What is the Mansion Evaluation Process? The Highlands Ranch Metro District is studying the feasibility of becoming the steward of this important community asset. As the steward of public lands throughout the community, including 22 parks, more than 2,200 acres of natural open space, and many outdoor recreation amenities, the Metro District is well-versed in managing and maintaining public property in a responsible and cost-effective manner. The Metro District is committed to a thorough public involvement process this summer to determine the future of this important historic amenity.  View a timeline of the public process by clicking here.  Board Members Discuss Mansion at Visioning Retreat On Saturday, January 31, the Metro District Board of Directors held a visioning retreat to discuss the Metro District's role in the future of our community.  Among the topics was discussion of the potential ownership of the historic Highlands Ranch Mansion.  Board members received updated estimates regarding renovation costs for the Mansion, ranch-related buildings and barns.  It is estimated the renovation costs could total $5.5 to $6.5 million, depending on the use parameters determined by the board after the public involvement process.  Board members determined they will move forward with the Mansion evaluation process, as outlined in the timeline noted above.  The Mansion will require funding for renovation as well as ongoing operations. Working with Shea Homes, the Metro District has discussed using $4 million of community enhancement funds generated from System Development Fees paid by developers, to create an endowment to fund the base operational requirements, or to fund a portion of the Mansion renovation, or a combination thereof. It is the hope of the Metro District to renovate and pay for operations through existing funding sources and/or partnerships. After the retreat, board members also reviewed proposed questions for a community-wide scientific survey, which kicks off the public involvement process.  The survey, being conducted by the National Research Center in Boulder, includes a variety of questions related to the Metro District's services, including questions about future uses of the Mansion.  Survey results will be available at www.highlandsranch.org by late May.   How You Can Get Involved You've already taken the first step by requesting this e-newsletter. Please share this e-newsletter with your friends, neighbors and co-workers.  Past e-newsletters, as well as general information about the Mansion evaluation process, will be available at the Mansion News Corner in the upper right corner of www.highlandsranch.org.    If you have questions during the Mansion evaluation process, please contact the Metro District at info@highlandsranch.org and your question or concern will be promptly addressed. In addition, people throughout the community will have the opportunity to participate in the Mansion public involvement process this summer.  If you know someone interested in learning more, please share this e-newsletter and point them to the Mansion News Corner at www.highlandsranch.org.  Use of the Mansion for Public Benefit Upon acquiring the 22,000-acre Highlands Ranch in 1978, Mission Viejo Company created a vision for a community that included a population of more than 90,000 residents, preserved more than 50 percent of the land for open space and parks, and reserved the Highlands Ranch Mansion property for organizations that would preserve and maintain such structures for the public benefit. In addition, the barns and ranch-related buildings of the Mansion property would be offered for use as part of a high school or other agricultural educational program.  Today, the Metro District is reviewing ways to make this unique and important community asset available to the public.  By making the Mansion available for public benefit, we can all enjoy the rich western history of our community, and share this important heritage with future generations.  This e-newsletter was created as a means of providing periodic updates regarding the Metro District's Mansion evaluation process.  The Metro District is committed to working in partnership with the Highlands Ranch community to evaluate uses of the Mansion in a cost effective manner.   The Highlands Ranch Mansion photo below, taken in approximately 1910 when John Springer owned the Mansion, was provided by the Highlands Ranch Historical Society.