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HomeMy WebLinkAboutROMERO HOUSE (425 TENTH STREET) - PDP - 43-04 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESvideotaped for use in the museum. The museum will also serve as a community facility, providing a space for activities such as readings by contemporary Hispanic writers and display areas for art by local Hispanic artists. At present PLF is the lead organization with Amigos de las Tres Colonias/Friends of the Three Colonies working as an auxiliary. Several organizations actively support the efforts to create this museum, including but not limited to: the Tres Colonias neighborhood associations, the Northern Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Fort Collins (including the Office of Advance Planning and elected officials), the Fort Collins Museum, teachers of the Poudre School District, the Northside Aztlan Recreation Center, the Architectural Preservation Institute at Colorado State University (CSU), students in the fields of museum studies and American history at CSU, a local chapter of the Questers, the Hispanic Heritage Committee, the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Fort Collins Historic Society. El Policy GM-12.3 Working with our Private Partners. The City will continue to work with the development community in making the development review system more predictable and efficient by defining permitted uses that can be -approved more quickly, subject to specific design standards to ensure compatibility with existing neighborhoods, compliance with environmental regulations, and conformance with City Plan. IMPORTANCE OF THE PROPERTY The Romero House exemplifies three historically significant features: • It is a locally rare example of adobe architecture. • It illustrates the specific activities of John B. and Inez Romero in the community. • It represents the housing and lifestyle of workers in the sugar beet industry, which was a major contributor to the Fort Collins economy in the first half of the twentieth century. Restoring the house to the four -room adobe structure will allow us to best illustrate and interpret all three of these aspects of historic significance. The Romero House was originally a two -room adobe home, built by John Romero from straw and clay dug from the backyard, with a later adobe addition added during the Depression. Final wooden additions were added between the 1950s and the 1980s. Once restored, it will be the only adobe home on its original site that will be open to the public in northern Colorado. Although a few adobe homes exist in Wyoming, adobe homes are rare in regions as far north as Fort Collins. The house museum will recognize the importance of the sugar beet industry to the development of Fort Collins, and of the immigrant and migrant workers who made that industry possible. The contributions of these pioneers have been long overlooked. The Tres Colonias neighborhoods are the historic center of the city's Hispanic culture. They were originally established by the Great Western Sugar Factory in the early 1900's with the purpose of providing land for the permanent housing of sugar beet workers. The Hispanic community in Fort Collins and northern Colorado is diverse. The acquisition of this house is recognized as a step toward interpreting its culture and history to the public. Many members of this community warmly welcomed the concept of the Romero House Museum at the Fiesta Open House on July 21, 2001. More than 300 people enjoyed donated food and entertainment to celebrate the future Romero House museum. In order to restore the Romero House to the period of historic significance: 1927 - 1940, our plan includes: 1. Documentation, remediation of hazardous materials, and removal of post-1940 additions and associated site work 2. Restoration and repair of the original adobe structure including foundation, floor structure, walls, and roof 3. Restoration and repair of the original windows and doors 4. Restore interior and exterior finishes 5. Restore the contextual landscape The museum will be free and open to the public for tours led by trained docents a limited number of hours each week, and will feature scheduled tours for school children emphasizing the importance of the Hispanic settlers in the Tres Colonias neighborhoods to the development of Fort Collins. An exhibit area will provide historical information about the sugar beet industry, Hispanic pioneers in northern Colorado, and the cultural contributions of Hispanics to the community. Oral histories from residents of the Tres Colonias are being M contributing to the quality of life in Fort Collins. Policy CAD-5.3 Incentives. The City will use incentives to encourage private sector preservation and rehabilitation of historic resources. --- - - - --- Policy CAD-5.4 Planning and Regulations. The City will formally recognize -the contribution of historic resources to the quality of life in Fort Collins through planning and regulations. Policy CAD-5.5 Landmark Designation Program. The City will actively encourage property owners to designate their properties. PRINCIPLE CAD-6: Artistic enrichment and cultural opportunity are vital to community values, quality of life, and economic and social wellness. The City will promote, encourage and stimulate the growth of cultural development and participation. Policy CAD-6.1 Role of City. The City will continue to sustain City -owned facilities and City -initiated programming, and assist local arts organizations by providing administrative consultation, marketing expertise, technical assistance, and box office services. Policy CAD-6.2 Types of Projects. The City will provide, maintain, and operate historic and cultural facilities. A full range of performing, historical, and visual arts programs will be produced and presented. Policy CAD-6.3 Acquisitions. The City will acquire, exhibit, preserve and store historic artifacts and works of art of local, regional, national and international significance. The Art in Public Places program should continue in effect, to be administered by City staff in conjunction with the Art in Public Places Board. PRINCIPLE GM-12: The City will involve citizens in the planning and decision -making processes of government. Policy GM-12.1 Support Citizens' Efforts. The City will support efforts by citizens' organizations to promote and improve their neighborhoods, in accordance with the following considerations: a. Neighborhoods and the City will work hand -in -hand to identify neighborhood needs, resolve issues, establish lines of communication, and maintain and improve the quality of life. b. Neighborhoods will have the capacity to arrive at solutions to address neighborhood concerns through measures such as: matching grants which would allow residents to initiate projects for their area; and direct assistance from City staff members who act as neighborhood liaisons. c. Neighborhoods and the City will work together to be a positive influence on the lives of youth. d. Every area of the City will be within a recognized neighborhood boundary and represented by a neighborhood group. e. Every neighborhood will contain a neighborhood gathering facility that people can use, such as a park, school, or other activity area. f. The Neighborhood Resources Office will continue to advise and support individuals and neighborhood groups in identifying and addressing issues, and in involving fellow citizens in the community. 7 Statement of Planning Objectives for the restoration and change of the Historic Romero House at 425 Tenth St., which will be known as the: Museo de las Tres Colonias, home of John B. and Inez Romero The mission of the Poudre Landmarks Foundation, Inc., (PLF) is to preserve, restore, protect, and interpret the architectural and cultural heritage of the Fort Collins area. PLF manages the following historic preservation projects: the Romero House, the Avery House Historic District, the Fort Collins 1882-83 Water Works, and the Fort Collins Historic Homes Tour. The PLF also provides educational programs about life in early Fort Collins through tours, seasonal displays, and special events. The City of Fort Collins owns these three historic properties and leases them to the PLF. The PLF maintains, manages, and interprets the history of these properties in order to convey their historic significance to the public. We now seek to preserve and restore the Romero House, located in the Andersonville neighborhood, one of three neighborhoods established to serve the Sugar Beet industry. (The other two neighborhoods are Buckingham and Alta Vista.) The City designated the Romero House site as a local historic landmark in August of 2001, and accepted the donation of the Romero House from a private benefactor and leased the house to the PLF in July 2002. The State Historical Fund generously awarded a Historic Structure Assessment grant to the PLF in.October 2001, and an Archaeological Assessment grant in October 2002 to assist the PLF in developing a treatment strategy for the Romero House. In addition to securing the donation of the Romero House property, valued at $90,000 from Fort Collins Partners I, LLC, the Amigos de la Casa Romero / Friends of the Romero House has raised over $90,000 to date from individuals, community foundations, businesses and corporations. In July 2004, the State Historical Fund awarded Poudre Landmarks Foundation a restoration grant of $267,000. We are now seeking the approval from Planning and Zoning for a Type II review for a change of use from residential to community facility in an R-L zone. This will enable us to go forward with creating the "Museo del las Tres Colonias / Museum of the Three Neighborhoods. Excerpts from Fort Collins City Plan, Principles and Policies (May 2004) applicable to our project: PRINCIPLE LU-2: The City will maintain and enhance its character and sense of place as defined by its neighborhoods, districts, corridors, and edges. PRINCIPLE CAD-5: The quality of life in Fort Collins will be enhanced by the preservation of historic resources and inclusion of heritage in the daily life and development of the City and community. Policy CAD-5.1 Survey, Identification, and Prioritization. The City will determine what resources are within the Growth Management Area, how significant these resources are, the nature and degree of threat to their preservation, and methods for their protection. Policy CAD-5.2 Education and Awareness. The City will raise the level of awareness and understanding of and appreciation for the value of historic preservation in