HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 07/21/2015 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 088, 2015, DESIGNATAgenda Item 13
Item # 13 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY July 21, 2015
City Council
STAFF
Josh Weinberg, City Planner
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 088, 2015, Designating the Ault/Thode Property, 714 West Mountain Avenue,
Fort Collins, Colorado, as a Fort Collins Landmark Pursuant to Chapter 14 of the Code of the City of Fort
Collins.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The owner of the property, Henry Thode III, is initiating this request for Fort Collins Landmark designation of
the Ault/Thode Property at 714 West Mountain Avenue.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
The Ault/Thode Property at 714 West Mountain Avenue is significant under Fort Collins Landmark Designation
Standard C, as a well preserved example of a Foursquare dwelling with Classical Revival detailing. The
building retains preponderance of all seven aspects of integrity, A through G.
With somewhat limited representation in Fort Collins, Foursquare dwellings were widely constructed
throughout much of Colorado after 1900. Foursquare dwellings are easily recognizable for their square plans,
two-story height, overall simplicity, and adaptability to a variety of contemporary stylistic treatments. According
to History Colorado’s Guide to Historic Architecture and Engineering: “The typical Foursquare is a two-story
hipped roof structure with central dormer, minimal decoration, broad overhanging eaves with brackets or
modillions, classical frieze with dentils, and a porch, usually full-width with a hipped roof supported by Doric or
Tuscan columns or by square posts. Occasionally, a Foursquare will feature a shaped gable or will be
considerably larger with more elaborate ornamentation. In each case, the basic square plan is predominant.”
Nearly all of these architectural features are represented in the building at 714 West Mountain Avenue,
including the two-story square plan, full-width front porch with square columns and pedimented dormer, and
hipped roof with decorative brackets in open eaves.
CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS
Recognition of 714 West Mountain Avenue as a Fort Collins Landmark enables its owners to qualify for
federal, state and local financial incentive programs available only to designated properties. Additionally,
based upon research conducted by Clarion Associates, the property would see an increase in value following
designation. Clarion Associates attributed this increase to the fact that future owners also qualify for the
financial incentives; the perception that designated properties are better maintained; the appeal of owning a
recognized historic landmark; and the assurance of predictability that design review offers.
Agenda Item 13
Item # 13 Page 2
BOARD / COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading. At
a public hearing held on June 24, 2015, the Landmark Preservation Commission voted to recommend
designation of this property under Designation Standard (C), for its architectural significance to the city.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Site Map (PDF)
2. Landmark Designation Application and Owner Agreement (PDF)
3. Photographs (PDF)
4. LPC Resolution 4, 2015 (PDF)
N LOOMIS AVE
W MOUNTAIN AVE
N WHITCOMB ST
N GRANT AVE
W OAK ST
N WASHINGTON AVE
LAPORTE AVE
0 100 200 400 714 W 600 Mountain 800 Avenue Ü
Feet
SITE
ATTACHMENT 1
Revised 08-2014 Page 1
Fort Collins Landmark Designation
LOCATION INFORMATION:
Address: 714 West Mountain Avenue
Legal Description: Lot 33, Block 281, Loomis Amended, City of Fort Collins
Property Name (historic and/or common): The Ault/Thode Property
OWNER INFORMATION:
Name: Henry Thode III
Phone: 970-635-9972
Email: pairadox01@gmail.com
Address: P.O. Box 7235, Loveland, CO, 80537
CLASSIFICATION
Category Ownership Status Present Use Existing
Designation
Building Public Occupied Commercial Nat’l Register
Structure Private Unoccupied Educational State Register
Site Religious
Object Residential
District Entertainment
Government
Other
FORM PREPARED BY:
Name and Title: Cassandra Bumgarner, Historic Preservation Planning Intern
Address: City of Fort Collins, Historic Preservation Department, P.O. Box 580, Fort Collins,
CO 80522
Phone: 828-499-1235
Email: cbumgarner@fcgov.com
Relationship to Owner: None.
DATE: May 27, 2015
Planning, Development & Transportation Services
Community Development & Neighborhood Services
281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580
970.41
0
970.22
4- fax
fcgov.c
ATTACHMENT 2
Revised 08-2014 Page 2
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 are eligible for designation if they possess significance, which is the importance of a
site, structure, object or district to the history, architecture, archeology, engineering or culture of
our community, State or Nation. For designation as Fort Collins Landmarks or Fort Collins
Landmark Districts properties must meet one (1) or more of the following standards:
Standard A: Events. This property is associated with events that have made a recognizable
contribution to the broad patterns of the history of the community, State or Nation. It is associated
with either (or both) of these two (2) types of events:
1. A specific event marking an important moment in Fort Collins prehistory or history;
and/or
2. A pattern of events or a historic trend that made a recognizable contribution to the
development of the community, State or Nation.
Standard B: Persons/Groups. This property is associated with the lives of persons or groups of
persons recognizable in the history of the community, State or Nation whose specific contributions
to that history can be identified and documented.
Standard C: Design/Construction. This property embodies the identifiable characteristics of a
type, period or method of construction; represents the work of a craftsman or architect whose
work is distinguishable from others by its characteristic style and quality; possesses high artistic
values or design concepts; or is part of a recognizable and distinguishable group of properties.
Standard D: Information potential. This property has yielded, or may be likely to yield,
information important in prehistory or history.
Revised 08-2014 Page 3
EXTERIOR INTEGRITY
Properties are eligible for designation if they possess exterior integrity, which is the ability of a
site, structure, object or district to be able to convey its significance. The exterior integrity of a
resource is based on the degree to which it retains all or some of seven (7) aspects or qualities:
location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. All seven qualities do
not need to be present for a site, structure, object or district to be eligible as long as the overall
sense of past time and place is evident.
Standard A: Location. This property is located where it was originally constructed or where an
historic event occurred.
Standard B: Design. This property retains a combination of elements that create its historic
form, plan space, structure, and style.
Standard C: Setting. This property retains a character and relationship with its surroundings
that reflect how and where it was originally situated in relation to its surrounding features and
open space.
Standard D: Materials. This property retains much of the historic physical elements that
originally formed the property.
Standard E: Workmanship. This property possesses evidence of the crafts of a particular
culture or people during any given period in history or prehistory. This consists of evidence of
artisans' labor and skill in constructing or altering the building, structure or site.
Standard F: Feeling. This property expresses the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular
period or time. This results from the presence of physical features that, taken together, convey the
property's historic character.
Standard G: Association. This property retains an association, or serves as a direct link to, an
important historic event or person. It retains association if it is the place where the event or activity
occurred and is sufficiently intact to convey that relationship to an observer. Like feeling,
association requires the presence of physical features that convey a property's historic character.
Revised 08-2014 Page 4
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE and EXTERIOR INTEGRITY
(Please describe why the property is significant, relative to the Standard(s) above, and
how it possesses exterior integrity.)
The Ault/Thode Property at 714 West Mountain Avenue is significant under Fort Collins
Landmark Designation Standard C, as a well preserved example of a Foursquare
dwelling with Classical Revival detailing. The building retains preponderance of all seven
aspects of integrity, A through G.
With somewhat limited representation in Fort Collins, Foursquare dwellings were widely
constructed throughout much of Colorado after 1900. Foursquare dwellings are easily
recognizable for their square plans, two-story height, overall simplicity, and adaptability to
a variety of contemporary stylistic treatments. According to History Colorado’s Guide to
Historic Architecture and Engineering: “The typical Foursquare is a two-story hipped roof
structure with central dormer, minimal decoration, broad overhanging eaves with brackets
or modillions, classical frieze with dentils, and a porch, usually full-width with a hipped
roof supported by Doric or Tuscan columns or by square posts. Occasionally, a
Foursquare will feature a shaped gable or will be considerably larger with more elaborate
ornamentation. In each case, the basic square plan is predominant.”
Nearly all of these architectural features are represented in the building at 714 West
Mountain Avenue, including the two-story square plan, full-width front porch with square
columns and pedimented dormer, and hipped roof with decorative brackets in open
eaves.
Revised 08-2014 Page 5
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
(Please include city directory research and/or a title search if the property is important for
its association with a significant person.)
On February 13, 1907, writers of the Fort Collins Courier celebrated the completion of
Thomas E. Giller’s home, a Colorado and Southern agent, as “another of the substantial
improvements being made on that pretty avenue.”
1
Interestingly, the year prior to the
completion of Giller’s home, JM Morrison owned the property at 714 West Mountain
Avenue. Fort Collins City Directories indicate that Morrison was a carpenter and lived
next-door at 718 West Mountain Avenue. Therefore, it is possible that Morrison
constructed the residence at 714 West Mountain Avenue and sold it to Giller. Giller’s
home had elements of the contemporarily modern and influential Classical Revival
stylistic elements in the popular Foursquare form.
The Giller family lived in the home for a couple of years until Alexander Ault purchased
the home in 1909 and lived there with his wife Aida and family. Alexander was involved in
agricultural business in the area, acquiring some notoriety for himself in the community
through purchasing a substantial amount of wheat from farmers during a difficult
economic time. The town of Ault, east of Fort Collins, was named after Alexander during
the first few years of the twentieth century. Taken from the “Ault Advertiser,” on July 10,
1907, The Fort Collins Weekly Courier reported Ault as stating:
“The place was named for me without any solicitation on my part, as I had
considerable land here and bought all the wheat from farmers when there was only a
wagon scale and switch and I had to go a mile and a half for meals and lodgings. I
loaded 100 cars of wheat from there from the 15
th
of August to the 1
st
of November, in
the year 1905, but I can now see where I made a great mistake in not staying there a
few years longer.”
The property sold to Fred W. Stover, a former Fort Collins Mayor, in 1924 from the
Alexander Ault estate through and Administrators deed, and was then transferred back to
Nelle Ault in 1927. Edson Ault, along with Winton and Nelle Ault, occupied the residence
during the time of Stover’s ownership, according to City Directories. Winton was the son
of Alexander and lived in his childhood home for 17 years. After the Aults left in 1944, the
house was occupied by five different owners over the course of ten years. The owners in
order are Paul L. Henry, Edward W. and Roberta H. Withrow, Otis T. and Josephine E.
Massey, W. L. and Elsie S. Sybert, and Dr. J. Frank and Lee Hurdle. When W. L. Sybert
owned the home, he remodeled the second floor to “move present bathroom to new
location over kitchen. Build new fireplace and chimney.”
2
In 1955, Dr. Henry P. Thode Jr. and his wife Mary A. purchased the home. During
Thode’s career he partnered with Dr. Frank A. Betts as general family physicians.
3
Thode
was the second from Poudre Valley Hospital’s family practice residency program. From
1955 until 2014, he owned the home. In 2014, the home passed on to his son, Henry P.
Thode III. Today the home is used as a single family residence.
1 “Local and Personal,” Fort Collins Courier, February 13, 1907, 13.
2 Building Permit No. 12624, City of Fort Collins, April 1, 1952, accessed at
http://history.fcgov.com/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/bp&CISOPTR=13786&CISOBOX=1&REC=1.
3 Fort Collins City Directory, 1956, (Loveland, Colorado: Rocky Mountain Directory Co., 1956), 19. Accessed May 18, 2015.
http://history.fcgov.com/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/cid&CISOPTR=26694&CISOSHOW=26495&REC=1.
Revised 08-2014 Page 6
ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION
Construction Date: February, 1907
Architect/Builder: Unknown
Building Materials: Sandstone, wood, and stone.
Architectural Style: Foursquare with Classical Revival elements
Description:
The residence at 714 West Mountain Avenue is constructed in the Foursquare form with a
rectangular plan that sits on a narrow, deep lot. The two-story building is clad in horizontal
lap siding and covered by an asphalt shingled, flared hipped roof. The roof contains a
central flared hipped dormer with centrally placed diamond patterned window. The
structure has prominent, overhanging eaves, symmetrical façade, formal porch entry, and
sandstone foundation.
The symmetrical façade (southern elevation) features a central, fixed window on the
second floor, flanked by two one-over-one fixed windows. The top pane in each features
a diamond-shaped design similar to that on the dormer. The front porch is enclosed with
visible massive square posts. The enclosure is also symmetrical, with the door flanked by
a set of two-over-two panes of glass. The porch entry is covered with a pediment and is
flanked by two additional massive square posts.
On the second story of the western elevation, there is central, fixed pane window flanked
by two one-over-one sash windows. The first story of the elevation has a single and pair
of one-over-one sash windows. Toward the southwest of the elevation, there is irregular
massing with the second story not being full width and the first story having a shed roof.
On the secondary story, there is another single pane, fixed window. The first floor has two
doors, one with three steps leading up to it and the other level with the ground. Both
doors are paneled.
The southern elevation features three one-over-one sash windows and a casement
window on the first floor.
The eastern elevation has five one-over-one sash windows and two fixed, single pane
windows. This elevation is not symmetrical. There is another door on this elevation with a
small awning.
It appears the central one-story element protruding from the building’s rear (northern)
elevation is original, as its eave detailing, siding and foundation material are consistent
with the main building. There is a second-story addition over this element, along with a
shed-roofed one-story addition to the east. No construction information is available for
either addition. The additions do not appear to compromise any of the seven aspects of
integrity related to the building.
There is what appears to be a historic carriage house on the northeast portion of the lot.
The building has open eaves with exposed structural elements and is clad in wooden
shingles. The building is 1½ stories with a front-gabled roof and nearly full-width set of
doors that open out on the southern elevation. A carport element extends from the front,
southern elevation. According to building permit records, this was constructed in 1986
and appears to be attached to the building by a ledger board. The eastern elevation of the
building is void of openings, while the western elevation contains two nine-light square
windows and an awning feature on its southern end. The rear, or northern elevation,
Revised 08-2014 Page 7
contains a single bay access opening, which is currently covered in wood shingles, in
addition to an opening into the second level loft area of the building that is also covered in
wood shingles. According to historic Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, the carriage house
building was extent as early as 1909. Neither the house, nor the carriage house, is
depicted in the 1906 Sanborn map. According to the current property owner, whose family
has owned the property since 1955, the carriage house has been clad in wooden shingles
for as long as he can remember.
Revised 08-2014 Page 8
REFERENCE LIST or SOURCES of INFORMATION (attach a separate sheet if needed)
City of Fort Collins city directories, 1907–2014, City of Fort Collins, Historic Preservation
Department, Fort Collins, Colorado.
City of Fort Collins building permits, Historic Preservation Department, Fort Collins,
Colorado.
Fort Collins Courier, “Early Ault,” July 10, 1907
Fort Collins Courier, “Local and Personal,” February 13, 1907
History Colorado Guide to Historic Architecture and Engineering:
http://www.historycolorado.org/oahp/foursquare
Larimer County Tax Assessor Records.
Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, 1906-1948.
“Sugar Beets, Streetcar Suburbs, and the City Beautiful, 1900-1919.” History Connection.
Accessed May 11, 2015. http://history.fcgov.com/archive/contexts/sugar.php.
714 West Mountain Avenue - Fort Collins Landmark Designation
714 W. Mountain Avenue South Elevation
714 W. Mountain Avenue Southeast Elevation
ATTACHMENT 3
714 W. Mountain Avenue East Elevation
714 W. Mountain Ave. Southwest Elevation
714 W. Mountain Avenue Northeast Elevation
714 W. Mountain Ave. North Elevation
714 W. Mountain Ave. North Elevation
714 West Mountain Avenue – Garage – Southern Elevation
714 West Mountain Avenue – Garage – Southern Elevation
714 West Mountain Avenue – Garage – Southern Elevation
Back of the garage (north) close up
Rear of the garage (north) close up
Rear of garage (north)
Front of garage (south) close up
Side of garage (west)
Side of garage (west) close up of window
Front of garage (south) close up of door
Community 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
RESOLUTION 4, 2015
OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
LANDMARK PRESERVATION COMMISSION
RECOMMENDING LANDMARK DESIGNATION OF
THE AULT/THODE PROPERTY
714 WEST MOUNTAIN AVENUE, FORT COLLINS, COLORADO
AS A FORT COLLINS LANDMARK PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 14 OF THE CODE OF
THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
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 Ault/Thode Property, located at 714 West Mountain Avenue in Fort Collins
(the “Property”) is eligible for Landmark designation for the property’s high degree of integrity
combined with its significance under Landmark Standard C, Design/Construction, for the
dwelling’s and garage’s architectural merits as well preserved representations of early twentieth
century Foursquare and carriage house architecture; and
WHEREAS, the Landmark Preservation Commission has determined that the Property meets
the criteria of a landmark as set forth in Section l4-5 of the code and is eligible for designation as
a Fort Collins Landmark; and
WHEREAS, the owner of the property has 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 foregoing recitals are incorporated herein by the Landmark Preservation
Commission as findings of fact.
Section 2. That the Property located in the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado,
described as follows, to wit:
Lot 33, Block 281, Loomis Amended, City of Fort Collins
ATTACHMENT 4
Landmark Preservation Commission
Resolution No. 4, 2015
Ault/Thode Property, 714 West Mountain Avenue
Page 2
- 2 -
be designated as a Fort Collins Landmark in accordance with Chapter l4 of the Code of the City
of Fort Collins.
Section 3. 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 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 24th day of June, A.D. 2015.
Ron Sladek, Chair
ATTEST:
_______________________
Secretary/Staff
- 1 -
ORDINANCE NO. 088, 2015
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
DESIGNATING THE AULT/THODE PROPERTY
714 WEST MOUNTAIN 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 historic landmarks
within the City; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution dated June 24, 2015, the Landmark Preservation Commission
(the “Commission”) has determined that the Ault/Thode Property at 714 West Mountain Avenue
in Fort Collins, as more specifically described below (the “Property”) is eligible for individual
Landmark designation for its high degree of exterior integrity and for its significance to Fort
Collins under Landmark Standard C, Design/Construction, as a significant local example of a
Foursquare dwelling, featuring a Classical Revival detailing; and
WHEREAS, the Commission has further determined that the 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 the 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 the Property as a landmark.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the foregoing recitals are incorporated herein by the City Council as
findings of fact.
Section 2. That the Property located in the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County,
Colorado, described as follows, to wit:
Lot 33, Block 281, Loomis Amended, City of Fort Collins
be designated as a Fort Collins Landmark in accordance with Chapter 14 of the City Code.
- 2 -
Section 3. That the criteria in City Code Section 14-48, as they may from time to
time be amended, will serve as the standards by which alterations, additions and other changes to
the buildings and structures located upon the Property will be reviewed for compliance with City
Code Chapter 14, Article III.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 21st day of
July, A.D. 2015, and to be presented for final passage on the 18th day of August, A.D. 2015.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on the 18th day of August, A.D. 2015.
__________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk