The Denver City Council on Monday will consider spending $115 million to complete two major city purchases.

In January, the council approved spending $88.5 million to acquire the former Denver Post headquarters. Monday’s measure states that the city will not spend more than $90 million acquiring the property, which last sold for $93.4 million in 2006. 

Denver plans to transform the Denver Post building into courtroom space.

Denver City Council approves $88.5 million purchase of former Denver Post building

The council will also consider fully acquiring the former Embassy Suites hotel at a cost not to exceed $25 million.

The 205-unit facility, at 7525 E. Hampden Ave., is being used as a shelter for homeless families.

On Dec. 28, Denver entered a $30.9 million purchase agreement to eventually acquire the former Embassy Suites hotel. The city has been leasing the hotel for $825,000 a month until it can eventually purchase it this year.

Denver approves $30.9 million hotel lease-purchase agreement to house homeless families

Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration originally leased the hotel to shelter the homeless. That acquisition, among a few others, helped the city reach Johnston’s goal of housing 1,000 homeless people before 2023 ended.

Johnston’s housing efforts cost the city $45 million in 2023. The mayor expects that number to be $50 million in 2024’s effort to move a total of 2,000 homeless people indoors.

Both acquisitions are being presented Monday as first readings, and they are likely to be officially voted on next week.

In other action Monday, the council will consider:

• A $2.6 million loan to SCI-Capitol City to preserve 60 existing mobile homes categorized as affordable housing.
• A $1.35 million, nine-year contract with United Airlines for concourse B ramp control operations.
• Adding $1,453,564 and a year to a contract for a new total of $3,937,484 with Colorado Health Network to provide care, treatment and support services for people living with HIV or AIDS.
• A $696,000 contract with Denver Youth Program to provide intervention and secondary gang prevention services until the end of 2026.
• A $5 million intergovernmental agreement with the Colorado Department of Transportation awarded through the Transportation Improvement Program for Peña Boulevard Capacity Improvement at I-70.