HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Mail Packet - 12/29/2020 - Letter From James E. Burrill Re: Collamer-Malaby Historic District (303, 305, 313, 315 N. Meldrum) - ConcernsDecember 18, 2020
Dear Ft. Collins City Council:
As I sit here looking at the “Friend of Preservation” award that the city gave to me in 1991, I have a
heavy heart. My family came to Ft. Collins in 1870 and we have had a presence here ever since that
time. This old building where I am sitting was built not long after that time, sometime in the late 1870’s.
It’s becoming apparent to me that I may no longer fit here. The city is set to send me a notice about
renting my grandma’s house because it does not meet current building codes and in honesty, I am ready
to give up. I’m retirement in age now but this historic property was passed to me 34 years ago in
January. The situation is that it I don’t have the fight in me that I did when I was a youngster of 28 years
old in 1987. I have something that no one else in the city has, I have half of my great grandfather’s
estate, purchased in the late 1890’s and I have his grocery store building and I have the nearby house
that he gave to my grandmother for a wedding gift when she married my grandfather in 1915. Now the
city is telling me that I can no longer use that house to provide income to pay the expenses of
maintaining the property because it does not meet current building codes.
This place is very unique. The old store building was moved into this property in 1905 with horses and
block and tackle. The front room of this store building is almost exactly like it was 100 years ago. Also, I
have the barn where my great grandfather kept his horses for his business. My own house was moved
into this property 105 years later, in 2010 and sits next door. I wanted an old house to match the
surrounding buildings and character of the place. Quite simply stated, I don’t have the fight in me that I
had 10 years ago.
The Historic Preservation department would like to see my property designated as the “Collamer-
Malaby” historic district. I would be open to working with the city on this but I want to make sure it is in
my own best interest to do this. You have worked in partnership with other property owners with
flexibility in other situations where historic property is involved. I am still open to talking about these
possibilities. I want a partnership that works best for all involved. When I assumed responsibility for this
property in January of 1987, the city was more flexible and easier to work with. My perception is that
has changed.
At this time, if the city government declares my Grandmother’s house as “unfit to rent”, I will be forced
to sell the entire property and pull out of Ft. Collins. My dad was born in that house. It’s not what I want
but it may be the reality of trying to swim upstream against the tide. If I have to sell this property, I will
not be back.
Thank you for your time.
James E. Burrill
burrill@frii.com
(970) 619-0450
1
Sarah Kane
From:burrill <burrill@frii.com>
Sent:Friday, December 18, 2020 8:56 AM
To:Sarah Kane
Subject:[EXTERNAL] FW: The Collamer Malaby historic estate
Attachments:20201216_152301.jpg; 20201216_153406.jpg; FC City Council.docx; STORE.jpg
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
-------- Original message --------
From: Jim Burrill <burrill@frii.com>
Date: 12/18/20 8:26 AM (GMT-07:00)
To: councilemail@fcgov.com
Subject: The Collamer Malaby historic estate
Files and pictures attached. Thanks for your consideration and Merry
Christmas to you all.
Jim Burrill