Casper council lifts hotel site restrictions after livery stable demo

The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to remove property use restrictions from four downtown lots, a decision tied directly to the demolition of a historic building that was central to the original development plan.

City Attorney Eric Nelson reported that the restrictions were filed in July 2020. That filing originated from redevelopment agreements reached in 2019 between the city, The Nolan LLC, and Flag Development LLC. The initial concept for the Nolan project required the preservation and adaptive reuse of the former Livery Stable located at 363 S. Ash St. alongside new commercial and residential spaces.

Municipal evaluations later found the Livery Stable was structurally insufficient. The building was demolished in 2020, leaving the site vacant. Because the structure no longer exists, city staff determined the historic preservation element of the original agreement could not be fulfilled. The council’s action formally terminates the restrictions on Lots 16 through 19, which were part of the 2020 filing. Lots 20 through 22 were never subject to these specific limitations.

The hotel project spans Lots 16 through 22. The development team told Oil City News in August that construction will take approximately 18 months, with an anticipated opening in the first quarter of 2028. The finished building will feature five floors and 118 rooms. It will also include a fine dining restaurant, conference rooms, and a rooftop balcony on the top level.

Martin Axlund, a representative for Brick & Bond, described the project at an August Downtown Development Authority meeting. “It is a Hilton Tapestry, which is considered their four-star boutique line,” Axlund said. “This is important because it fits with the comprehensive plan the city put together, starting in 2007 and with subsequent updates.”

The city will execute and record a formal termination of the restrictions once the hotel is completed and a certificate of occupancy is issued. The current site remains vacant while the development team prepares for the start of construction.