E
verett Clark, a speculative real‑estate investor, has sued Adams County after the assessor raised the 100,000‑sq‑ft value of his Westminster office complex, Park Centre Commons, citing “excessive vacancies” and rising crime. The two Reagan‑era buildings at 12,000 and 12,050 Pecos St. were appraised at $6.9 million and $5.8 million in 2024. Since the pandemic, tenants have left for remote work and due to security concerns, leaving vacancy rates that have not rebounded to pre‑COVID levels, the lawsuits argue.

    For the 2025 assessment, the county set 12,000 Pecos at $10 million—$3.1 million higher than last year—and 12,050 Pecos at $8.3 million, a $2.5 million jump. After a protest, the first building’s value was reduced to $7.2 million, while the second remained at $8.3 million. Clark, who bought the properties in 1997 for $4.2 million and $3.5 million respectively, contends that the steep increases do not reflect the market, especially given the speculative nature of his holdings.

    Clark seeks a trial before District Judges Patrick Pugh and Toni Wehman to establish the “actual value” of the sites. His counsel, Michelle Bush and Mark Medina of Denver’s Silverstein & Pomerantz, specialize in tax litigation. The county has declined to comment pending the case. Park Centre Commons, built in 1985 and 1983, totals roughly 49,000 sq ft per building. For further coverage, see BusinessDen. Subscribe to the Economy Now newsletter for more business updates.