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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 09/01/2009 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 089, 2009, DESIGNAT ITEM NUMBER: 13 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: September 1, 2009 FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Karen McWilliams SUBJECT First Reading of Ordinance No. 089, 2009, Designating the Paramount Cottage Camp, 1544 West Oak Street, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the City Code. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. The Landmark Preservation Commission, in a public hearing on August 5, 2009, unanimously approved a resolution recommending designation of this property under Landmark Standards 1 and 3, for its historical and architectural importance to Fort Collins. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The owners of the property, Maureen Plotnicki and Stephen Weber, are initiating this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation for the property at 1544 West Oak Street, historically called the Paramount Cottage Camp. The property has individual significance to Fort Collins under Landmark Preservation Standard 1, as a locally rare, representative example of the tourist camp industry in Colorado,utilized to promote tourism and community growth;and Standard 3,as an intact example of a cottage camp, embodying the distinctive characteristics of this unique property type. Built in a vernacular architectural style typical of tourist camps, the two mirror-image cottage camp buildings retain good integrity. The owners are applying for a State Historical Fund grant to rehabilitate the buildings by installing a new roof, removing the siding to expose and restore the original clapboard siding, restoring the original windows and window boxes on the front elevations, and reconstructing the cottage camp sign with an historical description. The City's Advance Planning Department is sponsoring the grant. BACKGROUND With the advent of the automobile,auto touring became popular nationwide. In the fall of 1928,two buildings,each with eight connected units,were constructed at 1544 West Oak Street to supplement the popular camping facilities located in City Park. Due in large part to recreational advertisements circulated nationwide,tourists were drawn to Fort Collins from all across the country,and City Park became a noted recreation destination. The popularity of auto tourism and camping led Robert W. Lampton,the City's concessionaire for the City Park Campground, to advocate the construction of camping cottages. These would allow campers to enjoy all of the recreational opportunities Fort September 1, 2009 -2- Item No. 13 Collins and Northern Colorado had to offer without the need to "rough it"in a tent or automobile. Two buildings were constructed jointly by Mr. Lampton and the City of Fort Collins,each housing eight cottages, enabling tourists to drive their automobiles right up to the door of their unit. Named the Paramount Cottage Camp,this tourist camp was advertised widely in promotional literature for Fort Collins. The Paramount Cottage Camp operated for nearly twenty years. The tourist camp business likely ended, and'the cottages were rented to more permanent residents, by the late 1940s or early 1950s, with the advent of recreational vehicles. Records show that by 1970, the cottages had been turned into apartments. The property still retains the historic feel of the cottage camp industry,as demonstrated by photographic evidence from the 1930s. Each of the two mirror-image, rectangular shaped, one-story, wood buildings retains its original band of connected cottages. Significantly, the historic pattern of a drive-up cottage remains. ATTACHMENTS 1. Historic Landmark Designation Nomination Form 2. Photos of 1544 West Oak 3. Resolution 1, 2009, Landmark Preservation Commission, Recommending Fort Collins Landmark Designation of the Paramount Cottage Camp, 1544 West Oak Street. 4. Landmark Preservation Commission minutes, August 5, 2009 ATTACHMENT 1 Community Planning and Environmental Services Advance Planning Department Historic Preservation Office PO Box 580 Fort Collins,CO 80522-0580 970-221-6376 City of Fort Collins Historic, Landmark Designation Nomination Form DATE: June 11, 2009 LOCATION INFORMATION: Address: 1544 West Oak Street, Fort°Collins, Colorado Legal Description: LOTS 16 AND 17, BLK 5, SCOTT SHERWOOD, FTC Property Name (historic and/or common): Paramount Cottage Camp OWNER INFORMATION: Name: Maureen Plotnicki and Stephen Weber Email: mplotnicki@yahoo.com Address: 1544 West Oak, Fort Collins, Colorado CLASSIFICATION Category Ownership Status Present Use Existing Designation ® Building ❑ Public ® Occupied ❑ Commercial ❑ National Register ❑ Structure ® Private ❑ Unoccupied ❑ Educational ❑ State Register ❑ Site ❑ Religious ❑ Object ® Residential ' ❑ District ❑ Entertainment ❑ Government ❑ Other FORM PREPARED BY: Name and Title: Megan Koeman, Historic Preservation Intern Address: City of Fort Collins Advance Planning Department, P.O. Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 Phone: 970-224-6078 Relationship to Owner: None Revised 09-2004 Page 1 TYPE OF DESIGNATION and BOUNDARIES ® Individual Landmark Property ❑ Landmark District Explanation of Boundaries: The boundaries of the property being designated as a Fort Collins Landmark correspond to the legal description of the property, above. SIGNIFICANCE Properties that possess exterior integrity are eligible for designation as Fort Collins Landmarks or Fort Collins Landmark Districts if they meet one (1) or more of the following standards for designation: ® Standard 1: The property is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history; ❑ Standard 2: The property is associated with the lives of persons significant in history; ® Standard 3: The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represents the work of a master, or possesses high artistic values, or represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; ❑ Standard 4: The property has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE The buildings located at 1544 W. Oak Street, within the vicinity of City Park, across from the current baseball fields but what used to be the horseracing track, are eligible for recognition as a Fort Collins Landmark under standard number three. Constructed around 1928, the buildings remain an excellent, intact representative example of the tourist camp industry, an industry in Fort Collins used to attract tourism and growth. This tourist camp, named the Paramount Cottage Camp, embodies a broader context associated with the growth of the automobile industry and thus the proliferation of the tourism industry. Tourists, attracted to available recreational activities at City Park, were responsible for promoting the development of cottages as a means to increase accessibility to both the park and the surrounding cities. Property owners understood the economic potential of combining the automobile and tourist industries by providing facilities focused on comfort and easy automobile access. Therefore, drive-up cottages were built that allowed tourists to drive their automobiles right up to the door of their cottage, which also created a separate living environment from the car. This separation of the automobile from their living space allowed tourists to still use their car to travel around the area as it was not a permanent fixture of their living arrangement as it had been in campgrounds prior to the development of cottages. The cottages, similar to hotels, provided individual comforts and shelter from the outside elements. Unlike hotels, tourists were not far removed from recreational activities as they could literally step out the door of the cottage directly into their automobile. Owners of local hotels in Fort Collins protested the construction of the tourist camp in 1928 because they knew it would hurt their profits and further alter the social and economic landscape of Revised 09-2004 Page 2 the tourism industry. The cultural, social, and economic influences of this tourist camp positively influenced the historical heritage of the city of Fort Collins. Built in a vernacular architectural style typical of tourist camps, the two mirror-image cottage camp buildings retain good integrity and remain a prominent feature of the City Park neighborhood. They are an intact example of a cottage camp, embodying the distinctive characteristics of this unique property type. HISTORICAL INFORMATION In the fall of 1928, two buildings with 8 connected cottages each were built at 1544 W. Oak to supplement the popular campground and recreation destination surrounding City Park. Prior to the addition of the cottages, the City Park Municipal Campground provided campsites at the cost of 50 cents per car. Showers, a bathhouse, a dance pavilion, and concessions provided campers with the amenities necessary to enjoy recreation at City Park. Campers were drawn from all across the country thanks in large part to recreational advertisements circulated nationwide, which in turn helped put Fort Collins on the map as a popular tourist destination. The popularity of the campground led Robert W. Lampton to advocate the construction of cottages that would allow campers to enjoy all of the recreational opportunities Fort Collins had to offer without having to rough it in a tent or automobile. Two buildings were constructed at 1544 W. Oak, each housing eight cottages. According to the 1920 federal census, Robert was a laborer in a factory. By the 1930 federal census, he was listed as the proprietor of a tourist camp and the adjacent filling station located at 126 S. Bryan. At this point in 1928, more than 50 local hotel and business owners circulated and signed a petition that called for the discontinuance of use for the cottages, the filling station, and the adjacent grocery store due to their fears of decreased profits their businesses were sure to witness due to the popularity of the campground and the assumed future popularity of the cottages. The petition argued the tourist camp was "detrimental rather than beneficial to the ultimate business and residential interests of said City..." The petition was printed in the Fort Collins Courier on July 29, 1928. One angered resident of Fort Collins wrote a letter to the City Council that day, asking, "As a tourist and a resident of Fort Collins why permit a little local jealousy to kill a beauty spot in our city like our cottage camp?" Although the petition did not succeed and thus did not prohibit the use of these buildings or hamper the popularity of the tourist site, the petition is important because it recognizes the fact that varied city interests influenced local business owners and affected their businesses as well as affected how they ran them. As a way to illustrate the success and popularity of the tourist camp, in 1931, eleven families wrote and sent a letter to the Mayor of Fort Collins, thanking him for the "splendid camping accommodations" and they expressed joy as they looked forward to returning again the next summer. The families span from all across the country from Arizona, California, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and even some from Alberta, and Calgary, Canada. By 1933, the city directory lists a J. W. McClintock as owner of the filling station and building permit records show that by 1934 he owned the rest of the property, including the tourist camp. In 1935, the entire Fort Collins Municipal Camp, which included Paramount Cottage Camp, received an Automobile Tourist Camp License from the Colorado Motor Vehicle Department. The certificate authorized the Fort Collins Municipal Camp to conduct and maintain an Automobile Tourist Camp as a legitimate local business within the city of Fort Collins, and as such the state could collect taxes on revenues. The certificate cites 35 cabins, 16 of which are presumed to be the Paramount Cottage Camp adjacent to the Municipal Camp. Revised 09-2004 Page 3 There are no definitive records indicating when the tourist camp was shut down. In 1945, a building permit was issued to Paramount Cottage Camp for basic remodeling, which suggests the tourist camp still functioned for a few years after World War II. According to the 1954 Fort Collins city directory, the property was still named Paramount Cottage Camp, but permanent residents were listed corresponding to the numbered apartment units with some units vacant. The tourist camp most likely ended by the late 1940s or early 1950s with the advent of RV's, making tourist cottages unnecessary. Tax Assessor Records show that by at least 1970 the cottages had been turned into apartments. The buildings remain as small apartments. The present owner, Maureen Plotnicki, is seeking the landmark designation. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION Construction Date: 1928 Arch itect/Bu i I der: Unknown Building Materials: Wood framed with concrete foundation Architectural Style: Camp Cottages Description: The two mirror-image structures have not gone through much alteration over the years of their existence and still retain the historic feel of the cottage camp industry. Photographic evidence from the 1930s shows the cottages in their original state and the buildings remain excellent examples that support the historical significance of the area. Each building, consisting of eight connected cottages, is a rectangular shaped, one story, wood framed structure on a concrete foundation. The concrete foundation is at some points covered in either wooden or metal slabs. The low pitched side gable roof consists of gray asphalt shingles with slight boxed eaves on all elevations except for the rear of each building, which has open, exposed eaves. Scattered at various locations along the roof line are metal vent pipes. The wood frame structure is covered in channeled wide vertical boards, with the exception of the southern and northern elevations, which have vertical boards up to the gable end. Within the gable are wide horizontal boards, similar to the vertical boards in that they are painted beige and channeled. Above one of the unit's doors is a visible section of the original siding. The .original siding appears to be narrow horizontal wood drop siding. Each unit has two windows on the fagade of the building. The large window is a vinyl sliding window with two lights with what appears to be vertical dimensions. The smaller window is also a vinyl sliding window with two lights, but is slightly horizontal. Both windows are flanked by green decorative wooden shutters. Each unit also has one door on the fagade. The doors are made of various materials; half appear to be paneled doors painted white while the other half appear to be smooth wood doors. The majority of the doors also have screen doors with them predominantly being modern metal storm/screen doors. Three of the units do have much older and true screen doors in that they do not have glass windows. The doors exit to a paved front walkway that extends the entire length of the building and is lit by exterior light fixtures mounted on the underside of the boxed eaves to the north of each door. As for the rear of the units, each unit has two additional windows within original window openings. The channeled vertical siding is nearly flush with the window opening, allowing for a small, slightly sloping original sill. The larger of the two windows are predominantly single-hung with two lights. The smaller windows are also predominantly single-hung two lights, but the top light is glazed. Revised 09-2004 Page 4 REFERENCE LIST or SOURCES of INFORMATION (attach a separate sheet if needed) 1920 and 1930 United States Federal Census Fort Collins City Directories (1928-2006) Building Permit Record, 1928-1945 Larimer County Assessor property record for 1544 W. Oak McAlester, Virginia and Lee, A Field Guide to American Houses (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1984) City Park Municipal Campground Records, Fort Collins Museum FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date Determined "Eligible" Ordinance # Application within last 12 months? ❑ Yes ❑ No Date Recorded Revised 09-2004 Page 5 AGREEMENT . The undersigned owner(s) hereby agrees that the property described herein be considered for local historic landmark designation, pursuant to the Fort Collins Landmark Preservation Ordinance;Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. I understand that upon designation, I or my successors will be requested to notify the Secretary of the Landmark Preservation Commission at the City of Fort Collins prior to the occurrence of any of the following: 1. Preparation of plans for the reconstruction or alteration of the exterior of improvements on the property; 2. Preparation of plans for the construction, alteration, relocation or demolition of improvements on the property. DATED this L� -` day of (/ r.+� 200 9 . tJT c Pded W Owner Name (please print) Own ture State of ) ` )ss. County of Subscribed and sworn before me this /t day of 200 d1 , by 5r5PO-A( Eawljr�l VIL--3ti2, V- 1V44U C-&iJ X�7t3C l�L0-7-nF/c/,I Witness my hand and official seal. My commission-expires // - /a - a 0/ O ,ray,"P '�AN"'�•, Notary PubXIc a Ito Q s .� s %81L • �pF.CQ�OPP'r`�'L'Lo aPIFiEs Revised 09-2004 Page 6 I H' , 1 t 1 � • \ i Pee �1 i ✓ Topj ' s s �. �' . 'a, .pp" \ 'a 11 •�. fy1 I . fr ,jqqqqqqN: m 4 . •,fir - .� . r r r r `1. ' f � it , ti R�' ; , 1fit IA Ar eat It M� ram, +qY►�, •ram • � �` . • M. Y 1 Poo to kk 01, Air .f �:• i 7 •• . ' Y •41 •I r tot •�� r • � I - -- - _ „_� ._ _ �• .ate. w � _ _ 4 �� fe • r '•. 1 r �w • � I r� w. GMNNMNWO t AM 'i lk 6.0 •/' .. ot tot, tttm, ot • � I •� . • y • ATTACHMENT 3 City. Of Advance P annIno College 281 North College Avenue Collions 97 Box 580 �� Fort Collins,CO 80522 970,221.6376 111 970.224.6111 -fax kgov.com/advanceplanning RESOLUTION 1,2009 OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION RECOMMENDING FORT COLLINS LANDMARK DESIGNATION . OF THE PARAMOUNT COTTAGE CAMP 1544 WEST OAK STREET, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO WHEREAS, it is a matter of public policy that the protection, enhancement and perpetuation of sites, structures, objects, and districts of historical, architectural or geographic significance, located within the city, are a public necessity and are required in the interest of the prosperity, civic pride and general welfare of the people; and WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the City Council that the economic, cultural and aesthetic standing of this city cannot be maintained or enhanced by disregarding the historical, architectural and geographical heritage of the city and by ignoring the destruction or defacement of such cultural assets; and WHEREAS, the Paramount Cottage Camp has individual significance to Fort Collins under Landmark Preservation Standard 1, as a locally rare, representative example of the tourist camp industry in Colorado, utilized to promote tourism and community growth; and Standard 3, as an intact example of a cottage camp, embodying the distinctive characteristics of this unique property type, with good integrity; and WHEREAS, the Landmark Preservation Commission has determined that the Paramount Cottage Camp meets the criteria of a landmark as set forth in Section 14-5 of the code and is eligible for designation as a Fort Collins Landmark; and WHEREAS, the owners of the property, Maureen Plotnicki and Stephen Weber, have consented to such landmark designation. NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Landmark Preservation Commission of the City of Fort Collins as follows: Section 1. That the Landmark Preservation Commission recommends to the Council of the City of Fort Collins that the buildings known as the Paramount Cottage Camp, and the adjacent lands upon which the historic resources are located, in the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, described as follows, to wit: LOTS 16 AND 17, BLOCK 5, SCOTT-SHERWOOD ADDITION also know as 1544 West Oak Street Flirt Collins Landmark Preservation Commission Resolution No. 1, 2009 Page 2 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 contained in Section 14-48 of the City 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. Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Landmark Preservation Commission of the City of Fort Collins held this 5th day of August, A.D. 2009. Chairman Ian S ff ATTEST: Secretary/Staff ATTACHMENT 4 LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting August 5, 2009 DRAFT Minutes Council Liaison: Mr. David Roy (407-7393) Staff Liaison: Mr. Joe Frank(221-6376) Commission Chairperson: Ian Shuff LANDMARK DESIGNATION: Paramount Cottage Camp, 1544 West Oak Street Owners Maureen Plotnicki and Steve Weber, and Consultants Carol Tunner and Dick Beardmore, attended the meeting. Ms. Opiela reviewed the staff report. The two buildings that comprise the Paramount Cottage Camp, at 1544 W. Oak Street, are eligible for recognition as a Fort Collins Landmark, under Standards 1 and 3. The buildings, constructed in the fall of-1928, remain an excellent, intact representative example of the tourist camp industry. Built in a vernacular architectural style, the two mirror-image buildings each maintain their historic configuration of eight units. Staff recommends approving a resolution of the Landmark Preservation Commission to designate the Paramount Cottage Camp property as a Fort Collins Landmark. Ms. Plotnicki stated that the original intent was to tear the buildings down and rebuild condos. Ms. Plotnicki discovered that there was some potential historic relevance to the buildings and began doing research. Ms. Tunner distributed pictures of the site. She explained that a Mr. Lampton was the City Park concessionaire in the late 1920s and 1930s. The city negotiated with Mr. Lampton to build the Paramount Cottage Camp and paid for half of the construction costs. The buildings were also part of the work relief programs of the 1920's. Mr. Frank asked if the owners were going to apply for a Colorado Historical Society grant. They responded yes. The buildings will need a new roof. They will also tear off the current siding to expose the original siding, repair it and replace only what has to be replaced. Previously, there were window boxes in-between the two windows on each end of the buildings, which they would like to replace. They also want to install a signage with the property's history. Ms. Plotnicki stated there are drainage issues from the alleys being repaved and built up, and they will ask for some funding from the State Historic Fund to correct those. Mr. Shuff stated the history does fit Standard 1 very well, but he questioned Standard 3 because the windows are not original, and the siding has been covered. Mr. Beardmore stated that while that might be the case for state or national level designations, on a local level, few buildings are designated that are totally intact. Mr. Hoaglund made to motion to approve a resolution of the Landmark Preservation Commission, that the Commission designate 1544 W. Oak Street, Paramount Cottage Camp, a Fort Collins Landmark under Significance Standards No. 3 and No. 1, in accordance with the Fort Collins Landmark Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. Ms. Russell seconded the motion. Motion carried(7-0). ORDINANCE NO. 089, 2009 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS DESIGNATING THE PARAMOUNT COTTAGE CAMP, 1544 WEST OAK STREET, AS A FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 14 OF THE CITY CODE 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 historic landmarks within the City; and WHEREAS,by Resolution dated August 5, 2009,the Landmark Preservation Commission (the "Commission") has determined that the Paramount Cottage Camp has significance to Fort Collins under Landmark Preservation Standard (1), as a locally rare, representative example of the tourist camp industry in Colorado; and Standard (3), as an intact example of a cottage camp, embodying the distinctive characteristics of this unique property type; and WHEREAS,the Commission has further determined that said property meets the criteria of a landmark as set forth in City Code Section 14-5 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 Paramount Cottage Camp, and the adjacent lands upon which the historical resources are located, in the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado, described as follows, to wit: LOTS 16 AND 17 of BLOCK 5, SCOTT-SHERWOOD ADDITION also known as 1544 West Oak Street be designated as a Fort Collins Landmark in accordance with Chapter 14 of the City Code. Section 2. That the criteria in City Code Section 14-48 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 City Code Chapter 14, Article III. Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 1st day of September, A.D. 2009, and to be presented for final passage on the 15th day of September, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading on the 15th day of September, A.D. 2009. Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk