(PUEBLO, Colo.) — Colorado Governor Jared Polis was in Pueblo on Tuesday, June 24 to discuss the redevelopment of the former Pueblo Chemical Depot.
In 2016, state leaders made plans to transform the site into a center for manufacturing, research & development, and rail-related industry. Now, those behind the project are trying to update their development strategy, after the state decommissioned the military installation last year.
The depot closed the book on its 82-year history in Pueblo with a deactivation ceremony on Sept. 12, 2024, after successfully destroying its stockpile of more than 780,000 chemical weapons.
Developers said all ideas for redevelopment are welcome, as they try to create a plan that fits the community’s needs right now.
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Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe -
Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe -
Courtesy: FOX21 News Chief Photojournalist Dez Rowe -
Pueblo Chemical Depot has stored more than 780,000 chemical-filled munitions since the 1950s in roughly 100 storage buildings called “igloos.” These munitions are 155 mm projectiles, 105 mm projectiles and cartridges, and 4.2-inch mortar cartridges containing 2,611 tons of the chemical agent mustard. -
CMA is responsible for the safe and secure storage operations at the Army’s two remaining chemical weapons stockpile sites located at Pueblo Chemical Depot, Colorado, and Blue Grass Chemical Activity at Blue Grass Army Depot, Kentucky. -
Blue Grass Chemical Activity and Pueblo Chemical Depot store munitions securely in earth-covered bunkers called igloos. Designed specifically to protect their contents from external factors such as storms, lightning and other weather-related events, the igloos are equipped with a rear vent and a dual lightning protection system. Aside from a 24/7 guard force, there are a number of other physical and electronic safeguards that protect this stockpile.
“It’s not every day that a 16,000 acre opportunity comes along, which is all together, all in an economic development authority already,” said Polis on Tuesday. “So it’s ready to partner, ready to get to work. We don’t have access to all 16,000 acres today… it’s growing over time as the Army vacates, but we’re already on there today with some jobs, and it’s only going to grow more from here.”
There will be another meeting on the complex at 6:30 p.m. Thursday night, June 26 in Avondale, at the McHarg Park Community Center.
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