After a tense discussion and weeks of delays, Denver City Council approved up to $812 million in spending to complete the first two phases of the National Western Center project.

“We’re pleased with the outcome, but this was over a two-year process that was community driven,” said Brad Buchanan, executive director for the National Western Center Authority. “Community showed up. They supported. Council did their homework, and they made the right choice.”

But the project received only mixed support, with council members and some neighborhood leaders calling for the city to make a bigger — and stronger — commitment to funding community projects alongside the new hotel, arena and more.

The project has already spent or committed nearly $800 million of tourism taxes. The council on Monday aut

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