HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 5A 2425 Colorado Ave Memo 03.12.25
MEMORANDUM TO THE LANDMARKS BOARD
March 12, 2025
STAFF
Brad Mueller, Director of Planning and Development Services
Kristofer Johnson, Comprehensive Planning Senior Manager
Chris Reynolds, Deputy City Attorney, City Attorney’s Office
Marcy Gerwing, Principal Historic Preservation Planner
Clare Brandt, Historic Preservation Planner
Aubrey Noble, Historic Preservation Program Coordinator
Meron Shiferaw, Historic Preservation Intern
CONSIDERATION OF INITIATION HEARING
Public hearing to consider adopting a resolution to initiate the process for landmark designation of 2425
Colorado Ave. pursuant to Section 9-11-3 of the Boulder Revised Code, 1981 or alternatively issue a
demolition approval pursuant to Section 9-11-23 B.R.C, 1981.
Address: 2425 Colorado Ave.
Case Number: HIS2024-00206
Owner: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, represented by jv DeSousa LLC
Applicant: City of Boulder Landmarks Board
Case Type: Initiation
Code Section: 9-11-3, B.R.C., 1981
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The building at 2425 Colorado Ave. is currently proposed for demolition. At a public hearing on
November 20, 2024, the Landmarks Board found the building to be eligible for landmark designation
based on its historic, architectural and environmental significance. The Landmarks Board placed a stay of
demolition on the property to provide time to consider alternatives to demolition. During the stay, the
Landmarks Board members, staff and applicants met to discuss alternatives to demolition. If the
Landmarks Board does not take action on the application prior to March 19, 2025, the stay of demolition
will expire and demolition of the building will be approved per Section 9-11-23, B.R.C. 1981.
The decision for the Landmarks Board is whether or not to initiate the landmark designation process or,
alternatively, issue a demolition approval.
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Staff recommends the Board not initiate landmark designation and allow the stay to expire on March 19,
2025. The applicant has represented that this historic preservation demolition application was
submitted in the exploratory phase of redevelopment plans, and that the redevelopment will likely
involve a future Comprehensive Plan Land Use change request, rezoning, and Site Review Application.
As the building is eligible for landmark designation and historic preservation will continue to be
considered as part of any future discretionary development review, not initiating landmark designation
would represent a reasonable balance between private property rights and public interest and be
consistent with the goals and policies of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
PUBLIC COMMENT
At the Landmarks Board Nov. 20, 2024 public hearing, eight members of the public spoke regarding the
application: One spoke in support of a stay of demolition; five spoke in support of demolition; two spoke
to request the Landmarks Board not Initiate designation (see 11.20.2024 Landmarks Board Minutes and
meeting recording.)
In addition, 14 members of the public wrote to the Landmarks Board prior to the demolition hearing to
request the Landmarks Board not Initiate designation (see 11.20.2024 Public Comment).
Between Nov. 20 and Feb. 27, 70 members of the public wrote to the Landmarks Board. The majority of
letters are from members of the congregation and are in support of demolition and opposed to
initiation of landmark designation. (See Attachment B: Public Comment received between Nov. 20,
2024 and Feb. 27, 2025).
OPTIONS FOR THE BOARD’S DECISION
(1)Initiate designation of the property as an individual landmark by adopting the resolution
under Attachment A.
If the Board chooses to initiate the process for reviewing the designation of the property, it
must do so by resolution. A draft resolution is included in Attachment A: Draft Resolution. If
initiated, the application will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Landmarks Board
between 60 to 120 days in order to determine whether the proposed designation conforms with
the purposes and standards in Sections 9-11-1 Legislative Intent and 9-11-2 City Council May
Designate Landmarks and Historic Districts B.R.C. 1981. The owner must obtain a Landmark
Alteration Certificate prior to the submission of building permit applications for the property if
they choose to proceed while the application is pending, or they may choose to wait until the
application process is complete.
(2)Do not initiate landmark designation
The Landmarks Board may make a motion to not initiate landmark designation, in which case
the stay of demolition will continue until March 19, 2025. If the Landmarks Board allows the
stay of demolition to expire, the city manager will approve the demolition application for the
building after March 19, 2025.
(3)Approve the demolition application.
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The Landmarks Board may make a motion to issue a demolition approval pursuant to Section 9-
11-23 B.R.C, 1981. The approval would be valid for 180 days (Sept. 8, 2025). If a Deconstruction
Permit is not obtained within that time period, a new demolition application is required.
BACKGROUND
• On Sept. 9, 2024, the owner submitted a complete application to demolish the building at 2425
Colorado Ave. Staff referred the application to the full Landmarks Board, finding “probable cause to
believe the building may be eligible for landmark designation.”
• On Nov. 20, 2024, the Landmarks Board voted (3-1, Castellano dissenting, Daniels absent) to place a
stay-of-demolition on the application, finding the building may be eligible for designation and
contributes to the character of the neighborhood, and it had not been demonstrated to be
impractical or economically unfeasible to rehabilitate the buildings. See 11.20.2024 Landmarks
Board Minutes and 2425 Colorado Ave. Memo to Landmarks Board 11.20.2024 (link).
• During the stay, representatives of the Landmarks Board and staff met with the owner and applicant
group to discuss alternatives to demolition, detailed in the Analysis section. The owner submitted
additional information to the Landmarks Board (see 2425 Colorado Ave. update to LB provided by
applicant). During the stay-of demolition, seven community members attended a site visit.
• Following the meeting with the Landmarks Board members and staff, the owners and applicants
met with the Planning & Development Services Director and staff from Development Review and
Comprehensive Planning to understand the process to amend the existing Low Density Residential
land use and Residential-Low – 1 (RL-1) zoning in order to redevelop the property. Staff encouraged
participation in the community engagement and land use update as part of the 2025 Boulder Valley
Comprehensive Plan Update.
• On Feb. 5, 2025, the Landmarks Board voted (4-0, Golobic absent) to schedule a hearing to consider
whether to initiate landmark designation or to issue a demolition permit for the building at 2425
Colorado Ave. See 02.05.2025 Landmarks Board Meeting Record (link) and 02.05.2025 Meeting
Recording.
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Date of Construction: 1957 – 1965 (Boulder Daily Camera); 1979 (County Records)
Zoning: RL-1 (Residential-Low 1)
Lot Size: 59,192 square feet (City of Boulder GIS estimate)
Building Size: 10,585 square feet (County Assessor)
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Figure 1. Left: Map of central Boulder showing location of 2425 Colorado Ave. northeast of the main University
of Colorado campus (location flagged). Right: Location of 2425 Colorado Ave. to the north of Colorado Avenue
and east of Folsom Street midblock between Folsom and 26th Streets (property flagged). eMapLink (link).
The property is located midblock between 26th and Folsom Street on the north side of Colorado Avenue.
The building faces south onto Colorado Avenue. The University of Colorado campus is to the southwest
(across Colorado Avenue to the south and Folsom Street to the west.) The property is not within the
boundaries of an identified potential historic district.
Figure 2. West end of the south elevation constructed in 1957 showing the asymmetrical front facing steeply-
pitched gable roof with wide overhanging eaves and roof that descends almost to the ground at the southwest
corner. The ribbon windows fill the central part of the façade to the pediment. A square bell tower (steeple) at
the southwest corner is topped with a 750-pound bell and an open gable roof form.
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Figure 3. East end and central part of the south elevation of building, constructed 1965 showing the connecting
parts of the building and the masonry addition with A-frame roof form created to represent a spire.
Figure 4. Left: West elevation showing the covered court off the west side of the original chapel and the flat-roof
portion to the rear of the building (left side of image) that originally housed the student lounge and offices.
Right: The north elevation of the building showing the original parish house in the foreground and the 1965
addition in the background.
PURPOSE AND CRITERIA FOR THE BOARD’S DECISION
The Landmarks Board may hold a public hearing to consider initiating landmark designation and may
consider, without limitation Section 9-11-3 Initiation of Designation for Individual Landmarks and
Historic Districts B.R.C. 1981, Section 9-11-1, Purpose and Legislative Intent, and Section 9-11-2, City
Council May Designate or Amend Landmarks and Historic Districts. Initiation hearings are legislative, not
quasi-judicial.
ANALYSIS DETERMINING WHETHER TO INITIATE DESIGNATION
The following is the staff’s analysis of the standards for determining whether to initiate the designation
of an individual landmark designation:
Section 9-11-1, Purpose and Legislative Intent
(a) The purpose of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare by protecting,
enhancing and perpetuating buildings, sites and areas of the city reminiscent of past eras,
events and persons important in local, state or national history or providing significant
examples of architectural styles of the past. It is also the purpose of this chapter to develop and
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maintain appropriate settings and environments for such buildings, sites and areas to enhance
property values, stabilize neighborhoods, promote tourist trade and interest and foster
knowledge of the city’s living heritage.
Analysis: At their Nov. 20, 2024 meeting, the Landmarks Board found the property to be eligible
for individual landmark designation, based on its architectural, historic and environmental
significance. See 2425 Colorado Ave. Memo to Landmarks Board 11.20.2024 (link) for full
significance analysis. Summary as follows:
Architectural Significance
The building has architectural significance as an example of Modernist architectural style using a
modified A-Frame form. Fisher, Fisher and Davis, one of the state’s most important architecture
firms of the Twentieth Century, designed the original building in 1956. Arthur Fisher (1878-1965)
officially retired from the firm in 1956 and it is unknown whether he was involved in the design. The
firm designed and constructed several prominent homes, churches, hospitals, and schools as well as
commercial designs such as the Denver City Tramway Building at 1100 14th Street, Denver and the A.
C. Foster Building at 912 16th Street, Denver, the State Capital Annex, and the Denver Public Library.
Art Everett and Alan Zeigel, of the firm Everett/Zeigel, co-designed the 1965 addition to the building
with William Heinzman. Everett/Zeigel was formed in 1964. Art Everett and Alan Zeigel are
considered two of Boulder’s “masters of local Modernism.”1 William Heinzman was chief designer
for James M. Hunter and associates before 1961. In the mid-1960s, Heinzman partnered with
Charles S. Ingalls to create the firm Heinzman and Ingalls. Together they are credited for designing
the Colorado Book Store (1111 Broadway St., 1965)2 and the Boulder National Bank (1600 28th St.).
The architect-designed characteristics of the Modernist style using an A-Frame form including the
character-defining roof/wall truss system with a steeply-pitched front gable form creating the
dominant triangular shape; deep, inset eaves; and subordinate vertical walls.
Historic Significance
The property has historic significance for its association with St. Aiden’s Church and as part of the
Post-WWII development of Boulder, when many congregations chose forward-looking, modern
designs to accommodate growing worshipping populations. The original part of the building was
constructed in 1957 under the leadership of Rev. Alexander Balfour Patterson, Jr. and Virginia Helen
“Gingy” Wheeler Patterson for St. Aidan’s Church (Colorado Diocese’s Chapel of St. Aidan and
Bishop Ingley Episcopal Student Center. Rev. Patterson and Virginia Patterson were instrumental in
the formation of St. Aidan’s Episcopal Chapel, and the institution’s continued success in Boulder.
Rev. Patterson, known as “Father Pat” was the first Episcopal chaplain to the University of Colorado,
Boulder beginning in 1948. In addition to raising three children, Father Pat and wife Virginia
1 Palia, Michael, Leonard Segal, Diane Wray “Modern Architectural Structures in Boulder: 1947-1977.” 2000.
https://localhistory.boulderlibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A94995
2 Boulder Daily Camera, 29 April 1965, page 16, cited by: Front Range Research Associates. “National Register of Historic Places Registration
Form: Boulder University Hill Commercial Historic District.” 2017. https://bouldercolorado.gov/media/2421/download?inline=
Item 5A - 2425 Colorado Ave. Memo 03.12.2025 Page 6 of 13
Patterson were active participants in the St. Aidan’s parish and the wider Boulder community.
Following the pattern of post-WWII development, the church offered a modern aesthetic while
connecting to older religious traditions. As Gretchen Buggeln states in The Suburban Church:
Modernism and Community in Postwar America, “The initial successful match between the A-frame
church and the aspirations of congregations indicates its special correspondence with new postwar
religious culture. The A-frame balanced the tensions suburbanites navigated…It met the ‘looks like a
church’ criterion while signaling a contemporary spirit.”3 The church was expanded in 1965 with a
large addition. Although the building itself wasn’t surveyed, a 2018 report on Historic Context of A-
frame Architecture in Boulder County stated: “Individual landmark listing should be explored for the
few remaining, intact, architect-designed [A-Frame form] examples in the county.”4
Environmental Significance
The property possesses some environmental significance, as a visual landmark near Folsom and
Colorado Avenue, and adjacent to other notable mid-century modern churches. The property is not
located within an identified potential or designated historic district. The character of the area has
changed over the last few decades: Prior to the 1940’s, the area was largely rural. Around the time
of the church addition in 1965, the University of Colorado, Boulder expanded into the area to the
south, with the construction of the Engineering Buildings and parking lots. Colorado Avenue was
widened between 1971 and 1978. The northeast corner of Colorado Avenue and Folsom Street is
distinct as it includes three Modernist architect-designed places of worship, generally intact to their
original designs. Two of the three buildings were included in the 2000 Historic Context and Survey of
Modern Architecture in Boulder, Colorado 1947-1977 5 and found to be potentially eligible for local
landmark designation and listing in the State Register of Historic Places: the 1963 chapel addition to
the Rocky Mountain Lutheran Church at 1202 Folsom St. was designed by the architectural firm of
Ditzen, Royland, Mueller and constructed by Trico Builders Company. The Lutheran chapel is
significant “as an expressionistic manifestation of this Modernistic design with its sculptural form,
irregularly shaped windows, use of materials, and organic form.” 6
Additionally, just to the north is the Wesley Foundation’s Methodist Student Center at 1290 Folsom
Street. This building was designed in 1965 by Boulder architect Hobart D. Wagener and is significant
in that it “embodies the characteristics of the Expressionist style” with its strong sculptural form,
irregularly shaped windows, non-traditional structural elements, and use of cantilever, and as the
work Wagener, an acknowledged master of Boulder architecture.7
3 Arch Professionals, Mead Hunt. “Historic Context of A-frame Architecture in Boulder County.” April 2018. Prepared for Boulder County Land
Use Department. https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2020/A-
frame%20Architecture%20in%20Boulder%20County_Part%201.pdf
4 Arch Professionals, Mead Hunt. Ibid.
5 Palia, Michael, Leonard Segal, Diane Wray “Modern Architectural Structures in Boulder: 1947-1977.” 2000.
https://localhistory.boulderlibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A94995
6 “1202 Folsom Street historic building inventory record.” June 2000. Call No. 780 Folsom 1202b. Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder.
https://localhistory.boulderlibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A18233
7 “1290 Folsom Street historic building inventory record.” June 2000. Call No. 780 Folsom 1290. Carnegie Library for Local History, Boulder.
https://localhistory.boulderlibrary.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A18266
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While St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church was not included in the survey of Modern architectural
structures, the character of the neighborhood is made unique through the grouping of these three
distinctly Modernist buildings that exemplify a unique regional architectural movement in Boulder.
(b) The city council does not intend by this chapter to preserve every old building in the city but
instead to draw a reasonable balance between private property rights and the public interest in
preserving the city's cultural, historic and architectural heritage by ensuring that demolition of
buildings and structures important to that heritage will be carefully weighed with other
alternatives and that alterations to such buildings and structures and new construction will
respect the character of each such setting, not by imitating surrounding structures, but by being
compatible with them.
In recognition of the need to draw a reasonable balance between private property rights and the
public interest in preserving the city’s cultural, historic, and architectural heritage, the Landmarks
Board has pursued the initiation of landmark designation over the owner’s objection only rarely.
Over the past 10 years, more than 70 stays-of-demolition have been imposed by the Board. Only
three times during that period has the Board initiated and subsequently recommended landmark
designation of a property over the owner’s objection.8 However, many stays during this same period
have resulted in the preservation of eligible buildings. Recent examples in which stays of demolition
have resulted in the owner filing an application for landmark designation include 1836 Pearl St.
(2019), 2326 Goss St. (2019) and 2122 22nd St. (2021). Likewise, there are many examples of stays
that have been allowed to expire (or demolition applications approved prior the stay expiring) by
the Board when reasonable alternatives to demolition have not been found.
The building at 2425 Colorado Ave. is currently proposed for demolition and the Landmarks Board
placed a stay of demolition on the application to provide time to consider alternatives to demolition.
During the stay, representatives of the Landmarks Board and staff met with the owners to discuss
alternatives to demolition, including preservation in place as part of future redevelopment, and
preservation of a portion of the building. The applicant group presented feasibility studies to the
Landmarks Board (see 2425 Colorado Ave. update to LB provided by applicant), demonstrating the
opportunities and constraints of incorporating the building into redevelopment plans.
Regarding the cost of rehabilitation, the applicant group provided the following statement:
The annual operating costs of maintaining our current building are becoming prohibitive; we
regularly deal with plumbing and heating failures, leaking roofs, while parishioners and guests
suffer from our lack of air-conditioning during the summer months.
Further, our Energy Star rating is 38%, meaning 62% of buildings like ours use less energy
per square foot.
8 Demolition applications that the Landmarks Board voted to initiate landmark designation and recommend designation to City Council
between 2013 and 2021 include 747 12th St. (2014); 2326 Goss St. (2019); and 940 North St. (2019).
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Greenhouse Gas emissions (GHG), is 62.8 metric tons per year. To be carbon neutral, we
would need to plant 3,000 trees to offset our emissions.
Due to the size of the property and the location of the existing building, staff does not consider the
incorporation of the building into redevelopment to be unfeasible, nor does it consider the cost of
rehabilitation to be unreasonable as part of the redevelopment of the overall site.
Section 9-11-2. - City Council May Designate or Amend Landmarks and Historic Districts.
(a)Pursuant to the procedures in this chapter the city council may by ordinance:
(1) Designate as a landmark an individual building or other feature or an integrated group of
structures or features on a single lot or site having a special character and historical,
architectural or aesthetic interest or value and designate a landmark site for each landmark.
On Feb. 5, 2025, the Landmarks Board voted (4-0, Golobic absent) to schedule a hearing to consider
whether to initiate landmark designation. See 02.05.2025 Landmarks Board Meeting Record (link).
Section 9-11-3(d), Initiation of Designation for Individual Landmarks and Historic Districts – Criteria for
Review
(1)There is probable cause to believe that the building or district may be eligible for designation as
an individual landmark or historic district consistent with the purposes and standards in sections
9-11-1 Legislative Intent, 9-11-2 City Council May Designate or Amend Landmarks and Historic
Districts, and 9-16-1, General Definitions B.R.C. 1981;
On Nov. 20, 2024, the Landmarks Board determined the building is eligible for individual landmark
designation. See analysis above regarding historic, architectural, and environmental significance.
(2)There are currently resources available that would allow the city manager to complete all of the
community outreach and historic analysis necessary for the application;
Initiation of landmark designation over an owner’s objection requires additional staff resources
including outreach and analysis. There are limited staff resources available to process applications
for designation of a property without the owner’s input or community support. Diverting resources
away from other Board and program priorities is not recommended.
(3)There is community and neighborhood support for the proposed designation;
The Landmarks Board has received 70 letters from members of the public since the demolition
application was submitted. The majority of letters are from members of the congregation and are in
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support of demolition and opposed to initiation of landmark designation. Historic Boulder, Inc.
wrote a letter in support of designation.
At the Landmarks Board Nov. 20, 2024 public hearing, eight members of the public spoke regarding
the application: One spoke in support of a stay of demolition; five spoke in support of demolition;
two spoke to request the Landmarks Board not Initiate designation (see 11.20.2024 Landmarks
Board Minutes and meeting recording.)
In addition, 14 members of the public wrote to the Landmarks Board prior to the demolition hearing
to request the Landmarks Board not Initiate designation (see 11.20.2024 Public Comment).
Between Nov. 20 and Feb. 27, 70 members of the public wrote to the Landmarks Board. See
Attachment B: Public Comment received between Nov. 20, 2024 and Feb. 27, 2025.
(4)The buildings or features may need the protection provided through designation;
There is an active application for full demolition of the building. If the Landmarks Board does not
take action on the demolition application prior to the March 19, 2025 expiration of the stay of
demolition, the demolition of the building will be approved per Section 9-11-23, B.R.C. 1981. The
approval is valid for 180 days. If a Deconstruction Permit is not obtained within that time period, a
new historic preservation application will be required. The applicants have represented that the
application was submitted as part of an initial, exploratory phase to redevelopment, and that
redevelopment will be a multi-year project. If demolition is approved and the approval expires,
historic preservation will be considered in the future if a discretionary development review process
(e.g. Site Review) is required.
(5)The potential boundaries for the proposed district are appropriate;
Not applicable for individual landmarks.
(6)In balance, the proposed designation is consistent with the goals and policies of the Boulder
Valley Comprehensive Plan;
Policy 2.27 of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan states that, “The city and county will identify,
evaluate and protect buildings, structures, objects, districts, sites and natural features of historic,
architectural, archaeological or cultural significance with input from the community” and continues
“The city and county will seek protection of significant historic and cultural resources through local
designation when a proposal by the private sector is subject to discretionary development review.”
The plan does not speak specifically to landmark designation over an owner’s objection, but rather
encourages the protection of eligible buildings when a discretionary development review
application is submitted. This is to provide for a comprehensive review of the historic resources in
the context of the overall redevelopment plan, and is a more effective process to understand the
balance of the goals and policies in the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
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Staff and members of the Landmarks Board met with the applicant group to discuss possible
alternatives to demolition during the stay. Due to the size of the property and the location of the
existing building, staff does not consider the incorporation of the building into redevelopment to be
unfeasible, nor does it consider the cost of rehabilitation to be unreasonable as part of the
redevelopment of the overall site.
(7) The proposed designation would generally be in the public interest.
Staff considers that designating this property over the owner’s objection would not represent a
reasonable balance between private property rights and the public’s interest. Based on the scope of
the proposed redevelopment and the applicant’s redevelopment timeline, there will likely be a
future public process to consider the redevelopment of the property and whether designation
would generally be in the public interest, consistent with BVCP Policy 2.27.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
While staff considers the property to be eligible for individual landmark designation based on its
architectural, historic and environmental significance (see Analysis section), staff recommends the
Landmarks Board not initiate landmark designation for the property at 2425 Colorado Ave. for the
following reasons:
• While the building is proposed for demolition, the applicants have represented that the
building is actively being used and is in a years-long process to consider options to redevelop
the property. Staff believes that a preservation solution may still be found through
incorporation of the existing building into the eventual redevelopment of the site as those
plans are further designed.
• There are limited staff resources available to process applications for designation of a property
without the owner’s input or community support.
• Staff considers initiation over the owner’s objection would not represent a reasonable balance
between private property rights and public interest in preserving the city’s cultural, historic
and architectural heritage. This balance will be more appropriate to consider at the time of a
future discretionary review application when more redevelopment details will be available.
RECOMMENDED MOTION
Do Not Initiate Landmark Designation
I move that the Landmarks Board adopt the staff memorandum dated March 12, 2025, as the findings of
the board and not initiate the process for landmark designation, finding that it does not meet the criteria
for such initiation pursuant to Section 9-11-3 “Initiation of Designation for Individual Landmarks and
Historic Districts” of the Boulder Revised Code 1981, and, in balance, is not consistent with the goals and
policies of Section 2.27 of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan.
If the Landmarks Board does not take action on the demolition application prior to the March 19, 2025
expiration of the stay of demolition, demolition of the building will be approved per Section 9-11-23,
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B.R.C. 1981. Prior to demolition of the building, the City will require archival documentation of the
building through photographs and measured elevations.
ALTERNATIVE MOTION(S)
Approve Demolition
If the Landmarks Board chooses to issue a demolition approval pursuant to Section 9-11-23 B.R.C, 1981
of the Boulder Revised Code, 1981, staff recommends the following motion language:
I move that the Landmarks Board approve the application for demolition, finding that the building at
2425 Colorado Ave. does not meet the criteria for initiation pursuant to Section 9-11-3 “Initiation of
Designation for Individual Landmarks and Historic Districts” of the Boulder Revised Code 1981, and, in
balance, is not consistent with the goals and policies of Section 2.27 of the Boulder Valley Comprehensive
Plan.
As a condition of approval, prior to approval of the demolition application, the owner shall submit to
staff for review, approval, and recording with the Carnegie Library for Local History:
1.A site plan showing the location of all existing improvements on the subject property;
2.Measured elevation drawings of all exterior elevations of the building depicting existing
conditions, fully annotated with architectural details and materials indicated on the plans; and
3.High resolution and professional quality digital color images of all exterior elevations.
Initiate Landmark Designation
If the Landmarks Board chooses to initiate the process for landmark designation pursuant to Section 9-
11-3 of the Boulder Revised Code, 1981, staff recommends the following motion language:
I move that the Landmarks Board adopt the resolution (Attachment A) to initiate the process for
landmark designation, finding that it meets the criteria for such initiation pursuant to Section 9-11-3
“Initiation of Designation for Individual Landmarks and Historic Districts” of the Boulder Revised Code
1981, and, in balance, is consistent with the goals and policies of Section 2.27 of the Boulder Valley
Comprehensive Plan.
ATTACHMENTS
A: Draft Resolution
B: Public Comment received between Nov. 20, 2024 and Feb. 27, 2025
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RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE LANDMARKS BOARD INITIATING THE DESIGNATION OF 2425 COLORADO
AVE., BOULDER, COLO AS AN INDIVIDUAL LANDMARK.
WHEREAS, on February 5, 2025 the Landmarks Board voted to schedule an initiation hearing for 2425 Colorado
Ave.; and
WHEREAS, on March 12, 2025 the Landmarks Board held an initiation hearing to determine whether to
initiate designation of the property at 2425 Colorado Ave. and determined that the property meets the standards for
initiation;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LANDMARKS BOARD OF THE CITY OF BOULDER,
COLORADO:
The City of Boulder Landmarks Board hereby initiates the designation of 2425 Colorado Ave. as an
individual landmark and will schedule a designation hearing in accordance with the historic preservation ordinance
no fewer than sixty days and no greater than one hundred-twenty days from the date of this resolution.
ADOPTED this 12th day of March 2025.
This resolution is signed by the chair of the Landmarks Board on March 12, 2025.
_____________________________________
Chair, Landmarks Board
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Secretary to the Board
Attachment A - Draft Resolution
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