Beautiful weather and a big crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers were on hand Friday, May 3rd for the Downtown Trinidad Development Group (DTDG) ground-breaking ceremony for the new Hilton Hotel and an unveiling celebration for the ongoing renovation project of the historic Trinidad National Bank building.
The new Hilton Garden Inn, located at La Puerta de Colorado, at the junction of Interstate 25 and Commercial Street in the heart of Trinidad when first completed, will employ about 60 and eventually the two projects and their different branch industries will employ near 500, according to Hotelier and Trinidad advocate, Cy Michaels. Michaels is a partner and GM of La Quinta and will also be a partner and general manager of the new Hilton property.
Following the ground breaking, the crowd jammed into the lobby of the former Trinidad National Bank for the unveiling reception and ribbon cutting ceremony for the current historic renovation project. Located at 133 N. Commercial Street, DTDG CEO Jay Cimino explained that the new name of the building would be the Trinidad Champions Building which would incorporate the history and spirit of the community. It will also house a historical hall honoring the Champions of Trinidad starting with Sister Blandina, John Gagliardi, J. Edgar Chenoweth, and forward to the present-day Champions.
Keeping the integrity of the building’s infrastructure, the building will include professional services plus restaurant and bar space on the main floor and an outdoor atrium on the second floor. Additional entertainment and gaming are planned in the “underground level” of this historic building.
The Trinidad National Bank building will have façade elements similar to when the building was originally built. Extra care was taken to save and store the deconstructed façade until it was needed to return to its original place. DTDG started the historic renovation project in February, 2016.
“During the renovation project, we have to again thank our contractors and team for the sensitive deconstruction and restoration of the façade and building interiors.”, said Karl Gabrielson, DTDG’s General Manager.
With the partnership of City Manager Greg Sund, Mayor Phil Rico and all City Council Members, Tara Marshall, Mike Valentine, many city workers, Ray Duran, Sal Pace, Office of Economic Development & Trade (OEDIT), Jim Jolly and Tom Verquer of Picketwire and Baca Joint Ditch Company, Grant Bennett, History Colorado, Joe Saldibar, Dana Crawford, Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), Council of Government, and under the guidance of Governor Hickenlooper, The Trinidad National Bank building restoration project is a great example of how a Public and Private Partnership works to help its community.
The Downtown Trinidad Development Group was created to engage in commercial development projects to stimulate the growth of Trinidad, and elevate it to become a vibrant tourist and residential community. The owners of the group have personal connections to Trinidad and the means to initiate targeted and strategic development efforts to stimulate additional investment into the Trinidad economy. Efforts are designed to act as a catalyst for other critical infrastructure and development by local, county and state government agencies and private investors. DTDG believes that collectively, with city officials and other developers, Trinidad is poised to become a first-class destination embodying the history and resiliency that epitomizes both the community and the state.
Led by CEO Jay Cimino, President Gina Cimino, and General Manager Karl Gabrielson, the historic Trinidad National Bank building is the fifth renovation project of the DTDG. The first building renovated being the award-winning Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, the second the Purple Toad, the third the Marty Feeds building, and the fourth, the former Delmonico Building currently home to The Chronicle-News. The group has also built the new Phil Long Toyota dealership.
Downtown Trinidad Development Group CEO Jay Cimino addressed a big, receptive crowd at the construction site of the Hilton Garden Inn at La Puerta de Colorado, near I-25 and Commercial Street.
