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Item 6A - Update MemoDATE: January 6, 2016 TO: Landmarks Board FROM: James Hewat, Marcy Cameron SUBJECT: Update Memo Landmarks Board Retreat The Landmarks Board held a retreat on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 from 12-2 p.m. See “Year in Review” attachment. The board will hold a second retreat in January to discuss review of additions to historic buildings. Glen Huntington Band Shell On December 2, 2015, the Landmarks Board discussed two letters received from History Colorado regarding the Band Shell’s eligibility for listing in the National Register. Three board members said the information would not have changed their vote, and one board member said she did not have enough information to make that determination. A summary of the board’s discussion was forward to City Council. Update at meeting. University Hill Commercial District – National Register Nomination On Dec. 8, the City Council reviewed the University Hill Reinvestment Strategy Update (click for memo). As part of the strategy, the city is pursing National Register designation for the commercial district. In October, History Colorado determined that the University Hill Commercial District is eligible for National Register designation. We will be issuing an RFP to hire a consultant to prepare and submit the nomination in 2016. Update at meeting. Certified Local Government Grant – Historic Resource Survey Plan We have a signed contract with History Colorado for funding to hire a consultant to assist in the preparation of a Historic resource Survey Plan. Update at meeting. Downtown Urban Design Guidelines On Dec. 8, the city hosted a public open house to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Downtown Urban Design Guidelines and on Dec. 10, a joint board meeting was held to provide feedback from the Landmarks Board, Planning Board and the Boulder Design Advisory Board. Adoption is scheduled for February 2016. Land Use Review Comments 9.11.2015 Mapleton Hospital Concept Review – Staff Comments. Historic Preservation Staff acknowledges the detailed research the applicant has undertaken on the history of the property, tracing its evolution from sanatorium to a modern twentieth century medical facility and detailing the resulting change to the character of the property. However, staff is of the opinion that several of the buildings and structures on the property including the smokestack, the stone wall, cottages A & D, and the nurses dormitory are all eligible for landmark designation and should be appropriately preserved. The smokestack is an important and iconic feature of the property intrinsic to the history of sanatorium/hospital facility. Likewise, the cottages, nurses dormitory and stone wall are all important historic features and worthy of historic preservation. Staff does not encourage the relocation of any of these resources, but rather recommends sensitive design with them situ as a first approach. Historic preservation tax credits could be accessed to assist in their preservation. To this end, a condition of Site Review approval will require the applicant’s submittal of a completed application to landmark these identified resources per policy 2.33 Preservation of Historic and Cultural Resources of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. Staff recommends that this occurs as soon as possible so that we can schedule a designation hearing. This will allow the Landmarks Board to review the proposed landmarks and boundary(ies) in the context of the larger re-development of the property so that the subsequent Planning Board review will include the Landmark Board's comments and recommendations. Please note that the historic preservation ordinance (9-11-5(a)) states that once a completed application made by the property owner is received, a public hearing must be heard by the Landmarks Board between 60 & 120 days of the application date. Historic preservation staff also encourages the applicant to take steps to design the development in a manner that is consistent with the historic character of the historic sanatorium and early hospital facility providing for a series of smaller buildings designed in a simplified manner compatible with the character of this era and in keeping with the adjacent Mapleton Hill Historic District. Historic preservation staff recommends that the applicant consult the Mapleton Hill Historic District Guidelines and General Design Guidelines for Boulder’s Historic Districts as it continues with the design development process. 1414 Pine Street Pre-Application Comments for Redevelopment of Property The subject site has four early houses, all of which appear to be potentially eligible for local landmark designation. Each of the houses were inventoried as part of a 1987 Historic Building survey. The one and one-half story red brick house at 1452 Pine Street was built in 1890 by Frank Lounsberry who was engaged in the lumber and building materials business. It exhibits a number of architectural elements associated with the Victorian Cottage type of housing common in Boulder during the late nineteenth century including an asymmetrical plan, a hipped roof, decorative brick and terra cotta, stone lintels and bay windows. 1414 Pine Street is a good example of Hipped Box residential design dating from the late nineteenth century featuring a low hipped dormer and half width porch with decorative spindle work on the façade. The brick and frame house is also notable for its widely overhanging eaves, decorative scrollwork on its cornice, wooden bay window, segmental arches, architrave surrounds and multi-light windows. Preliminary research indicates the house was occupied in 1900 by Samuel Hum, a railway auditor who was born in Pennsylvania in 1866. The two and one-half story brick and frame duplex (1406-1408 Pine Street) was built prior to 1900 and survives as a rare early multi-family housing unit on Pine Street. In 1900 the building was home to Benjamin Ellsworth and family and Methodist minister Reverend Marquis Hornbeck and family. Architecturally, the house is quite ornate featuring three front bays, a gabled eyebrow dormer, rusticated stone sills and lintels, clipped corners on the first floor and staggered brick corners. The vernacular house at 2132 14th Street was built about 1890 and features stuccoed brick walls and a Victorian era front porch supported with decorative brackets spindle work. Research indicates the house was owned by German immigrant Louis Herman who ran a dry goods store in Boulder at 1239 Pearl Street. His wife Bessie, children Mildred and Harry as well as their Swedish immigrant servant Hedois Carlson are all listed in the 1900 City Directory as living in the house. Depending of the scope of work for redevelopment of the site, submission of an application to landmark one or more of theses properties would likely be a recommended condition of Site Review approval. Submission of a landmark application would be consistent with policy 2.33 Preservation of Historic and Cultural Resources of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. If discretionary review for the property is planned, staff recommends that an application be submitted as soon as possible so that a designation hearing can be scheduled. This will allow the Landmarks Board to review staff’s recommendation as to whether or not the building should be landmarked. If the Board makes a recommendation that the building should be landmarked, it can then be reviewed in the context of the larger re-development of the property and subsequent Planning Board review will include the Landmark Board's comments and recommendations. Please note that the historic preservation ordinance (9-11-5(a)) states that once a completed application made by the property owner is received, a public hearing must be heard by the Landmarks Board between 60 & 120 days of the application date. Comprehensive Planning and Sustainability Calendar See attached.