HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 12/02/2008 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 136, 2008, DESIGNA ITEM NUMBER: 8
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: December2, 2008
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Karen McWilliams
SUBJECT
Second Reading of Ordinance No. 136, 2008, Designating the Loomis-Jones House, 401 Smith
Street, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of this Ordinance on Second Reading.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Ordinance No. 136, 2008, unanimously adopted on First Reading on October 21, 2008, designates
the Loomis-Jones House,401 Smith Street,as a Fort Collins Landmark. The owners of the property,
Ralph and Patricia Tvede, are initiating this request.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Copy of First Reading Agenda Item Summary- October 21, 2008.
(w/o original attachments)
ATTACHMENT 1
ITEM NUMBER: 20
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: October 21, 2008
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL
- ,(TA F Karen McWilliams
SUBJECT ~-0'„'r
First Reading of Ordinance No. 136,2008,Designating the Loomis-Jones House,401 Smith Street,
as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
At a public hearing held on September 24, 2008, the Landmark Preservation Commission voted
unanimously to recommend designation of this property.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY COPY
The owners of the property, Ralph and Patricia Tvede, are initiating this request for Fort Collins
Landmark designation for the property. The property has significance to Fort Collins under
Landmark Preservation Standards (1) and (3). The residence is one of the oldest frame houses in
Fort Collins, and embodies many distinctive characteristics of the Vernacular Architectural Style
of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Additionally, the house at 401 Smith is significant for its
association with Abner Loomis, an important and well-known early citizen of Fort Collins.
Furthermore, the Loomis-Jones House is a rare surviving example of vernacular residential
architecture, built within two decades after the establishment of the Fort Collins town site. It has
been an integral part of the Eastside residential area since before 1894 and contributes to the historic
architectural character and diversity of the area.
BACKGROUND
According to an article in the FortC11insiC®rier, is a was ginally constructed on Linden
Street in 1872 by Dr. McClannaho nt sold the uilding and grounds to Abner
Loomis sometime between 1872 and 1889. The same article credits Perry Herrington in having
moved the "old Loomis house" to a new location on Petersen Street. This is consistent with
evidence documented by local historian Evadene Swanson. In her book,Fort Collins Yesterdays,
Ms. Swanson states that the Loomis house was enlarged in 1879 and moved to Petersen Street in
1889 as commercial development spread on Linden Street. Swanson posits that"later it may have
been moved to 401 Smith where, with its modern siding, it hardly appears old.."
October 21, 2008 -2- Item No. 20
However the home found its way to its present location, it was indeed located on Smith Street by
1894. At that time, its footprint showed that the only portions of the building not yet built were the
gabled rear wing behind the main, front gabled mass, and the shed-roofed rear porch affixed to the
gabled rear wing. Since Sanborn AF ap, ov g is l 1 ' g- thi"art of Smith Street, it is
impossible to ascertain when these ar ad'
• ns w `e ad ' Nate,
1942,a building permit was
issued to "rebuild porch;" presum ly this t erred a strudistinctive front porch. The
front porch was reconstructed again 198 r at Tim Simmons. The porch
roof was rebuilt again in 2005 to more closely resemble the home's original porch.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Historic Landmark Designation Nomination Form.
2. Staff report, September 24, 2008.
3. Resolution 9, 2008, Landmark Preservation Commission, Recommending Landmark
Designation of the Loomis-Jones House 401 Smith Street.
4. Agreement.
5. Photos.
ORDINANCE NO. 136, 2008
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
DESIGNATING THE LOOMIS-JONES HOUSE, 401 SMITH STREET, FORT COLLINS,
COLORADO, AS A FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 14
OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 14-2 of the City Code, the City Council has established a
public policy encouraging the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of landmarks within the
City; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution dated September 24, 2008, the Landmark Preservation
Commission (the "Commission") has determined that the Loomis-Jones House has significance to
Fort Collins under Landmark Designation Standards (1) and (3), as one of the oldest frame
residences in Fort Collins; for its likely association with Abner Loomis, an important and well-
known early citizen of Fort Collins;and as a rare surviving example of the Vernacular Architectural
Style of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, embodying many distinctive characteristics of the
style; and
WHEREAS,the Commission has further determined that said property meets the criteria of
a landmark as set forth in Section 14-5 of the Code and is eligible for designation as a landmark,and
has recommended to the City Council that said property be designated by the City Council as a
landmark; and
WHEREAS, the owners of the property have consented to such landmark designation; and
WHEREAS, such landmark designation will preserve the property's significance to the
community; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the recommendation of the Commission and
desires to approve such recommendation and designate said property as a landmark.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the property known as the Loomis-Jones House,and the adjacent lands upon
which the historical resources are located in the City of Fort Collins, Latimer County, Colorado,
described as follows, to wit:
NORTH 53 FEET OF LOT 4, BLOCK 164, CITY OF FORT COLLINS
be designated as a Fort Collins Landmark in accordance with Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of
Fort Collins.
Section 2. That the criteria in Section 14-48 of the Municipal Code will serve as the
standards by which alterations, additions and other changes to the buildings and structures located
upon the above described property will be reviewed for compliance with Chapter 14, Article III, of
the Code of the City of Fort Collins
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of
October,A.D. 2008, and to be presented for final passage on th day of December, A.D. 2008.
d4o a_ X
Mayo
ATTEST: an
r
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 2nd day of December, A.D. 2008.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk