Overview:
After approving millions in incentives for 1st Street Farms, a Peyton Manning-inspired restaurant, Littleton officials address concerns.
Two months after Littleton approved its first public-private partnership under the city’s Economic Partnership Incentive Policy, city leaders are still defending the deal behind 1st Street Farms, a planned restaurant, event venue and public gathering space near South Platte Park.
In June, the Littleton City Council voted 4-3 to approve an incentive package for Gastamo Group, the Denver-based restaurant company behind Park Burger and Homegrown Tap & Dough. The project is planned for vacant land at South Santa Fe Drive and Mineral Avenue.
“I do not think this is a poor use of funds or misspending money in any way,” Mayor Kyle Schlachter said. “I look forward to seeing lots of people from our community and from the whole Colorado community.”
That defense is notable because Schlachter voted against the incentive package in June.
“I wasn’t opposed to an incentive package,” Schlachter said. “I just think it was the way it was structured, because it was a little different than we had done in the past, and we have some other infrastructure needs that those funds could have gone to.”
The deal includes a $2 million city loan paid directly to contractors during construction, a rebate of 100% of sales tax generated by the project for up to five years and roughly $93,000 in waived development fees. The total package is capped at a net present value of $5.5 million.
Schlachter said the city also has needs related to the Save the Streets program, Town Hall Arts Center renovations and other infrastructure priorities. Still, he said the 1st Street Farms money was not taken away from projects that had already been funded.
“They were funds that we could have used for different projects, but we weren’t taking money away from anything else,” Schlachter said.
The project has drawn attention partly because of Peyton Manning’s involvement. Users online have criticized the development as a “football shrine/restaurant/shopping center” and have questions about why the city should pay for it. One Reddit user stated, “I bet Manning is putting up less than 5% of the capital involved and just being used for public support.”
Manning is a minority equity investor, though project documents presented to council indicate his role is limited largely to promotional activities, including use of his name, image and likeness. Notably, Manning’s name does not appear on the buildings or venues in the project packet.
The restaurant will operate as 1st Street Farms. The event venue is planned as the Field House, and a publicly accessible turf field will be called Little Field in honor of Richard Sullivan Little, the founder of Littleton.
Current plans for 1st Street Farms include a 15,000-square-foot restaurant serving Southern-inspired food and a 13,000-square-foot event barn designed for weddings, corporate events, concerts and other gatherings. The project also includes publicly accessible turf fields, trails and park space connecting to the South Platte River open space and trail system.
The site was already under contract and likely to be developed. If the 1st Street Farms deal had not moved forward, the property owner planned to build 270 townhomes on the land, according to city materials. The city’s fiscal analysis found that alternatives would have cost Littleton more than $5 million in net losses over 30 years.
Mayor Pro Tem Andrea Peters said the partnership gives Littleton a better chance to shape what happens on the property.
“The partnership, I think, is really important,” Peters said. “If we had more apartments there, we would lose out on some of these trails that will connect to the Mary Carter Greenway and the Platte River trails.”
Still, some residents have questioned the deal online, criticizing the use of public incentives for a private restaurant group and raising concerns about losing one of the city’s remaining large open parcels. Others have asked whether Littleton needs another large-scale restaurant and event venue near existing destinations such as Breckenridge Brewery.
Another resident quipped online that they “can’t wait for another restaurant that serves beer, burgers, and roasted brussels sprouts just like…*checks notes*… Denver Beer Company, Littleton Brewery, ViewHouse, Black Haus, Breckenridge Brewery.”
Peters said she has also heard from residents who are excited about the project.
“I talk to people all the time who are really excited about it,” Peters said. “The people who are against something are always a lot louder than those who are for it.”
Peters also praised Gastamo Group’s track record with restaurants, including Homegrown Tap & Dough, Lady Nomada and Park Burger.
“I really trust this group, Gastamo,” Peters said. “They do a really good job of creating an experience at an affordable price.”
The unresolved question is whether Littleton got enough public benefit for the public investment. Supporters say 1st Street Farms will turn land that was already likely to be developed into a destination project. Critics see a major incentive package for a private restaurant group at a time when residents are already worried about losing open land. Two months after the vote, that tension remains.
“We are never going to please everyone. There are lots of people in the community that we hurt,” Schlachter said. “But overall I think it’s a great concept that will ultimately benefit the community.”
