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Home My WebLink About2010 - Landmark Preservation Commission - Annual ReportCommunity Development & Neighborhood Services 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.416.2740 970.224.6134- fax fcgov.com Planning, Development & Transportation Services MEMORANDUM January 31, 2011 TO: Karla Smith, Boards and Commissions Coordinator TH: Steve Dush, Director, Community Development and Neighborhood Services FR: Karen McWilliams, Historic Preservation Planner RE: Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) 2010 Annual Report 1. Overview: The City’s budget shortfall has affected all city programs, including Historic Preservation. On January 1, 2010, professional staffing for Historic Preservation was reduced by one FTE. With the loss of this position, it has proven to be challenging to maintain the quality of Fort Collins’ nationally recognized program. However, through innovative management practices, including cross-training of staff, enhanced tracking, and re-organizing priorities, all significant components of the program are being sustained. Historic preservation in Fort Collins continues to face successes and challenges – possibly none as contentious as the issue of scrape- offs, pop-ups, and inappropriate remodels and additions, principally to properties in the historic Eastside and Westside core neighborhoods and the historic downtown. This problem is being addressed through the East and West Side Neighborhoods Design Study, the adoption of the Voluntary Design Review Program, and funding for the Professional Design Assistance Program. 2. Landmark Preservation Commission Membership: A. Term Ended: - Earen Russell - W. J. “Bud” Frick B. Resignations: - None C. New Appointees/Re-appointees: - W. J. “Bud” Frick - Pat Tvede D. Members and their Qualifications: - Terence Hoaglund, Chair – Landscape Architect and Principal of Vignette Studios, a landscape architecture and site planning firm. - John Albright –National Park Service (Retired). Taught history and historic preservation at CSU; has, for many years, served on the Colorado Historical Society’s Preservation Advisory Board, and as a State Historic Fund Advisor. - W. J. “Bud” Frick – Architect and Principal of W.J. Frick Design Group. Long-time LPC board member, providing unsurpassed perspective and institutional memory. - Sondra Carson – Owner of a designated Fort Collins Landmark property; experience in grant and financial incentives management. - 2 - - Ron Sladek – Principal, Tatanka Historical Associates, a historic preservation consulting firm. M.A. in History. - Doug Ernest – Retired Colorado State University Librarian. M.A. in History and M.A. in Librarianship - Pat Tvede – Retired educator; owner of a designated Fort Collins Landmark property; experience in historic research 3. Year in Review: In 2010, the Commission convened 22 times, for 12 regular meetings, 1 special meeting, and 9 work sessions. A. Designations: Due to reduced staffing for outreach and processing, there were no Landmark designations in 2010. B. State Tax Credit for Historic Preservation: Due to staff reductions, local review of all new State Tax Credits for Historic Preservation projects was discontinued. The Commission reviewed and approved four State Tax Credit applications already in process. In 2010, the final two ongoing projects were reviewed, resulting in tax savings of $19,937.00 and $8,663.71 respectively for these owners. C. Grants: In 2010, the Preservation Program managed seven State Historical Fund (SHF) and Certified Local Government (CLG) grants, totaling $780,054.00: ▪ $65,000.00 - Post World War II Context and Survey (SHF 2008-02-031) ▪ $24,390.00 - North Campus Survey (CLG CO-10-014) ▪ $44,694.00 - Coca-Cola Sign Restoration/Rehabilitation (SHF 2009-M2-007) ▪ $430,270.00 - Avery Block Restoration/Rehabilitation (SHF 2010-02-048) ▪ $30,000.00 - Avery Block Building Easement ▪ $132,000.00 - Paramount Cottage Camp Rehabilitation (SHF 2010-02-040) ▪ $33,550.00 - Paramount Cottage Camp East Building Roof (SHF 2011 M1-001) ▪ $600.00 - Staff and Commission Training, 2010 Saving Places Conference D. Landmark Rehabilitation Loan Program: In 2010, this program generated a total of $59,493.00 in rehabilitation work, by provided local preservation assistance zero % interest loans to eight properties. City funds of $27,245.00 were matched by $32,248.00 in private funding. Landmark Rehab Loan Funding Snapshot 2010: Eight Applications Funded Matching Funds: $32,248 Amount Awarded: $27,245 Total Project Amount: $59,493 Ratio of private dollars to public dollars: 1.2:1 1995 – 2010: 123 Applications Funded Matching Funds: $2.78 m Amount Awarded: $397,040 Total Project Amount: $3.28 m Ratio of private dollars to public dollars: 7:1 - 3 - E. Design Review: In 2010, the Commission and staff conducted reviews of 37 alterations to the exteriors of Landmark properties. 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 LPC Design Review 30 26 19 23 17 22 18 Staff Admin. Sign Review 26 11 12 19 12 18 10 Staff Admin. Design Review 15 14 22 16 9 15 9 Totals 71 51 53 58 38 55 37 Notable design review projects included: - 146 North College Ave., The Vault – Façade Restoration - 111 North College Ave., Clothes Pony – New Façade Entrance - 418 Remington Street, Brinker House - Restoration/Rehabilitation for State Tax Credit - 150-152 North College Ave., Bradley Studio/Surfside 7 – Restoration/ Rehabilitation for State Tax Credit F. Demolition/Alteration Review: Staff processed a total of 491 demolition/alteration requests of buildings 50 years old and older in 2010. These requests included 34 demolition permits, 56 commercial alterations and additions, and the review of 120 permits for residential alterations and additions: Demolition permits: 34 Commercial Additions: 4 Commercial General Alterations: 36 Commercial Minor Alterations: 16 Residential Additions: 25 Residential General Alterations: 47 Residential Minor Alterations: 48 New Construction: 23 Re-roofing: 230 Miscellaneous: 28 G. Preservation Awareness: In 2010, the Commission sponsored two programs promoting public awareness of historic preservation: - National Historic Preservation Week Proclamation - “Friend of Preservation Awards” – Six recipients H. LPC Training in 2010: ▪ Colorado Preservation Inc.’s “2010 Saving Places” conference, attended by LPC Commission members Terence Hoaglund and Doug Ernest, and 16 City of Fort Collins staff, including the Deputy City Manager, the Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services, Zoning and Building Department officials, all Current Planners, and the Historic Preservation Planner. - 4 - ▪ City Plan Van community education mobile program, on East Side/West Side Design Standards, attended by Doug Ernest. ▪ Board and Commissions Training, presented by the Fort Collins City Attorney’s and City Clerk’s Offices. All new and continuing LPC members have taken this training. - I. Changes to Historic Preservation Ordinance and/or By-Laws: Changes that affected the Historic Preservation Program in 2010 included: ▪ Ordinance No 108, 2009, adopted on November 3, 2009, amended the Landmark Rehabilitation Loan Program to increase the maximum loan amount from $5,000.00 to $7,500.00, and provides for the ability to conduct a semi-annual application process. ▪ Landmark Preservation Commission By-Laws were amended on December 9, 2009, changing regular meetings from twice monthly to once each month with a monthly work session. J. Other Business: Additionally, in 2010, the Commission provided comments or took action regarding these items: ▪ Discontinued Local Review of State Tax Credits for Historic Preservation ▪ Plan Fort Collins ▪ Historic Preservation Quality Improvement Study ▪ City’s 2011 - 2012 Budget, including restoration of the Design Assistance Program; ▪ East and West Side Neighborhoods Design Standards Study ▪ Landmark Rehabilitation Loan Program allocations ▪ Friends of Preservation Award Selections ▪ Deconstruction of the Poudre Valley Creamery, 222 Laporte ▪ Deines Sugar Beet Worker House, 209 Third Street, Relocation Efforts ▪ Retention of Historic Flagstone Sidewalks, Coal Chutes, Manhole Covers, etc. ▪ Top 20 List ▪ Green Building Codes ▪ 2009 International Building Codes ▪ Fort Collins Architectural Style Brochure/Web Page ▪ 2011 LPC Work Plan