Children’s Museum Planning/Fundraising To Move Forward

With a decision by the Cheyenne City Council to approve the sale of 22 square feet of city owned property in the downtown area commonly referred to as "the hole" to the Children's Museum of Cheyenne, it looks like planning and fundraising efforts for the museum can move forward.

Museum officials are hoping to open the facility in 2017, but said the lack of ownership of the entire property had been a hindrance in terms of planning and fundraising efforts.

The council's 9-1 vote to sell the property to the museum  clears the way to eventually fill what has been a long-time eyesore in downtown Cheyenne. The lot has been vacant ever since a fire destroyed a bake shop that had been located on the property a decade ago.

The city-owned portion of the property has been appraised at $70, 000, and in voting to sell to the museum group the council spurned an offer from the owner of the neighboring Hynds Building to purchase the property for that amount.

The Hynds property owner--represented by local Realtor Jim Weaver--has repeatedly expressed concerns about what the impact of the project will be on that building. Museum Board

President Amy Surdam said recently the two groups were trying to come to some kind of agreement. But so far no such agreement has been finalized.