Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/15/2005 - SECOND READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 016, 2005, DESIGNA ITEM NUMBER: 15 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 15, 2005 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Karen McWilliams SUBJECT Second Reading of Ordinance No. 016, 2005, Designating the First Public School /First Catholic Church Building, 115 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on Second Reading. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The owners of the property, Michael Braskich and Bianca Katz, are initiating this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation of the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building. This property is undisputably one ofthe most significant properties in Fort Collins,for its association with important events and individuals that have made a significant contribution to local history. Additionally, due to its association with the original settlement of Fort Collins, the property has a very high probability of yielding information, including artifacts, important to the history of Fort Collins. The building was specifically constructed as the first public schoolhouse in Fort Collins, and predates the official establishment of the Fort Collins townsite. It is thus one of the oldest buildings in the city. Despite modifications to the building associated with its use as a private dwelling, the building retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance. The building was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, as a contributing element of the Laurel School Historic District. Due to its unique role in Fort Collins' history, the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building warrants the community's highest recognition, and should be designated individually as a Fort Collins Landmark. Ordinance No. 016, 2005, was unanimously adopted on First Reading on February 1, 2005. ORDINANCE NO. 016, 2005 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS DESIGNATING THE FIRST PUBLIC SCHOOL/FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH BUILDING, 115 RIVERSIDE AVENUE, 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 January 12,2005 the Landmark Preservation Commission (the"Commission")has determined that the First Public School/First Catholic Church Building has individual significance to Fort Collins under Landmark Designation Standards (1), (2), and(4), for its unique role and outstanding contributions to Fort Collins history as the first public schoolhouse and first Catholic Church in Fort Collins, for its association with important events and individuals that have made a significant contribution to local history, and as one of the oldest extant buildings in the city, predating the establishment of the Fort Collins townsite; 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, historically known as the First Public School /First Catholic Church Building, located in the City of Fort Collins,Larimer County,Colorado,described as follows, to wit: Southeasterly 45 feet of Lot 18, Block 151, City of Fort Collins also known as 115 Riverside Avenue is hereby designated as a Fort Collins landmark pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. The property contains three outbuildings, which are not a part of these designation proceedings. Section 2. That the Secretary of the Interior's standards and guidelines for the treatment of historic properties 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 1st day of February, A.D. 2005, and to be presented for final passage on the 15th day of February, A.D. 2005. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 15th day of February, A.D. 2005. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk ITEM NUMBER: 19 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: February 1, 2005 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Karen McWilliams SUBJECT r C) P First Reading of Ordinance No. 016, 2005, Designating the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building, 115 Riverside Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code. RECOMMENDATION The Landmark Preservation Commission and staff recommend adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. At a public hearing held on January 12, 2005, the Landmark Preservation Commission voted 6-0 to recommend designation of this property as a landmark for its exceptional significance to Fort Collins under Standards (1), (2), and (4). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ' The owners of the property, Michae a�kic i Katz,al-initiating this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation of the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building. This property is undisputably one of the most significant properties in Fort Collins, for its association with important events and individuals that have made a significant contribution to local history. Additionally, due to its association with the original settlement of Fort Collins, the property has a very high probability of yielding information, including artifacts, important to the history of Fort Collins. The building was specifically constructed as the first public schoolhouse in Fort Collins, and predates the official establishment of the Fort Collins townsite. It is thus one of the oldest buildings in the city. Despite modifications to the building associated with its use as a private dwelling, the building retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance. The building was entered on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, as a contributing element of the Laurel School Historic District. Due to its unique role in Fort Collins' history, the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building warrants the community's highest recognition, and should be designated individually as a Fort Collins Landmark. BACKGROUND C/ () The history of public education in Fort Collins began in 1866, in the second story room at"Auntie" Stone's cabin. Mrs. Elizabeth Keays, widowed niece of Auntie Stone, operated the school; she originally intended to teach just her son, but neighborhood parents soon applied to send their children to this one room private school. After the Fort Collins school district was organized in the fall of 1866,the school was relocated to one of the abandoned officers'quarters at the Fort, and the board appointed Mrs. Keays to teach the first term. Four years later, there were 51 school-age February 1, 2005 -2- Item No. 19 children. That year,in 1870,Judge A. F. Howes spearheaded a citizen movement to raise funds for an official school building. Henry Clay Peterson (who was also a school board member) became the contractor and builder of the small, wood frame structure on Riverside Avenue. The cost was approximately$1,100. The buildin in )bIt. o i a . er unty School District No. 5 until 1897, when the new Remin Sc,h as Frank Michaud,a prominent memb f te th munity.i Fort Collins,purchased the old school house(for$400) in 1897, upon authorization by the Bishop of Colorado. The schoolhouse was converted into the first Catholic church. Later, the church also acquired two adjoining lots for a rectory, built in 1883-84. By 1900, the population of Fort Collins was 3,153, almost a third of whom were Catholic. Father G. Joseph LaJeunesse purchased new land for a larger,more centrally located church at the corner of Mountain Avenue and Howes Street. This new church, St. Joseph's, was dedicated in August, 1901. After the church left in 1901, the First Public School / First Catholic Church Building became a dwelling, and has remained one to the present day. The current owners are Mike Braskich and Bianca Katz. Ms. Katz is a high school program coordinator for the Poudre School District. Mr. Braskich owns a property management firm, Brass Key Property Management, which he operates from the home. The First Public School/First Cath ur ldi Nfai�altered since its firstdaysas a schoolhouse and church. Alt tions i lude o othe rear, comprised ofa hipped roof rear porch addition,b een 18 and 0 and ofed rear additionadjoiningthis earlier addition, done sometim 9 Ite ion nt porch to add a closed rail and a frieze with trefoil perforations(sometime after 1884, likely when it was converted to serve as the church); and stuccoing the exterior walls, in 1946. The building, however, retains sufficient integrity to convey its tremendous significance to Fort Collins. In addition to the school/church building, the property contains three outbuildings which are not a part of these designation proceedings. The first is an end-gabled wood frame garage,built in 1942. Behind this garage is a small end-gable wood frame structure. Its original function is unclear; this may have been an outhouse, or a coal shed described in a building permit of 1939. Both buildings contribute to the ambience and historic integrity of the property. In particular, if the smaller outbuilding was indeed a privy,it would be a rare example of an outhouse in Fort Collins,and would qualify for individual Landmark designation. A third,non-historic wood structure is located on the property. Constructed of particle board panels and vertical battens,it is of recent vintage and is non- contributing. Only the First Public School/First Catholic Church Building is being considered for designation at this time. P COY'