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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCultural Resources Board - Minutes - 09/21/1977i CULTURAL RESOURCES BOARD SPECIAL MEETING September 21, 1977 Present: Jack Curfman Ray Dixon Pauline Birky Charles Hagemeister Martha Trimble Ellen Thexton Historic Preservation Guests: Langdon Morris Bill Waldo Liston Leyendecker Gary Hixon Absent: Frank Johnson Ross Loomis There had previously been an Historic Landmark Commission in Fort Collins. It was abolished and the Cultural Resources Board took over. This Commission is still on ordinance, since it was not repealed and could now be reestablished under the Board. Longdon Morris Report Denver Historic Preservation Commission Denver has 103 designations of historic landmarks and 7 designated districts. There are now 4,000 structures on Denver's inventory. Some are high priority structures which are taken first for work on designation. Other requests for designations come from owners of the structures. When information comes from owners, it is then checked by members of the Commission through information in Western Section of Denver Public Library and the State Historical Society. Philosophy behind saving landmarks: Historical significance Architectural significance Visual importance (public interest) Benefits for designation: Tax Reform Act of 1976 Satisfaction of designation Acknowledge importance of ancestors Don't have to comply with off street parking for office spaces Can put offices in inappropriate zones, if housed in historic landmark Restoration controls: There is no interest in controling work on interior. Concern is with the exterior, but have to keep realism and practicality in mind, especially in regard to security, weather leakage and safety. Work must stay within visual context of the building. It can be done in such a way to make the building more interesting, but work has to be in the time period style of building. Demolition is automa'ically disapproved. Denver normally allows the 3 architects on the Commission to approve or dis- approve proposed exterior alterations. If a problem occurs, then the decisions come to the whole Commission. 90 days are provided from the time of a request to work out any difficulties with the owners. After 90 days, if no working agreement is reached, the owner is free to go ahead with plans and even to demolish. Cultural Resources Board Special Meeting September 21, 1977 page 2 Process for designation: The Commission nominates a building and presents the nomination to the Planning Board. This staff reviews the structure in terms of problems of zoning and related issues. The Planning Board presents the nomination to City Council and the Mayor. The Commission is budgeted as part of the Planning Office. 50% of a Planning secretary's time is given to the Commission. Printing and mailing and bronze plaques are figured in the budget. The Tax Reform Act deals with buildings of commercial purpose which are registered on the National Registery or are eligible for that designation. To determine eligibility, request an opinion from the State Historical Preservation o°ficer. Local criteria can be approved as compatible with the National criteria through a certain process, which Denver is working on now for its criteria. For the local designations it is advisable to get a written commitment from the owners on the work to be done on the structure, so it is not made incom- patible during the interim between Council approval and actual registry in the Ordinance.