Pueblo residents weigh in on downtown power plant

Residents weighed in on the future of a power plant downtown at a meeting with the Pueblo City Council Thursday.

Black Hills Energy said it will either demolish the building or gut it and sell it to the city. It said City Council must decide by Dec. 31.

Resident Dave DeCenzo said the building could be a future sight for film production.

“Pueblo should consider making it a destination for, such as, for a film studio like Albuquerque,” said DeCenzo.

However, others disagree and voiced concerns about the city inheriting the building.

Resident Pete Judiscak said it’s a biohazard.

“I would like to have the building demolished,” said Judiscak. “You have a lot of old equipment there that can’t be used for anything else.”

Resident Frank Peralta said the energy company isn’t giving the city enough time to weigh all the positives and negatives of taking over the building.

“The time frame is too fast. Black Hills is trying to pressure the city into accepting the building without all these unknown variables,” said Peralta.

City Council member Steve Nawrocki said he would like to see the building stay standing. However, he does not know how it could be re-purposed.

“I do support the enthusiasm and the commitment so far that I have seen from the number of people that have showed up tonight,” said Nawrocki.

He does not feel pressured to make a decision.

“Time seems to be an issue but I think anything is possible,” said Nawrocki.

The building will cost customers $3.5 million whether the company cleans it out or clears it out.