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Home My WebLink AboutPOWERHOUSE 2 - FDP220015 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - HISTORIC PRESERVATION Page 1 HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONSULTANTS 7876 SOUTH NIAGARA WAY, CENTENNIAL, COLORADO 80112 Ph: 303-220-7646 Email: jfhoffeck@msn.com 21 February 2022 Powerhouse 2 Development Company, LLC Attn: Bryan Willson 320 E. Vine Drive, Suite 101 Fort Collins, CO 80524 RE: Powerhouse 2 at College Avenue/East Vine Drive, Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado: Historic Resources The Powerhouse 2 project would entail redevelopment of a light industrial/commercial area in Fort Collins that currently is occupied by scattered buildings and parking lots. The approximately five-acre project area is bounded by College Avenue (U.S. 287) to the west, East Vine Drive to the south, Jerome Street to the east, and Lake Canal to the north. The legal location is the SW¼ of Section 1, Township 7 North, Range 69 West, 6th P.M. The project area is almost level with a mean elevation of ~4,965 feet above msl. The primary elements of the proposed action are a large building in the southwest corner, approximately 160 parking spaces, restoration of a riparian buffer along the canal, storm- water management, and landscaping. The proposed action also includes construction of a trail segment and pedestrian bridge that would pass through a city-owned parcel and cross the canal. In order to assess the potential of the proposed action to affect historic resources, including prehistoric and historic archaeological remains, as well as historic buildings and features, the following tasks were performed: (1) review of previous cultural resources surveys and recorded sites and features within and in close proximity to the project area on the Compass database maintained by the Colorado SHPO; (2) review of information on parcels and buildings in the project area maintained by the Larimer County Assessor; and (3) site visit to the project area to examine the ground surface and existing structures and features. The above tasks were performed by a Qualified Historic Preservation Professional who: (a) meets the Secretary of Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards for archaeology and history; (b) holds a valid statewide permit for archaeological survey in Colorado issued by the SHPO (#79501); and (c) has more than 35 years’ experience in cultural resources management, including more than 25 years of field work in Colorado (including multiple projects in Larimer County). In 2011, I performed a Class III archaeology survey and subsurface testing of an area located approximately 2,000 feet SE of the Powerhouse 2 project area (within the Old Fort Collins Site). Page 2 A review of the Compass online database on 1/28/2022 indicated that most of the project area had not been subject to an archaeological field survey. However, archaeology surveys have been performed of areas located to the south and east of the project area (including the Old Fort Collins Site) and historic structure surveys of North College Avenue were undertaken in 2003 and 2010 for CDOT. A segment of the ditch located on the north side of the project area was recorded during the 2010 survey. A 2002 historic structure survey of the old fort area, performed for the City of Fort Collins, inventoried buildings located to the south and east of the project area. The surveys listed above collectively recorded a total of ten historic structures and features within, adjacent to, and/or in close proximity to the project area; these historic buildings and features are listed below in Table 1. They include the three buildings located on the parcel (#9701307002) that adjoins N. College Ave., as well as a smaller parcel at 108 E. Vine Drive, which were recorded as 5LR.12227 (Sherm Brooks Motors) and officially determined not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 2010. Another building, located on the parcel that adjoins Jerome Street, has not been inventoried/evaluated; according to the county assessor, it is a 3,740-square-foot metal- frame garage, constructed in 1960 and remodeled in 2000. A segment of Lake Canal (5LR.995), constructed during 1870–1879, is located along the northern margin of the project area; it was officially determined not eligible in 2010. Table 1. Buildings and features recorded within or near the Powerhouse 2 project area. SITE No. Site Name Address/Location Year NRHP Status 5LR.995 Lake Canal northern margin of project area 1870– 1879 not eligible 5LR.1572 Inverness Farm 232 E. Vine Drive 1899 unevaluated 5LR.9487 Lake Canal Bridge B- 16-AD N. College Ave at Lake Canal 1930 not eligible 5LR.10297 Ray’s Market 620 N. College Ave 1957 unevaluated 5LR.10313 John Tomaso House 101 E. Vine Drive 1909 demolished 5LR.10314 (unnamed private residence) 103 E. Vine Drive 1956 demolished 5LR.10315 Hersh House 105–107 E. Vine Drive 1934 demolished 5LR.10316 Sherman Brooks Motors Inc. 203 E. Vine Drive 1964 demolished 5LR.10317 Cinema Service Inc. 209 E. Vine Drive 1960 unevaluated 5LR.12227 Sherm Brooks Motors 704 N. College Ave 1945 not eligible The remaining historic structures listed in Table 1 all represent small buildings located in close proximity to the project area (they are on parcels that do not adjoin the Powerhouse 2 project area). Only one of these structures (Lake Canal Bridge) has been evaluated for eligibility to the NRHP (it was officially determined not eligible in 2002). All but one of these buildings (5LR.1572) was recommended as not eligible, and all but three of them (5LR.1572, 5LR.10297, 5LR.10317) now have been demolished. Page 3 Area of Potential Effect (APE): Based on the results of the Compass search, combined with current building information obtained from the county assessor, an APE map was prepared for the Powerhouse 2 project (see Figure 1). The APE boundary (red line) encompasses the ~5-acre project area, as well as a segment of Lake Canal along the northern boundary of the project area and the Lake Canal bridge, and three parcels in close proximity to the project area that contain buildings that are greater than 50 years in age and have not been officially evaluated for NRHP eligibility. On 2/15/2022, I visited the project area to examine and photograph the ground surface, existing structures, and previously recorded historic structures and features. Weather conditions and visibility was excellent, and although several small patches of snow were present, more than 90% of the (unpaved) ground surface was visible (see Figures 2 & 3). Most of the project area is occupied by an unpaved parking lot that is partially surfaced with gravel. At the time of my site visit, several large vehicles were parked on the lot. The parcels at the west end of the project area have been paved with asphalt. During my site visit, I walked across the entire project area and noted that it has been subject to heavy disturbance, either as a result of its use as a parking lot for commercial vehicles or past construction/paving. Accordingly, the project area does not warrant a formal archaeological survey. All structures and features that are either located on or adjacent to the project area have been inventoried and officially evaluated in consultation with the SHPO as not eligible for the NRHP, with the exception of a (remodeled) 1960 metal garage at the eastern end of the project area. In my view, this building, although greater than 50 years in age, is unlikely to meet any of the criteria listed in 36 CFR 60 for eligibility to the NRHP. The inventoried structures that are located on parcels near, but not adjoining, the Powerhouse 2 project area could be subject to an effect on their visual setting. In a formal agency consultation with the SHPO under the National Historic Preservation Act, these buildings likely would be “treated as eligible for the purposes of Section 106,” and the proposed project would be recommended or determined as having an effect on the visual setting of the resources “treated as eligible,” but not an adverse effect. Sincerely, John F Hoffecker Historic Preservation Consultants/303-220-7646 Page 4 Figure 1. Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the Powerhouse 2 project (APE boundary = red line), showing location of previously recorded historic structures and features and parcel numbers (adpated from Larimer County Assessor GIS map). 5LR.995.5 5LR.1572 5LR.10317 5LR.10297 5LR.12227 5LR.9487 Page 5 Figure 2. Powerhouse 2 project area, looking NW from the SE corner of the project area (photographed by author on 2/15/22). Figure 3. Northern portion of Powerhouse 2 project area, looking W from the NE corner of the project area (photographed by author on 2/15/22).