HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 07/22/2025 - Letter from Mayor Jeni Arndt to Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) re memorandum from June 18, 2025 re minimum parking requirements
Mayor
City Hall
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
July 17, 2025
Historic Preservation Commission
c/o Maren Bzdek, Staff Liaison
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Chair Gibson and Commission Members:
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the memorandum dated June 18, 2025
regarding the Commission’s position on minimum parking requirements.
We understand that the Commission recommends that commercial parking minimums should be ended
citywide in order to protect the community’s historic character. Thank you for providing historic photos
and detailed examples.
Thank you for the knowledge and perspectives that you bring to the Commission and share with City
Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Rupa Venkatesh, Assistant City Manager
Memorandum
Date: June 18, 2025
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director, Planning, Development & Transportation
Lori Schwarz, Director, Community Development & Neighborhood Services
From: Maren Bzdek, Manager, Historic Preservation Services
Subject: Historic Preservation Commission Position on Minimum Parking Requirements
On a vote of 7-0 at its June 18, 2025, regular meeting, the Fort Collins Historic Preservation
Commission supported this letter to City Council detailing the reasons why commercial parking
minimums should be ended citywide, recognizing that such policies are essential to protecting
our community's historic character.
In the mid-20th century, historic buildings were often demolished or irreparably altered to
accommodate parking, eroding the historic fabric and vibrant character of many communities,
including our own. Perceived demand for parking led to the destruction of many culturally
important landmarks and districts across America. Fort Collins experienced similar losses,
compromising the integrity of our downtown's unique historic streetscape. Minimum
requirements didn’t just reflect demand; by 1965 they mandated it. This ensured that more
buildings would be razed or left vacant when they could not find the money or space to meet
these requirements. As a result, parking minimums have both accelerated the destruction of
historic places and made it harder to adaptively reuse what remains.
Although the City’s first Zoning ordinance in 1929 did not specify off-street parking
requirements, updates to that code in 1965 did, specifying that various uses needed to provide
a minimum number of off-street parking based on that type of use.0F1 Below is a list generally
within the Downtown Zone District, of noteworthy buildings demolished to provide off-street
1 City of Fort Collins, “Zoning Ordinance of the City of Fort Collins,” adopted May 31, 1929, digital copy on file
with Historic Preservation Services; City of Fort Collins, Ordinance 1965-46, published w/ map in the Fort Collins
Coloradoan, September 28, 1965, pages 4-5 (adopted by City Council on October 14.
parking, and development projects that reduced density through significant additions of off-
street parking.
Prior to Parking Minimums (1965 and earlier)
- 301 W. Mountain Ave, Steele’s Market (replacing the Franklin School)
o Demolished 3 detached dwellings, a brick duplex, and a stone office building.
o The Franklin School was already demolished by 1960. Steele’s was
demolished in 2010 and the site now provides parking for Keybank Tower,
the Farmer’s Market at the County Courthouse, and St. Joseph’s Catholic
Church.
After Parking Minimums (1965 or Later)
- 100 S. College, Columbia Savings and Loan, 1966
o Two two-story masonry buildings were demolished for one one-story bank
building with parking and a drive-thru (Note: 1966 building is now Landmark-
Eligible based on Modern Movement architectural importance)
- 310 S. College, Perkin’s (now redeveloped into Uncommon), 1979
o In 1960, the site that became a single restaurant with parking included a two-
story doctor’s office, two brick dwellings, and the First Methodist Church. The
Church was demolished in 1966 as part of plans for a new County building
that never materialized. The remainder appear to have been demolished in
advance of the 1979 restaurant construction to meet minimum parking
requirements.
- 300 W. Oak St, Home Federal Building (now Keybank Tower), 1968
o In 1960, three frame dwellings, and a brick club house were demolished to
provide the accompanying parking west of the tower.
- 200 Block W. Olive St., parking for First National Bank/Masonic Lodge, 1960s-1980s
o In 1960, what is now exclusively parking contained four frame dwellings, a
brick dwelling, a stone printing office, and the First Church of Christ Scientist
building. These buildings appear to have been demolished individually over
time to provide parking.
- 501 S. College Ave, Fast Food (now GoodTimes), 1970
o Tore down Congregational Unitarian Church and brick doctor’s office/dwelling
for drive-thru and associated parking at 115 W Mulberry.
- 300 Remington St, DMA (Downtown Merch. Association) Plaza Apartments, 1973
o In about 1972, the project tore down Remington School to make way for
parking on the south side of the building.
o The project also tore down four frame dwellings on Mathews (303, 307, 311,
& 315) to provide parking for the tower.
- Block 103 (Mason/Magnolia/Howes/Olive), Bank Parking & Drive-thru, 1978-1980s
o Demolition cleared these lots for both parking and a drive-thru for First
National Bank.
o The project demolished a total of eleven brick and frame dwellings and a
duplex with a four-unit slot apartment addition off the back, that were all
present in 1960.
- 323 S. College, Clocktower Square, 1981
o Demolished an existing c.1958 one-story concrete office to construct the
existing building.
o Demolished a two-story brick apartment building and the 2-story brick
Mountain State Telephone & Telegraph building to create the parking lot.
- 531 S. College, First Presbyterian Parking, 1960-1980
o Between 1960 and 1980, the Church acquired the entire west half of the
block to serve as surface vehicle parking.
o This action demolished eight frame homes, two brick homes, one frame
house with a commercial addition, and one stone shop.
o The full church property is now listed in the Colorado Register of Historic
Properties.
- 460 S. College, Safeway (now Target), 1984
o In 1960, this block included a filling station, a masonry church building (First
Christian Church), five single-unit dwellings, and two larger brick dwellings
converted to apartments. These included the former Abner Loomis residence
– Loomis was a prominent developer in the late-19th century and namesake
of Loomis Avenue and the Loomis Addition, determined eligible as a City
Landmark District in 2012 as one of the city’s first successful new
subdivisions after the original town plat in 1873.
- 200 Block of Remington, demolished for parking in 1970s
o In 1960, this block included 3 brick residences, one of which had been
converted to apartments, 3 masonry commercial buildings on either corner,
and a rest home (for seniors).
- 639 S. Mason Street, 1 ½ story frame dwelling, demolished 1999
o Torn down for parking for 202 W. Laurel (Lee’s Cyclery)
- 625 S. Mason Street, 3 dwellings and a brick shop, demolished prior to 1999
o Torn down for parking for 625 S. Mason (currently Match-Ups)
- 718, 722, 724, & 726 S. College, 1 commercial building and 3 dwellings, torn down
2023
o Torn down for parking for 714 S. College
Before parking minimums were imposed, Old Town Fort Collins thrived through flexible building
designs and adaptive reuse. As highlighted in the recent staff survey of the Laurel and College
area, and the recent survey of College Avenue via a State Historical Fund grant, buildings
historically transitioned fluidly between uses without the burden of rigid parking requirements.
This adaptability fostered a diverse, dynamic, and resilient urban core, one that preserved the
city’s economic vitality, cultural richness, and visual character.
Historically, Fort Collins had flexible land use policies allowing creativity and adaptation. Ending
parking minimums significantly enhances opportunities for adaptive reuse, making historic
buildings economically feasible to rehabilitate without necessitating harmful alterations or
demolition for parking. Historic preservation groups in cities such as Philadelphia, Buffalo, and
Los Angeles have supported and won parking reforms to drive revitalization and preservation.
Fort Collins has the opportunity to adopt forward-thinking regulations that will protect our
heritage and ensure future residents can experience vibrant, historic neighborhoods with as
much character as Old Town. By eliminating commercial parking minimums, we can foster the
kind of sustainable, dynamic urban growth that respects our past while thoughtfully
accommodating the future.
We urge you to take this critical step toward enhancing historic preservation by eliminating
commercial parking minimums.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Gibson
Chair, Historic Preservation Commission
Attachments
1. Selection of Historical Photographs of Buildings Discussed in Letter
Selection of Historical Photographs of Buildings Discussed in Letter
Franklin School, 301 W. Mountain, c.1950, demolished prior to 1960, FCMOD, H17170,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/4758/rec/2.
Steele’s Market, c.1968, built in 1963; demolished buildings on NW corner of the block,
FCMOD, 309WMt68, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/29132/rec/1.
101 and 107-109 E Mountain, c.1910, demolished in 1966 for Columbia Savings & Loan,
FCMOD, H01454, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/14053/rec/30
Methodist Episcopal Church, 300 S. College Ave, c.1920s, demolished 1966, FCMOD,
H08043f, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/49999/rec/12.
F.J. Annis Residence, 310 S. College Avenue, demolished prior to 1979, FCMOD, H05831,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/23891/rec/3
122 S. Meldrum St., demolished for Home Federal Building (now Keybank) tower parking prior
to 1968, FCMOD, 122sme48, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7197/rec/1.
324 W. Oak, the Ogden Residence (turned club house by 1960), designed by architect E.
Francis Williams, 1953, demolished prior to 1968 for Home Federal Building (now Keybank
Tower) parking, FCMOD, H04247,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/14401/rec/5
Unity Church/Congregational Unitarian Church, 501 S. College, c.1922, demolished in 1970 for
a fast food restaurant, FCMOD, H28259,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/54653/rec/4
115 W. Mulberry, home and doctor’s office, 1948, demolished in 1970 for parking related to fast
food restaurant at 501 S. College, FCMOD, 115wmu48,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7019/rec/4
Remington School at 316 Remington St, torn down in c.1972 to provide parking for the DMA
Plaza apartments at 300 Remington, FCMOD, C01518,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/10092/rec/3
202 & 206 W Magnolia, c.1980, demolished in 1990 for a parking lot, FCMOD, H23186,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/29359/rec/1.
209 W. Olive, 1968, demolished along with its accessory dwelling unit prior to 1978 for the
existing First National Bank drive-through facility, FCMOD, 209WOl68,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7778/rec/4
211 W. Olive, 1948, demolished prior to 1978 for First National Bank drive through, FCMOD,
211WOl48, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7807/rec/1
310 S. Howes, 1968, demolished c.1978 for parking related to First National Bank drive through,
FCMOD, 310SHo68, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/8402/rec/3
312 S. Howes, 1968, demolished c.1978 for First National Bank parking, FCMOD, 312SHo68,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/8439/rec/1
316 S. Howes, 1948, demolished c.1978 for First National Bank parking, FCMOD, 316 SHo48,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/8507/rec/1
Mountain State Telephone & Telegraph Co. Bldg at 317 S. College Ave, 1949, demolished for
parking for Clocktower Square in 1981, FCMOD, 317SCol49,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/20354/rec/1
Brick dwelling-turned-apartments at 319 S. College Ave, 1969, demolished in 1981 for parking
for Clocktower Square, FCMOD, 319Cos69,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/20343/rec/1
121 W. Mulberry, 1948, demolished between 1960-1980 for First Presbyterian Church parking,
FCMOD, 121wmu48, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7158/rec/1
Shop at 127 W. Mulberry, and residence at 131 W. Mulberry in background, 1948, demolished
between 1960-1980 for First Presbyterian Church parking, FCMOD, 127wmu48,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/7275/rec/1
Abner Loomis Residence, 405 Remington Street, 1886, demolished in 1980s for 460 S. College
grocery store, (Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, H04094),
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/36547/rec/1,
William Drake Residence, 415 Remington Street, 1920, demolished in 1980s for 460 S. College
grocery store. (FCMOD) H02742,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/34261/rec/3.
H.D. Klinker Tire & Battery at 113 & 125 E. Oak St., demolished in the 1970s for parking,
FCMOD, Ha1819, https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/17510/rec/1.
221 Remington St, 1906, demolished by the 1970s for parking, FCMOD, H09128,
https://fchc.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/ph/id/34243/rec/2