HomeMy WebLinkAboutGrandview Terrace Update 1-5-2000
MEMORANDUM
January 5, 2000
TO: Landmarks Preservation Advisory Board
FROM: Ruth McHeyser, Planner
SUBJECT: Grandview Terrace Update
On December 16, 1999, Planning Board held a public hearing to consider a report to City
Council regarding the land use implications of establishing a historic district for the Grandview
Terrace area within the. The Board drew the following conclusions:
1. Added density and changes in land use can be expected in this area due to its BVCP land
use designation.
2. The proposed historic district is consistent with the BVCP land use designation and
would support the development pattern of the underlying zoning.
3. The proposed historic district has the potential to improve the design quality of private
development and redevelopment within the area and could provide financial incentives
for renovation of privately-owned properties.
4. The proposed historic district is consistent with principles adopted by City Council on
November 16, 1999, particularly principle #2 (see Attachment A).
City Council first reading and public hearing on the proposed Grandview Terrace historic district
will occur on January 18. Second reading and decision is scheduled for February . The purpose
for delaying the first reading is to allow the city to work with the university on a potential
memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the future of the area. The concept of a MOU was
adopted as one of the principles adopted by City Council (see Attachment A).
A draft ordinance is provided in Attachment B. Please note a reference to the potential MOU
between the city and the university. Section 8 of the ordinance states:
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this ordinance, the council may by motion
approve a memorandum or memoranda of understanding between the city and the
University of Colorado concerning the alteration, removal or demolition of a building or
buildings in the Grandview Terrace Historic District.
Staff would like your feedback on the attached ordinance.
ATTACHMENT A
The recommendations from the Master Plan Task Force addressed the key issues for Grandview
Terrace. The following principles should guide Council's discussion with the University on
Grandview Terrace:
1. The City acknowledges that the redevelopment of Grandview Terrace should reasonably
accommodate the University's future needs and uses while recognizing the community
context and providing a subtle transition in use and density to the surrounding
neighborhoods and downtown.
2. The City strongly encourages the University to accommodate the historic character of the
neighborhood by reusing existing buildings on site and adding appropriately scaled infill
and development while accommodating the University's long-term program needs and
maximizing use of available funds for historic preservation.
3. The existing surrounding roads and streets are already overburdened, yet the area has
excellent capabilities for the use of alternative modes of transportation. The City
encourages the University to develop an alternative modes plan for the area and to work
with the City to find alternatives to providing structured parking in Grandview.
4. In particular, the City encourages the University to avoid precipitous action in removing
the Grandview bungalows to make way for interim surface parking, pending discussions
with the City concerning the significant transportation and neighborhood character issues
raised by the Grandview development.
5. The City desires to enter into a binding memorandum of understanding with the
University concerning the Grandview development to address the City's concerns as
identified in these principles.
Approved by Boulder City Council on Nov. 16, 1999
ATTACHMENT B
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE DESIGNATING THE GRANDVIEW TERRACE AREA AS
SHOWN IN EXHIBIT A, AND WHOSE LEGAL DESCRIPTION IS DEFINED AS
AND ALL PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY WITHIN THE DISTRICT, EXCEPT
AT THE EDGES, WHERE THE CENTER LINES OF PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY
SHALL SERVE AS DISTRICT BOUNDARIES; CITY OF BOULDER, COUNTY
OF BOULDER, STATE OF COLORADO, ALSO KNOWN AS THE
GRANDVIEW TERRACE HISTORIC DISTRICT, AS A HISTORIC DISTRICT
UNDER CHAPTER 10-13, B.R.C. 1981 AND SETTING FORTH DETAILS IN
RELATION THERETO.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BOULDER,
COLORADO, THAT:
Section 1. Tie council enacts this ordinance pursuant to its author-`, under Chapter
10-13 of the Revised Code of the City of Boulder, Colorado, 1981 to designate as an historic district
an area containing a number of buildings having a special character and historical, architectural, or
aesthetic interest or value and constituting a distinct section of the city.
Section 2. The council finds that: 1) proceedings were commenced by an application
from the Colorado Arts and Crafts Society to designate the Grandview Terrace area of the city as an
historic district, received by the city on October 28, 1999; 2) the board held a public hearing on the
proposed designation on December 1, 1999; and 3) on December 1, 1999 the board recommended
that the council approve the proposed designation.
Section 3. The council also finds that upon public notice required by law, the council
held a public hearing on the proposed designation on January 18, 2000 and upon the basis of the
presentations at that hearing finds that Grandview Terrace area does constitute a distinct section of
the city and possess a special character and special historical, architectural, and aesthetic interest or
value warranting designation as an historic district.
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Section 4. There is hereby created the Grandview Terrace Historic District whose legal
description is as follows:
to be filled in--
Section 5. The characteristics of the Grandview Terrace area that justify its designation
as a historic district are: 1) The district is historically significant for its association with the growth
and development of the city of Boulder during the early part of the 20th Century, and as a well-
preserved residential neighborhood of the same period. The neighborhood has historically provided
housing for University of Colorado students, faculty and staff, reflecting the university's influence
on the city of Boulder.; 2) The district is architecturally significant because it contains popular
building styles and construction techniques of the early twentieth century, as reflected in local
building materials, tastes, and lifestyles. The period of significance for the potential district is 1900 -
1940, and it contains one of the highest concentrations of Bungalows and Craftsman homes in the
city of Boulder; and 3) The district is environmentally significant because it occupies a prominent
location on a bluff overlooking downtown Boulder. As its name implies, the neighborhood offers
excellent views of the Flatirons to the south and the city center to the north. The neighborhood
historically served as a transitional zone between the University of Colorado campus and downtown
Boulder. Its mixture of building types reflects this status; the neighborhood is comprised of
fraternity and sorority houses along University Avenue adjacent to the university campus, and single-
family dwellings along Grandview Avenue, which served as housing for students, faculty and staff.
Section 6. In designating Grandview Terrace as a historic district the council finds that
the area shows character, interest or value as part of the development, heritage, and cultural
characteristics of the community; it exemplifies the cultural, economic, and social heritage of the
community; and it portrays an environment in an era of history characterized by good examples of
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the common.
Section 7. The council further finds that the foregoing landmark designation is necessary
to promote the public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the city.
Section 8. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this ordinance, the council may by
motion approve a memorandum or memoranda of understanding between the city and the University
of Colorado concerning the alteration, removal or demolition of a building or buildings in the
Grandvie" 1 errace riistunc uismct
Section 9 i ne councii directs that the planning department give prompt notice of this
designation to the owners of the real property within the historic district and cause a copy of this
ordinance to be recorded as required by Section 10-13-6 (d) of the Revised Code of the City of
Boulder, Colorado 1981.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ORDERED PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY this
day of 12000.
Mayor
Attest:
Director of Finance & Record
Ex-officio City Clerk
READ ON SECOND READING, PASSED, ADOPTED, AND ORDERED
PUBLISHED BY TITLE ONLY this day of 2000.
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Mayor
Attest:
Director of Finance & Record
Ex-officio City Clerk
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