City officials weigh sale, leases and costly data‑center fiber when considering Pope Block disposal

Andrew Hayes, Pueblo’s public works director, updated council on the Pope Block Building (two parcels at 4th Street and Court) during the Feb. 17 work session.

Hayes said the city reacquired the property after a failed economic development project and that operations and preventive maintenance run on the order of $1,000,000 per year. "The building reverted back to city ownership in 2014," Hayes said, and staff has performed corrective capital work including a roof membrane, fire alarm replacement, chiller replacement and elevator repairs.

Hayes said the building contains a data center and warned that relocating the city's portion of the data center would entail significant costs because of fiber infrastructure. "The largest item of cost would be relocating the fiber infrastructure," he said; both city and private cross‑connect fiber would need rerouting, and Hayes estimated the work could total in the millions.

Current tenants include Unite Bridal Network, Toys for Tots, PBR and I Corps. Hayes said most leases are set to expire in March 2026 (Unite Bridal runs to June 2028; PBR has renewal options). Some prospective buyers have offered to assume the building rather than make a cash purchase, Hayes said, and staff recommended council direction on whether to seek a sale, preserve the leases, or investigate fiber relocation costs and alternative data locations.

Councilors asked for more detail on lease expirations, capital needs and relocation options; Hayes said staff will explore fiber‑relocation estimates and return with options. No formal disposition decision was made at the work session.