Item 5A - Friends of the Teahouse memo 3.4.2020MEMORANDUM TO THE LANDMARKS BOARD
March 4th, 2020
Staff
Jim Robertson, Comprehensive Planning Manager
Lucas Markley, Assistant City Attorney
James Hewat, Senior Historic Preservation Planner
Marcy Cameron, Historic Preservation Planner II
Clare Brandt, Administrative Specialist II
Michelle Mikoni, Historic Preservation Intern
Consideration of Historic Preservation Organization
Public hearing and consideration of recognition of Friends of the Boulder–
Dushanbe Teahouse as a historic preservation organization, as defined in 9-16,
Boulder Revised Code, 1981.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the Landmarks Board recognize Friends of the Boulder–
Dushanbe Teahouse as a historic preservation organization.
Recommended Motion
I move that the Board recognize Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse as
a historic preservation organization as defined in section 9-16-1 of the Boulder
Revised Code by adopting the attached resolution (Attachment A).
Purpose
The purpose of this item is for the Landmarks Board to consider whether Friends
of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse meets the definition of a “historic preservation
organization” as defined in Section 9-16 of the B.R.C. and whether it should be
recognized as such.
Analysis
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The Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse is an unincorporated nonprofit
association established in the early 1990s and comprises several individuals who
share a goal to support the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse and oversee
preservation of the building. Members of the organization include Vern Seieroe,
Kathryn Barth, William Bechhoefer, Karl Anuta, and Joe Stepanek.
Vern Seieroe has been a longtime architect for the Dushanbe Teahouse,
beginning with the building’s assembly. He worked closely with Lado Shanidze,
the architect for the design and fabrication of the Tajik portion of the teahouse.
Vern has overseen several additions to the teahouse, such as the kitchen
addition, acting with great care to follow landmark design guidelines to preserve
the historic fabric of the building. In addition to the Teahouse, Vern has worked
on a substantial number of preservation projects around Boulder, including
rehabilitation of the Macky Auditorium Concert Hall and the Citizen’s National
Bank Building on Pearl St.
Kathryn Barth has been a member of the AIA since 1983. She has been a
registered architect in the state of Colorado since 1988 and has served as both a
member of the Boulder Landmarks Board and Historic Boulder, Inc. Kathryn has
worked on several architectural surveys, cultural reports, and historic structure
assessments, as well as co-authored two books related to Colorado’s heritage.
She has a noticeable presence in the preservation community and holds various
awards in design and preservation, including a 2012 Statewide Steven H. Hart
Award.
William Bechhoefer received his M.Arch in 1967 from the Harvard Graduate
School of Design. He has worked as an educator since 1968, teaching in Tunisia
and Afghanistan before becoming a professor at the University of Maryland’s
School of Architecture, Planning, and Preservation. William has practiced
architecture both independently and as a professional consultant and advisor.
Throughout his career, William has had a considerable amount of work
published, from scholarly articles to full-length books. His most recent work can
be found in the preface of the 2019 publication An Architecture of Dialogue:
Learning from the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse.
Karl Anuta and Joe Stepanek are both highly active participants within Boulder’s
preservation community. Karl has been a longtime advocate for the
conservation of the Teahouse and Joe is an active member of the Boulder
Dushanbe Sister Cities organization. Joe also is the homeowner of a Boulder
residence listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Together, these individuals make up a diverse team with complimenting
backgrounds. They demonstrate both professional training and personal
experience in historic preservation, making them a competent group to represent
the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse.
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The Boulder Revised Code defines a “historic preservation organization” as “an
organization with demonstrated experience and expertise in historic preservation
that has been recognized by the Landmarks Board”. Staff considers that the
Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse meets the definition of a historic
preservation organization as defined in 9-11-17 of the Boulder Revised Code.
Attachments
A: Draft Resolution Recognizing Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse
as an “historic preservation organization”.
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ATTACHMENT A
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE FRIENDS OF THE BOULDER–
DUSHANBE TEAHOUSE AS A HISTORIC PRESERVATION
ORGANIZATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION 9-16-1 OF THE
BOULDER REVISED CODE, 1981
WHEREAS, the Landmarks Board of the City of Boulder, Colorado, has
considered the history, membership, and qualifications of the Friends of the Boulder–
Dushanbe Teahouse, an unincorporated nonprofit association; and
WHEREAS, the Landmarks Board of the City of Boulder, Colorado, hereby finds
that Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse is an historic preservation organization as
defined in section 9-16-1 of the Boulder Revised Code, as amended;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LANDMARKS BOARD OF
THE CITY OF BOULDER, COLORADO, THAT:
Friends of the Boulder–Dushanbe Teahouse is recognized as an organization with
demonstrated experience and expertise in historic preservation.
INTRODUCED, READ, PASSED, AND ADOPTED this 4th day of March, 2020
_____________________________
Landmarks Preservation Advisory
Board Chair
Attest:
______________________________________
Staff Liaison to the Landmarks Board
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