406 Pearl demolition DooleyFrom:gwen dooley
To:Historic Preservation
Subject:406 Pearl demolition
Date:Monday, May 31, 2021 5:44:41 PM
External Sender
I have an abiding interest in this historic block: I own 438 Pearl and 1911 5th St., and I
marshalled through the creation of the pocket park at 5th and Pearl as a Community
Development Block Grant Committee member before I served on the city council, the
Boulder Housing Authority, the Open Space Board of Trustees, and the Parks and Recreation
Advisory Board. On the Parks Board, I helped Sheila Fortune with her community gardens
and the approval of its fence by the Landmarks Board.
The reason that Landmarks has received so little public input, is that the public hasn't known
that all this was happening to what is acknowledged as a highly visible property. At the
August 12, 2020 Landmarks hearing I attended via phone, I pointed out that no Public Notice
had been posted on the property. When Fran Sheets and a male board member inquired about
this fact, someone from the city attorney's office responded that the city manager had simply
waived that requirement because of covid. Excuse me? This made no sense then or now.
Posting a Public Notice outside on the fence posed no danger to anyone. Moreover, the Land
Use Code requires that 2 notices be posted there: one facing Pearl and one facing 4th St. Two
notices are now correctly posted, even though neither refers to the demolition the new owners
are asking for. 'Alteration' does not convey the threat that 'demolition' does. Whereas I assume
the city did put the required notice in the Camera, we all know only those in the know look at
such notices. And most folks in Boulder do not even subscribe to the newspaper.
The whole point of a Public Notice is to notify the public that something important is
happening that they should know about. If the city manager did take it upon herself to deny
the public this information, there had to be another reason other than covid for doing so. God
knows what. Meanwhile everyone else seeking a city permit was being told to go on-line and
print out their permit to post in a highly visible place for the public to see and read, e.g., the
front window of the property.
I believe there is a serious question to be asked here: Does the city manager even have the
legal right to waive the city Land Use Code mandated posting of 2 Public Notices? I doubt it,
but I'm checking now with a previous attorney in that office.
The lack of a public response -- other than mine -- was a direct result of the lack of sufficient
Public Notice. Apparently only property owners received any notice, which is discriminatory.
All the people who use these 2 streets and their sidewalks were left in the dark. All the
walkers and tourists going to Red Rocks, all the drivers who use the round-about, and most all
of the neighbors. (In fact l just spoke with a young woman on 4th St. who was carrying
groceries into her home. "Did you know that the little brick house across the street is slated to
be demolished?" Her answer, a sad and surprisingly loud, "Oh, no!" I told her she should read
one of the signs.
In fact, Sheila Fortune who still owns and pays the city water bill for her property just to the
south of 406 Pearl did not know about any of this until this past Saturday, when I informed
her. Sheila received no notice in the mail for the August 12th hearing nor for this one on the
2nd. She plans to attend.
In addition to informing her, I thought her foundation might be interested in purchasing the
property if the new owners decide to unload it and build their dream house somewhere less
problematic. ( As an aside I 'm sure they do not know about all the honking that takes place at
the round-about because people don't know how to use it. My son at 438 Pearl hears it loud
and clear -- frequently.)
For all of the above reasons and reasoning, I respectfully ask the Landmarks Board to set aside
all decisions regarding 406 Pearl until the public has been properly informed as the Land Use
Code requires. To do otherwise does a disservice to our Boulder citizens who expect more
from our local governmental officials than most communities do.