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William Jackson Palmer (left) founded Colorado Springs. Pierre de Coubertin (right) is the founder of the International Olympic Committee.
The following is part of KRCC s Peak Past essay series.
William Jackson Palmer and Pierre de Coubertin would have gotten along like two hogs in the cool mud on a hot day.
Both were visionaries, both walked the earth at the same time, and both left us a legacy we can still appreciate here in the Pikes Peak region.
Coubertin is the “father” of the modern Olympic movement, which gave us in Colorado Springs the opportunity to add our most cherished nickname, “Olympic City USA.”
Initially delayed due to the bond market crisis as the pandemic took root a year ago, financing for the Air Force Academy Visitor Center project is now queuing up.
Blue & Silver Development Partners is likely to win approval from City Council in February to increase the amount to be issued by the projectâs Business Improvement District by $10 million â to $90 million. That money will fund infrastructure for the Visitor Center, such as drainage, utilities installation, landscaping and architecture and engineering for the 57-acre site.
The increase stems largely from escalating costs since the project was penciled out in 2019.
In addition, Louisiana-based nonprofit agency Provident Group-USAFA Properties LLC plans to issue up to $225 million in bonds to fund construction of a nearly 400-room hotel at the project site, at the Academyâs north entrance at Interstate 25.