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USOC pulls out of deal with Springs, LandCo
Posted: 05.08.2009 at 8:42 PM
0

All parties hope to resolve unsettled issues

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The USOC's future in Colorado Springs is in question after the organization terminates its project agreement with the city and LandCo

LandCo, Colorado Springs and the USOC first entered into an agreement in 2008.

That agreement laid out plans to expand and renovate the USOC by creating a new headquarters downtown, upgrading a city owned building near America the Beautiful Park, building new athlete housing, and completing other improvements.

Fox 21 learned of civil and criminal suits facing LandCo in March.

Then LandCo filed a civil suit against Colorado Springs and the USOC saying they hadn't lived up to their end of the 2008 agreement.

Everyone, the USOC, the city and LandCo had a financial stake in plans to keep the USOC in Colorado Springs for the next 25 years.

LandCo was to spend $16 million on improvements to the Olympic Training Center and renovate two buildings downtown.

The city was to sell $32 million of certificates to be put toward the project, and the USOC was to enter into a long-term lease on both buildings.

The certificates have not been sold. The USOC has not signed a lease, and the city and USOC say that's because LandCo hasn't committed $16 million to the project

Representatives for LandCo say they've already spent $20 million on improvements.

Now the USOC has decided to pull out of three agreements related to the project, the economic development agreement, the design build agreement, and the affiliation agreement.

"We are still in discussions with the city and LandCo to find a resolution to the open issues and if possible see these projects developed and delivered," said spokesperson Darryl Seibel in a written statement.

"We hope to have a development agreement established in the very future," said Mayor Lionel Rivera.

LandCo is also responding to the decision.

"Today's statement issued by the USOC is disappointing. Even after the city and the USOC breached these agreements landco worked tirelessly to resolve all problems with both parties," said Spokesperson Russ Rizzo.

All three parties are continuing to work toward a resolution.

In the meantime, Mayor Rivera said construction on the two buildings downtown will continue.

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