6 - Update MemoMarch 2nd, 2005
TO: Landmazks Preservation t'~dvisory Boazd
FROM: James Hewat, Bohdy Hedgcock
SUBJ~CT: Update Memo
Historic Preservation/Energy Efficiency policy analysis update
See the attached proposed process for reviewing potential conflicts between preservation
and energy efficiency goals. Project scoping and analysis is underway.
Code Change project update
Staff continues to refine draft code language for review.
Union Pacific Railroad Depot update
A meeting has been scheduled between representatives of the Boulder Jaycees and the
city for February 28 to discuss next steps regarding ownership of the building. Staff will
provide a report on that discussion at the March 2 LPAB meeting.
Planning staff is currently working on developing a Boulder Transit Village Area Plan
that will be part of the 2005 Major Update to the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. It
will include a study and analysis ofthe larger area around the Boulder Transit Village
site. The adopted area plan could include proposed land use and zoning changes, as well
as recommendations for new transportation connections. More detailed site planning for
the Transit Village site at 30`h & Pollard will begin in cooperation with RTD in 2005, and
the first phase of development is expected to begin on the eastern portion of the site in
2006.
Primary issues to be resolved regarding the Depot include: building ownership,
relocation site, building use and project funding. The Boazd will have opportunities to
provide input and will need to issue a landmark alteration certificate for any building
relocation and exterior changes.
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan update
Every five years, the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan (BVCP) undergoes a major
update to ensure that it continues to reflect the community's vision. The main
components of the 2005 Major Update include:
Changes to the BVCP policies and text, based on five policy focus areas:
^ economic vitality
^ social equity and diversity
^ environmental sustainability
^ urban design
^ regionalism
Area plan for the Boulder Transit Village
Land use suitability study for CU-South
Public requests for map and service area changes
~
A copy of the Briefing Paper on Urban Design is attached. The paper refers to
preservation issues briefly. A community meeting/open house was held on February 23`~
to get public input. A ctiart outlining the overall process in the Comp Plan update is also
attached.
Hannah Barker House
A copy of the letter mailed to the property owner is attached.
Valmont Butte
The pubic hearing portion or the process for reviewing the Valmont Butte CEAP
(Community and Environmental Assessment Process) is approaching. The Landmazks
Board will have three opportunities to hear from the public and provide input. A revised
version of the CEAP document is neazly complete. The Citizen's Review Group will be
reviewing it at a meeting in Mazch. A weekend-long consultation with representatives of
the United Tribes of Colorado (representing 14 American Indian Tribes with historic
roots in the Front Range) is scheduled for mid-April. A tour of the site will be scheduled
for Board & Commission members prior to the hearings.
Tuesday, May 31 - Open House (4-9 p.m. in Muni Lobby) and Study Session (6-8 p.m.
Council Chambers) re: Valmont Butte CEAP--Board presence is optional. This location
may change, and I will keep you posted.
Tuesday, June 14 - Boulder Public Librazy Auditorium, (Time to be deterrrtined but
most likely early evening) - Joint public hearing for the Boards (Environmental Advisory
Board, Water Resources Advisory Board, Open Space & Mountain Pazks Trustees,
Planning Board and Landmarks Board). Board members aze strongly encouraged to
attend. This joint public hearing will allow citizens to attend one event to voice their
concems, rather than having to visit the five separate boazds individually.
Wednesday, July 6- LPAB monthly meeting. The Planning Board and WRAB will be
asked to make a formal recommendation on the CEAP re: the proposed Fire Training
Center (Planning) and Biosolids Recycling Center (WRAB). EAB, OSPM Trustees and
the Landmazks Board will be asked to make recommendations focused on issues
particular to their azeas of expertise.
'fhe CEAP will be forwarded to City Council for a final decision following the five
Boazd hearings.
ARTICLES AND INFORMATION:
McKenzie Well added to the National Register of Historic Places
Excerpts from the Colorado State Historical Fund 2003-2004 Annual Report, including a
feature on the Columbia Cemetery
e~
Historic Preservation and Energy Efticiency, 2005
Schedule and Anticipated Outcomes
February 10~ In-House Issue Scoping
- Identification of issues and stakeholders
- Discussion of applicable studies/literature
- Discussion of statement of purpose
March 10+~ Analysis of technical literature and City goals &
regulation regarding energy efficiency and historic
preservation.
- Identification of broad issues
- Identification of areas of conflict in City
code/policies.
- Development of questions
- Final statement of purpose
March 18~' - Press Release in anticipation of March 31st focus
group discussion
- Historic Preservation & Energy Efficiency, 2005
website posted by the end of March
March 31gt Facilitated focus group public scoping discussion with
identified stakeholders co-hosted by the Landmarks
Board and Environmental Advisory Board (members of
City Council invited)
- Historic preservation goals
- Energy efficiency goals
- Are goals and regulations for each realistic?
- Areas of conflict/commonality
- Discussion of consistency of City goals/policies for
each.
- Recommendations by participants made in terms of
next steps to be taken
May 25~ - Panel Discussion hosted by Landmarks Board and
Historic Boulder as part of Historic Preservation
Week (Larry Kinney, SWEEP, Steve Brown, Bodhy/
James, Don Rykema)
- Public education event from•which printed
literature/video may be developed.
June - Development of policy statement and accompanying
standards integrating findings of research,
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focus group and panel discussions.
- Presentation of policy statement and recommended
policy/regulation changes to public, (June 23).
July 6~ - Presentation of policy statement and standards to
Landmarks Board.
- Recommendation from Board to City Council from
adoption.
August 3rd - Presentation of policy statement and standards to
council.
- Adoption of policy statement by City Council.
Fall 2005 - Written and visual explanation of policies regarding
historic preservation and energy efficiency for
public.
y
BVCP UPDATE
°`~ ~ 2005 Major Update to the
Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan
~~
Urban Design
Policy Briefing Paper
February 2005
Prepared by city of Boulder planning staff
with input from
the Downtown Design Advisory Board (DDAB)
This paper is intended to serue as a starring point for community discussion of changes
to the policies in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan. The ideas contained in the
paper do not represent city polity or staff recommendations. This paper is one of five
policy briefing papers. The Planning Board and City Council identified the following
five policy focus areas for the major update following public input: economy,
environment, social equity and diversity, urban design, and regionalism.
Next steps: Following public discussion and comment in February and March, staff will
make recommendaHons on policy changes to the City Council and Planning Board at a
joint meeting scheduled for Apri126. The County Planning Commission and Board of
Commissioners will discuss potential policy changes following the joint meeHng.
~
Urban
Introduction
Urban design is defined as the art of making places. It involves the design of buildings, groups
of buildings, spaces and landscapes, in enHre areas or whole cities. Focusing on urban design in
the comprehensive plan is important to assure the continued preservation and enhancement of
Boulder's sense of place and to reinforce the community's strong design ethic. It is also
important that the community's strong commitment to sustainability be integrated into the
comprehensive plan and not just in individual developments.
This briefing paper will discuss how urban design issues are currently addressed in the
comprehensive plan and what issues and challenges should be addressed as part of the 2005
major update to the comprehensive plan. Specifically, the Planning Board has requested that
the paper address the following questions.
Ouesrions from the Planning Board:
What changes to the BVCP policies axe necessary to assure that new development and
redevelopment will meet high standards of urban design, and that they enhance the walkability
and connectedness of the city? What is the best way to create a sense of place, balance the goals
of protecting neighborhood character while enabling' appropriate infill development, and
determine where high density may be appropriate? Is there a place for more detailed design
criteria and a role for a design review board with a broader mandate than DDAB?
How is this area currently addressed in the Comp Plan?
The comprehensive plan has played a key role in shaping the physical form of the city. Through
the policies and land use map, the plan emphasizes "an urban development pattern that is
compact and efficient and that permits the most effective and cost-efficient provision of city
facilities and services. Such a development pattern enhances the livability of the community for
its residents by increasing accessibility to employment, recrearion, shopping and other
amenities and by reducing auto travel and air pollution. From an urban design perspective, it
allows a strong, understandable image of Boulder as a separate community to emerge."
The policies and lattd use map articulate a vision of overall city form from a two-dimensional
(plan view) perspective and what should be considered in the design of areas and sites to
preserve and enhance the community's character and sense of place. They highlight the
importance of support for residential neighborhoods, a hierarchy of activity centers, promotion
of mixed use, quality design, and walkability as key to this success. However, because the plan
lacks a 3-dimensional vision, it does not provide a clear sense of areas of the city that warrant
change through improved design. It does not allow someone to understand, at a glance, what
the overall planning structure for the'City is and how the parts are connected to each other.
W
DDAB feels that it also does not integrate the mass transit and multi-modal transit system with
this structure.
While by their nature, the policies are relatively broad and lack a three-dimensional form
perspective, they also provide goals for site specific design in the last section of the Community
Design policies (Quality in the Design of Development and Redevelopment Projects).
In a separate chapter (not part of the policies), subcommunity and area planning is encouraged
as a tool to bridge the gap between larger community goals of the comprehensive plan and the
detailed design of individual sites in the city.
What are the issues and challenges that should be addressed in the Comp Plan?
Through the successful implementation of the comprehensive plan, Boulder is a relatively
compact community, with defined edges and a clear delineation between urban and rural areas.
We have preserved our spectacular natural setring and created a distinct image and clear
separaHon from surrounding communities. The city's "mobility grid"-the system of roadways,
transit corridors, bikeways, and paths that tie the city together-make it easy and pleasant to
get from place to place within the city and to other areas in the region. The city has many well-
established residential neighborhoods with a system of well-distributed parks and schools and
a hierarchy of activity centers to support the needs of the city's residents and workers.
However, many of the city's retail centers are one-story strip malls that are unattractive and
unfriendly to the pedestrian. The city has a strong commitment to sustainability, but many of
the commercial areas reflect a very auto-dependent suburban model.
As a community, we are at the point in our development history when we have nearly reached
our urban growth boundary as defined in the comprehensive plan. There is very little vacant
land left to be annexed into the city and few vacant parcels within the city. That does not mean
that we have stopped growing, it just means that the opportunities and challenges for the
community's future have changed. From an urban design perspective it means that:
1. The focus will be more on infill and more intensive and efficient redevelopment rather
than new development on vacant land.
2. While much of the city is walkable, there are many areas that lack the fine grain network
that is an essential element of a walkable city and some areas do not have services
located within comfortable walking distance. Ensuring a good distribution of retail and
mixed use centers in relation to neighborhood and employment centers, and developing
a fine grained transportation network will be an important role for the comprehensive
plan and/or area plans.
3. The community will have higher expectations about the quality of new development
since it will be more intensely developed and more complicated. Design matters, now
7
more than ever. With more scrutiny of individual design, there is a need for better
definition of design expectations for all projects, and to understand and relate to the
surrounding context. The city's regularions and review processes should be revised to
foster design excellence while allowing for creativity and flexibility.
4. Area planning will be important to set the larger context for each area, to describe its
desired three-dimensional form, and to identify appropriate locations for mixed use
development.
5. There may be a role for a city-wide design review board, possibly based on the model of
DDAB where design review is mandatory, but compliance with the board's
recommendarions is optional. The comprehensive plan could identify incentives or areas
of incentives for compliance with these recommendarions. Changes in the city's
regulations or processes could also be structured so as to allow for more design review
while simultaneously giving property owners a way of requesting additional flexibility.
6. The areas where the most change will occur will likely be in the city's commercial areas,
particularly in the Boulder Valley Regional Center, along the city's mobility grid and
around the proposed TwentyNinth Street development. This presents a tremendous
opportunity to improve the character and mix of uses in these areas.
7. Based on the established land use pattern, more growth is anticipated in the commercial
and industrial sectors than in residential. If we are to address the existing and projected
jobs( housing imbalance, it will be through converting selective commercial or industrial
areas to residential or through adding housing through mixed use in commercial areas.
8. With more mixed use in commercial areas, advance planning will be needed to insure
that issues such as the need for a finer grain oE streets and paths and locations of future
parks will need to be addressed on an area-wide basis. These issues will not be able to be
addressed through redevelopment on a site-by-site basis. Area planning will be even
more important in the future because of this.
9. As land becomes scarce and projects become more expensive to develop, we may need
to look at urban open spaces in a different light.
Are the existing policies adequate or should they be changed?
Based on the emerging issues and challenges identified above, below are suggestions for
changes to the comprehensive plan:
1. The Plan should describe where we are in our development history and the unique
challenges that we now face. It should reinforce that redevelopment is a great
opportunity to upgrade key areas of the city.
S~
2. The Plan should reinforce the role oE area planning and why it is important now more
than ever to get in front of issues that cannot by solved on a site-by site basis. It should
prioritize the next areas that should be considered. It should include the idea that area
planning can address the desired three-dimensional form of an area and result in
revised regulations (e.g., new zoning, different open space standards) that resolve issues
unique to the area being planned (see example below under "on-site open space").
3. A stronger integration of land use and transportation policies is needed. The results of
the Transit Village Area Plan and more emphasis on transit-oriented development in
appropriate locations should be highlighted.
DDAB believes that:
• The Plan should begin to develop a stronger transit-oriented physical plan for
the City as a whole that focuses more on developing better streets, and less on
maintaining generalized zoning areas.
• There is a need to retrofit many low density automotive districts into mixed use
districts, and recommends as a first step to encourage change to occur along the
main arterials, Broadway, Pearl, Arapahoe, .etc.; i.e. at the edges of the
neighborhoods, providing more housing on or near to these arteries and also
adding convenient services within walking distance of most neighborhoods and
along transit for use by other neighborhoods.
4. The comprehensive plan appropriately highlights the importance of preserving and
enhancing Boulder's special character in both the natural and built environment. While a
variety of tools are suggested, there is an emphasis on historic designation as the
primary tool for preserving the character of the built environment with particular regard
to Boulder's character within our older building stock. DDAB believes that historic areas
should not be viewed as isolated entities and that other tools should be considered as
well within the greater context of our community goals (e.g., urban design, infill
potential, economic considerations).
5. The Plan should more clearly articulate the key urban design expectations of every
project and suggest revisions of the city's regulations and processes to foster design
excellence while being flexible to allow for creativity. There may be a possible role for a
city-wide design review board, with the notion of developing incenrives to comply with
board recommendations. Some design expectarions that could be included in the
comprehensive plan policies or area planning section or could be addressed in the city's
regulaHons (e.g., site review criteria) include:
The context
Boulder has a unique idenHty and sense of place, and each new development or
redevelopment should be designed to respect the surrounding context. T'his means
either developing or preserving a distinctive character and visual image that contributes
to a unique, positive identity for the area.
~ 9
The nublic realm '
Development or redevelopment projects should have a positive relationship to public
streets, plazas, sidewalks and paths to ensure that they become places that are well-
designed and well-placed. There should be high quality landscaping, access to sunlight,
sensitivity to view corridors, and plenty of places to sit comfortably in these areas.
Human scale
Boulder aspires to be a walkable city with a scale that is comfortable to the pedestrian.
Each new development or redevelopment should reinforce this concept by incorporating
buildings of an appropriate scale and massing and providing pedestrian interest along
streets, paths, and public spaces.
Permeabilitv
The circulation system should be laid out in a fine-grained grid to maximize circulation
opporhznities, improve accessibility, minimize walking distances, and create pedestrian
interest.
On-site onen s~aces
Boulder has an abundance of public open space surrounding the city and neighborhood
parks distributed throughout residential neighborhoods within the city. The role of on-
site open spaces in Boulder is very much dependent upon the uses being proposed and
the unique context of the area. As the city becomes more urban, some areas with well-
designed and well-situated public open spaces within close proximity will require little
on-site open space. Other areas that do not have public parks or open spaces nearby,
may require careEully placed and designed on-site open space to meet the needs of
planned residents or workers. Particularly in under-served areas, there may be
opportunities for combining open spaces in a shared conEiguration to benefit an overall
area, potentially reducing open space requirements for each parcel.
Buildin¢s
Buildings should contribute to the surrounding context; be of a high-quality, cohesive
design with a scale and design that is comfortable to the pedestrian; contribute to
adjacent public spaces; and create a hospitable environment. "High- quality" design
does not need to equate to "expensive" Rather, it means having the attributes of good
design (e.g., well-proportioned, finely detailed, aesthetically pleasing). Buildings should
have solidity and permanence and consist of authentic building materials. Front doors
should face the street or public open spaces. Buildings should be designed to be flexible
for changes in use over time.
~~
, CITY OF BOULDER
. ,~,y/i,~ Planning and Development Services
~1~~~j~~
,~ 1739 Broadway, Third Floor P.O. Box 791 Boulder, Colorado 80306
Phone:303.441.1880 Fax:303.441.3241
Februazy 24, 2005
Mr. Michael Cameron
522 Pine Street
Boulder, CO 80302
RE: 800 Arapahoe (Hannah Bazker House)
Deaz Mr. Cameron,
The purpose of this letter is to follow up on our phone conversation last month. I've
enclosed materials that may be of interest to you as you consider the future of your
property at 800 Arapahoe, the Hannah Buker House. As I mentioned on the phone,
members of the community have contacted me to express concern about the condition of
this significant Boulder building. City staff and the Landmarks Preservation Advisory
Boazd would like to work with you to see the building protected from further
deterioration and ultimately brought back to use.
As you know, Hannah & Ezra Barker built the home sometime azound 1876. An
enclosed research paper, prepared by a CU graduate student for a course with Dr. Tom
Noel, details the history of the Bazkers and the home. The property is considered both
historically and architecturally significant. The contribution of Mrs. Barker to Boulder's
development is difficult to overestimate. Her contributions include the founding of the
Town of Highland Lawn, the Boulder Creamery, major donations to a variety of causes,
including the Chautauqua, Columbia Cemetery and the Boulder Day Nursery, and of
course, her role in the development of Bazker Reservoir, named in her honor.
While the building has changed over time, it remains an important visual landmazk in the
neighborhood and a reminder of Mrs. Barker's contributions to the community. The
information below describes development potential for the property, available ta~c credit
programs that may help offset rehabilitation costs, and some recommendations for next
steps, in the hopes that a better understanding of the issues may encourage positive steps
towards rehabilitating the ptoperty.
Development Potential
As part of your previously approved application for the Hannah Bazker Bed & Breakfast,
residential units were transferred to the adjacent property at 804 Arapahoe. The overall
density on the two properties represents the maximum allowed given the total site area.
Development potential on the 800 Arapahoe site is therefore limited to a single-family
~~
residence (potentially with a sepazate Owner's Accessory Unit) or the previously
approved bed and breakfast.
Tax Credits & Grants
Given the condition of the building, you may be interested in information on options to
offset the costs of renovation and rehabilitation. Landmark designation can provide some
significant financial incentives, in the form of federal and state t~ credits and the
availability of grants, which may help address these concerns.
If designated as an individual landmazk by the city, the property would be eligible for the
Colorado State Preservation Tax Credit program. If used for a commercial purpose
(hotel, residential rental) it would also be eligible for a similaz Federal Income Ta~c
Credit. The tas credit programs provide incentives for the appropriate rehabilitation of
historic properties and help offset the costs associated with such efforts. Both the federal
and state programs provide for direct credits against owed taxes, as opposed to
deductions that reduce your taxable income. The state program allows for a maximum of
$50,000 in credits per property which may be claimed over a 10 year period. The federal
program has no maximum and can be applied over a 20 year period. A minimum
investment of $5,000 is required to take advantage of the state program. The federal
minimum is based on the value of the property. There are a number of other subtle
distinctions between the two credits, but in general they have similar review processes
and standazds.
You do not need to "restore" your building in order to claim the ta~ credit, but you do
need to preserve existing historic features whenever possible. The credits can apply to
interior and exterior work, foundation work, and upgrades to plumbing and electrical
systems. I~vould be happy to discuss the details of these credits with you in more detail if
you are interested. Obviously, the credits can add up to considerable savings for a major
rehabilitation project, particularly if both federal and state credits are received.
In addition to these tax credit programs, grant funds may be available to assist with
rehabilitation costs for designated buildings. The grants are only awarded to non-profit
organizations, but it may be possible to partner with a local preservation organization to
apply. Successful grant applications nearly always require a cash match from the
applicant of 50% or more; nonetheless, these grant funds can significantly reduce the
total rehabilitation costs.
Historic Boulder, Inc., our local non-profit advocacy organization for historic
preservation, has indicated a strong interest in partnering with you to demonstrate how
historic buildings can be updated and rehabilitated while preserving their historic
chuacter. In exchange for design and technical support, as well as grant writing, the
organization would ask only that you allow them to use the project for some educationa]
programs during the rehabilitation. The educational aspect of such a project greatly
increases the chances of a successful grant application. For more information on this
opportunity, please contact Margazet Hansen of Historic Boulder, Inc., at 303-443-7659.
~~
Next Steps
Obviously, any redevelopment of the site will be contingent upon a number of variables
that need additional study. Unfortunately, the building appears to be deteriorating
rapidly. I would be happy to meet with you on the site to provide some recommendations
as to how the building might be better sealed in order to slow that deterioration. In
addition, I can provide additional information on the process for designating the building
as a local landmark, along with the responsibilities and incentives that come with the
designation. Please give me a call so that we can discuss how to proceed in order to
assure that this important piece of Boulder's history can be brought back to life.
Sincerely,
Bohdy Hedgcock
Preservation Planner
City of Boulder
(303)441-4293
encl: Hannah Connell Barker and Her House in Boulder, Colorado by Willa Johnson
/3
February 7, 2005
Bohdy Hedgcock
Landmark Preservation Advisory Board
P. O. Box 791
Boulder, CO 80306
Re: The McKenzie Well, near Independence Road and CO-119, Boulder
Dear Mr. Hedgcock:
We are pleased to announce the listing of McKenzie Well, near Independence Road and CO-119, Boulder, in the
National Register of Historic Places on January 26, 2005, in recognition of this property's contribution to the heritage
of the State of Colorado.
If you have ques[ions about the nomination process or the National Register program, please contact our office at 303-
866-3392 or oahp@chs.state.co.us for further information.
Sincerely,
~ ~ ~-cKc~~p~
Dale Heckendorn
National and State Register Coordinator
OFFICE OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORIC PRESERVATpN
The O~ce ojArchaeology and Historic Preservation assists indeviduals, communities, and organizations to identify, protect, and
preserve the State's cultural resources and to foster widespread appreciation of and respect jor Colorado's cultural heritoge.
303866-3392 • fax: 303-866-2711 • E-mail: oahp@chs.state.co.us • Web Site: www.coloradohistory.org
~~
COLORADO HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Letter from the Chairman of the Board
and the President ~ ~
DEAR FR[ENDS AND MEMaERS of the Colorado
Historical Sociery,
Visitation to Colorado is up. Despite gaso-
line prices that fiuctuace weekly and issues of
homeland securiry, people have responded to a
rebounding economy hy setting out to enjoy all
that Colorado has to offer: its fairs and festivals,
its friendly People, ics exquisi~e viscas, and ics fas-
cinating history manifest in the built environ-
ment of our towns and cities of past and present.
Archaeological sites, ghost towns, main screet
crossroads, and thriving metropolises create
_ ':jr .
numeroua~rojects at t{ie p~trk.
COLORADO STATE H[JTORICAL FUND
unique environments that speak eloquently to
Colorado's travelers about our past.
Coloradans have always caken pride in their
communities. Native residents have held certain
sices sacred for generations. Many residents work
the farms and ranches handed down to them by
their forebears. City dwellers maincain the
integriry of their neighborhoods through zoning
and historical designation. We also recogniu that
it is, in grear part, our built environment chat
attrac~s people to our scate.
/6
Tourisu from arattrtd the u~orld vlsit Spruce Tree Houje at Meta [/erde Nrttion~l Park. SHFgrants have funded
_ . ,~ . . r~?:~. _•,;~: _ .. , . ,~.~~ . • ; .
Wich the passage of limited
stakes gaming in the towns of
Black Hawk, Central Ciry, and
Cripple Creek in 1990, Coloradans made a
choice to create che State Historical Fund chrough
which nearly one-fourch of rhe state's gaming
caxes is invested inco projects that pertain ~o the
preservation of che stace's builr environment. This
commitment has had a dramatic effect o~i our
state's communities.
Since that cime, historic preservation grants
have gone to~every county in the stace to stabilize,
restore, and rehabilicace buildings, sites, and struc-
cures of every imaginable rype. Courthouses have
once again become functional, storefronts have
been restored to cheir previous impressiveness,
libraries have once again become communiry meet-
ing places, and archaeological investiga~ions have
shed light on che lives of our ancestors. All of chese
sites and structures help to preserve the unique
qualities that make Colorado a destination for
local, regional, and international cravelers.
Addicionally, many communities have used
S~are Historical Fund grancs co develop signage,
walking tours, and ocher educational ~ools co
enhance public unders~anding of the history and
architecture of cheir area. School curricula Fos-
ter appreciation of local history and architecture
among che young people who will become stew-
ards of the state's legary. In partnership with Main
Street programs and che Colorado Scenic and
Historic Byways Commission, the State Hiscor-
ical Fund has been an important economic dri-
ver in communities.
While the work of preserva-
cion is ongoing, Colorado is eager
to show of~ the work rhac has been
done so far. This year, rhe State Hisrorical Fund
parmered with the Colorado Tourism Office to
focus on heritage tourism. Research tells us thac
travelers want to experience the special look and
flavor of the places they visit. And when a town
is interesting and inviting, they stay longer.
In ef~ecc, che State Historical Fund, through
its •bricks and morrar grants and educational
grants, has been helping to preserve the very sites
and struccures people want to experience. Now
we hope co cell the world about the rich heritage
we have been working so hard to preserve. With
heritage rourism in our focus, we must remem-
ber chat the health of our economic future
depends, in part, on the well-being of our past.
Sincerely,
~~;(~`' ~~i~~~
Phil Karsh
Chairman of the Board
Colorado Historical Society
~~Q~,;7;,~t~~l.C~
(1 Q
Georgianna Contiguglia
President of the Colorado Histarical Society
State H~storic Preservation Officer
2003-2004 ANNUAL REPORT
! ~
I~~fit~~ f~~~-~ t~e I~irector
WHEN I WAS YOUNG, my family took wonderful
driving vacations across the country. My brother
and I were given very specific responsibili~ies.
Mike was the navigator. He chose our route. And
I was the historian, deciding where we should
stop. Little did we know then chat we were "her-
itage tourists" on rhe cutting edge of American
travel crends.
We criss-crossed the country, visiting old
standbys like che Yellowscone Lodge and Mesa
~/erde. But we also cook in Wall Drug Store, mar-
veled ar all of the caves in Missouri known to
have been hideouts For Jesse James, and hung our
heads over the bridge at Royal Gorge.
We always ended up in the Pikes Peak
region. What a wonderful destination For her-
itage touriscs! The peak itself is a Nacional His-
toric Landmark, well worth the. trip if only for
che donuts. No vacacion was complete without
a drive ~hrough the Garden of the Gods, with a
stop at the since-demolished Hidden Inn and a
photo-op at Balanced Rock. I can'c begin to coun~
COLORADO STATE HISTORICAL FUND
the hours spenc wandering~the streets of Mani-
cou Springs, marveling at the beaury of Mira-
mount, Briarhurst, and the fountains and spas,
playing Skee-ball ar the arcade and eating caramel
corn. We toured the Cave of the Winds, took the
Mount Manitou Incline (another losc resource),
and invariably made the trip up to Cripple Creek
and Vicror. On our return to Colorado Springs
we drove up to the Will Rogers Shrine on
Cheyenne Mountain, rode the carousel at the
zoo, and picked out our Favorice houses along
Cascade Avenue. There was, of course, much
more. But you get the idea.
Today, it's called heritage tourism. And if
you're reading this letter, you're a hericage tourist
too. Sure, Colorado has great skiing, fishing, hik-
ing, rafting, etc. I think we all know that. But
there's more. There's a beautiful cave in Glen-
wood Canyon with an interesting history. There's
a Eantastic colleccion of archaeological sites in the
Uce Mountain Ute Tribal Park, with a tiny Frac-
tion of the visitation of Mesa Verde. There's a
wonderful melodrama held every year in Silver
Plume. And local celebrations like Vernon Days
bring together hundreds of neighbors to enjoy a
parade, have a piece of homemade pie, and see
classic Farm equipment at work.
So it was a natural partnership for the Colo-
rado Hiscorical Society, through the State His-
~orical Fund, to connect with the Colorado
Tourism Office co take che first steps toward
developing a stacewide heritage tourism program.
Over the course of the next fiscal year, a statewide
heritage tourism plan will be developed in con-
sultation wich preservationists and tourism indus-
try leaders. The state's print travel guide and
/~
I he newly restored ~Llcrnitou Springs Gatreuny are h.
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in Manitou Spr•ings.
website will be enhanced to provide more thor-
ough coverage of heritage sites, and surveys will
be developed to assist in collecting informacion
from heritage tourists about cheir travel and
spending habits. Two "pilot" projects will be
developed, generating promotional macerials to
bring both in- and ouc-of-state visitors ro spe-
cific areas and attractions. And once the statewide
plan has been completed, further support for her-
itage sice promotion will almost certainly follow.
Heritage touri~m, if managed properly, can
generate revenues that will sustain heritage
resources. It can create jobs, educate visitors, and
generate interest in saving our past. We know
that heritage cravelers scay longer and spend more
than most other tourists. Perhaps we can help
Colorado to benefit from this growing trend,
while simultaneously preserving our historic and
prehistoric resoiirces for fucure generations.
After all, who knows? That liale blonde
kid on the railing at che Cave of the Winds mighc
grow up co be che ilext Director of the Stace His-
torical Fund.
Sincerely,
~//'i ~ ~,~ ~
Mark Wolfe
Director of the State Historical Fund ~
Deputy State Historic Preservation O~cer
2003-2004 ANNUAL REPORT
/9
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State Historicrtl Fund Uirector Mc~rk ti~~lfe (fa~sr ch;ld nn ri~h.t), and hr.'s fa~r.~i j~ enjn~~ a r~isit ta Cave ofche Winds
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A Cc~~~~~~.~~~ ~To~k.~n~ tc~
Prot~~~ ~~~ ~-I~~it~.~~
COLUI~1BIt~ CEh1t~.T~;€~~, ~(?ULDLR
By Estella Cole, Hislerzr Presel•vat~'on Speriuli;t
"I'VE LNED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD for thirty
years, and I'm tickled to death to see how much
better the cemetery looks!" "Keep up the great
work!" "My grandmother is buried there, and
I'm so appreciative of the work you're doing."
These are just a few of che comments received
regarding the State Hiscorical Fund grant pro-
jects that are helping to preserve Boulder's Colum-
bia Cemecery, the most recent of which was com-
pleted in July 2003.
This ] 0.5-acre site is Boulder's oldest ceme-
tery, founded in 1870 by Columbia Masonic
Lodge No. 14, and is the final resting place of
many of the city's prominent early citizens. The
more than 3,000 markers of granice, marble,
sandstone, and metal are noc simply inanimare
objects but important
cultural resources that
provide insight into
Colorado's and Boulder's
social and economic
structure, its religious
cenecs, and its echnic
composition. This cul-
~ural and historical sig-
nificance led co the
Columbia Cemetery
being lisred in the
National Regisrer of
Historic Places in 1997.
The recently completed three-year project
represents the continuacion oFhistoric preserva-
tion work funded by the City of Boulder and
grancs from che State Historical Fund totaling
more than $330,000. Earlier efforts included the
preparation of the Columbia Cemetery Master
Plan, the development of a grave marker con-
servation plan, and ~he restoration of part of the
perimecer wrought-iron fence. The Columbia
Cemetery Conservation Corps, a group of local
volunteers trained in basic conservation tech-
niques, has served throughout as on-site ambas-
sadors for the preservation efforts and as educa-
tors about che cemetery's history.
T~?p reslurea lii~turie fen~e su~•~uundiug Columbia
C,e,rreter}t
COLOR,~DO STATE H[STORICAL FUND
Melvin Crosby rnarker in
Columbia Cemetery damaged
by vrrndals.
Departmenc, Columbia
Cemerery is perceived by
some as an active-play
neighborhood park. For
instance, markers have been
uscd as Frisbee golf rargets,
which has damaged stones
and lefc traces of colored
plascic on the surfaces.l'he
Cemecery has also been the
This recent project completed the
rescoration of che perimeter Fence and gates,
provided informational and interpretive
entry signage, and continued conserva-
tion work on markers identified as need-
ing immediate attention. Drawing on
geology, physics, chemistry, and biology,
rhe conservators worked to slow the
inevitable dcterioration of the historic
stones. Cracks were sealed, spalled areas
rebuilt, and using toothbrushes, Popsi-
cle sticks, sok-bristle brushes> ammonia,
and plenty of water, the conservacors
cleaned the srones of srains and lichen.
Education of neighborhood res-
idents and users was a key component ~
of the SHF-funded projeccs. Because ~,
the si~e has been owned by the Cit}~
of Boulder since 1965 and is man- `
aged by the Parks and Recreation ~~
victim of careless users and vandals who
have toppled srones.
New city regulations, the informa-
tional and inrerpretive signage, and the
rehabilication and conservation of many
of che markers have done much to re-
inforce the imporcance oF Columbia
Cemetery as a significant cultural resource
in ~he Ciry of Boulder and co educace
the public about its value and worch as
a record of Boulder's early history. The
Stace Hiscorical Fund is proud co have
been a partner in chis effort.
~1riz~in Crosby m~zrker in Columbia
Cemetery after repairs madt as p~rt
of SHFgrant.
2003-2004 ANNUAL REPORT
~I