow tagged” because sprinkler testing or upgrades are required. The city said new monitoring software implemented in 2025 flagged the issue and issued notices to buildings across Glenwood Springs, including 100 Midland Ave.

Businesses in the building have until the end of March to complete the sprinkler work. Failure to meet the deadline could result in a red tag for the property, according to the release.

City records show a special use permit allowing the space to be used as an investigation, processing and temporary holding facility was unanimously approved during a Glenwood Springs Planning and Zoning Commission public hearing in May 2003.

A building permit for tenant improvements was issued in May 2004, and a final inspection was completed Dec. 4, 2004. A temporary certificate of occupancy was issued Dec. 14, 2004, for detention-related use, with notes in the file appearing to extend the temporary certificate through Sept. 1, 2005.

Final certificates of occupancy were later issued for other units in the building, but not for suites 110 and 210, according to the release.