Palmer street closure debate returns
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Colorado Springs' City Hall. Illustration: Axios Visuals
At a hearing Tuesday, the Colorado Springs City Council is set to once again weigh whether to permanently close part of East Boulder Street as Palmer High School pushes ahead with its massive campus overhaul.
Why it matters: The debate has become a battle over neighborhood access and how far City Hall should go to help revitalize the city's oldest high school.
Catch up quick: Palmer High School's $100 million renovation has closed Boulder Street between North Nevada Avenue and North Weber Street since last June.
- School district leaders propose permanently closing that stretch to connect the main academic building to school facilities on the north side of the street and building a track and athletic field.
- City council deadlocked 4-4 at a March 10 meeting, killing the proposal after public feedback came in sharply divided.
Driving the news: Council voted 4-3 on March 24 to revisit the closure after member Brandy Williams said she wanted another look at the proposal.
Friction point: Former councilmember and downtown business owner Richard Skorman and Shooks Run residents argue the permanent closure of Boulder Street would bottleneck traffic and slow emergency response times into and out of downtown.
The other side: A traffic study found nearby intersections would continue operating at current service levels, even with projected 2030 traffic levels.
- Supporters say eliminating the street crossing would improve student safety by reducing foot traffic across active lanes.
- Students and staff say Palmer's lack of a full-size track and field hurts its ability to attract and keep student-athletes.
What's next: If council approves the closure, Palmer hopes to finish campus renovations by mid-2028.
- If council rejects it again, the school will "carefully evaluate next steps," including revisiting an earlier design to scrap the field plan and add a pedestrian bridge above Boulder Street.