RTD Votes In Favor Of Medal Of Honor Museum At Tuesday's Meeting

DENVER (CBS4) - RTD unanimously approved using the land on the south side of Civic Center Station for a National Medal of Honor Museum. The City of Denver offered to lease the land for $123,000 a month in order to build a park as part of the proposed museum.

The area currently is dirt and gravel.

Preliminary renderings show the area becoming a tree-lined corridor toward the potential museum site at Lincoln Street and Colfax Avenue but exactly how the entry way toward the museum is made will be a collaboration.

Last week, RTD Board of Directors tied at seven over the deal to sub-lease the land. Directors had concerns about the return of drug activity to the space and some didn't think it made fiscal sense.

A new proposal was presented to the RTD Board of Directors at an Executive Committee Meeting last week.

The veteran community and forces behind the museum bid spent countless hours courting directors to change their vote.

"None of these interests contacted me prior to last week's vote, to discuss the importance of this project or the relevance of the independent piece of land," said Director Kate Williams on Tuesday Night.

Williams received death threats following insensitive comments last week about the museum and the Medal of Honor. Tuesday night she apologized.

A handful of other directors said with increased information and transparency about the museum bid, they could change their vote and support the sub-lease. The board voted 14-0 to approve the deal.

Gov. Jared Polis weighed in on the unanimous vote saying, in part:

"Coloradans would be thrilled to have the Medal of Honor Museum located in the capital complex which is accessible, prestigious, and perfectly located near the heart of Denver's thriving art and cultural scene. I'm glad the RTD board heard our bipartisan calls to celebrate our nation's heroes and made the right choice for our state."

The City of Denver and State Officials have spent months courting the museum to pick Denver as its new home. A final decision between Denver and Arlington, Texas is expected in October.