A building belonging to the Grand Junction Regional Airport that has been sitting empty for six years could become the new headquarters office for the Bureau of Land Management.
Work on the structure, located next to the airport’s main terminal, was halted due to a federal fraud investigation, leaving airport officials with the choice of committing nearly $10 million to finally complete the building or demolish it altogether.
Now, a third choice is being considered with the announcement last July that the Bureau of Land Management has decided to move its headquarters from Washington to Grand Junction.
Since that announcement, city officials in Grand Junction have wondered whether the Bureau of Land Management will build an entirely new structure for its offices or re-purpose an existing building.
The idea that the bureau may want to move into the abandoned airport structure has only recently been seen as an option, with reports suggesting that it would make more sense to use the building for a new purpose than demolish it.
It is estimated that it would cost at least $900,000 for the airport to demolish the structure.
It is not known when the Bureau of Land Management will decide on where in Grand Junction to set up its new offices.
By Garry Boulard
