Tuesday night’s vote resulted in a split decision, and the proposal to sublease lot to museum foundation failed.

In June, Denver was named as one of two finalists, along with Arlington, Texas, to become the location of the National Medal of Honor Museum—a new museum dedicated to those who have received the Medal of Honor.

The land proposed for the museum site is a 20,000-square-foot parking lot located near Colfax Avenue and Lincoln Street, which is currently leased by the Regional Transportation District (RTD) as a designated "grand, park-like" type of entrance across from the Civic Center Station. The land was originally part of the redevelopment plan for Civic Center Station, however, that fell through, and RTD marked the areas space to use for future projects. Their lease runs through the end of 2075, and many projects have been considered, including a food truck area, art installations, and hotels or other commercial development.

On Tuesday night, RTD met and voted on the proposal. Needing eight votes to be approved, the vote was split right down the middle 7–7, and the action failed.  

After the vote, an RTD spokeswoman released this statement explaining the decision:

“The Board members who voted against it had several concerns, namely that it prevents us from doing anything else with the property if the opportunity presents itself. Others felt it is a prime piece of property that is worth much more than the $123,000/year that RTD would get through a sublease.”

The National Medal of Honor Museum has been trying to find a home for some time; Denver was named as a possible spot after a location fell through in North Carolina. When the project was announced here, the City of Denver was receptive to the idea, as was Colorado Governor Jared Polis, saying that Denver was a unique opportunity for the museum to make a new home.

Perhaps we will see some development in the area as RTD does not want to let the land go, and we do hope that the National Medal of Honor Museum will find a permanent home soon. A decision by the Medal of Honor Board is set to be announced in October.

Would you have liked to see the National Medal of Honor Museum call Denver its new home? Sound off with your thoughts in the comments below.