HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLOCK 9 131 NORTH LINCOLN AVENUE HARMONY MILL - Filed GC-GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE - 2005-10-07NATURAL RESOURCES CONSULTING ENGINEERS9 INC.
CIVIL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND WATER RESOURCES CONSULTANTS
November 14, 1994
City of Fort Collins
Re: Building Permit - Harmony Mill Rehabilitation
Dear City Staff:
We are pleased to report that a complete set of building plans for the Harmony Mill project are
being completed and should be ready for submittal to the City by the end of November. To oar
surprise and dismay, the planning process has been very complicated, time consuming, and
expensive. Particularly difficult issues involved historic preservation and handicap access. It is
our current understanding that these issues have been largely resolved.
The conceptual site plan has also been completed. Again, the site details and issues have turned
out to be complex and difficult. The site complications include future railroad track relocation,
scheduled construction of a large storm sewer on Lincoln, potential DDA funding for site
improvements, a proposal to vacate Willow Street, and prior drainage plans for the area. The
attached conceptual plan was prepared with the above issues in mind.
However, it is our understanding that the process for completing the final site details and
securing approval through the various city departments could take several months or longer. In
addition, we have been told that the construction permit for the building renovation will not be
issued until the site plan is approved. This delay creates serious economic hardship for the
owner/occupant, and could even cause the current lender to withdraw the promised financing. A
construction permit is required before the building loan can be processed. While there are
significant specific site concerns, all major City requirements have been conceded by the owners
and are reflected in the conceptual plans. All that remains to be resolved are final design details.
Main Office East Africa Office Colorado Office
1250 Addison Street, Suite 204 P.O. Box 5260 11 Old Town Square, Suite 250
Berkeley_ CA 94702 Ras Dashen Street, #5 Fort Collins, CO 80524
(510) 841-7814/Fax (510) 941-3728 Asmara, Eritrea (303) 224-1851/Fax (303) 224-1885
011-291-1-120574/Fax 0(1-291-1-120629
November 14, 1994
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In order to keep the process moving, we are asking the City to approve the construction permit
for the building as soon as possible following the submittal of all necessary building plan details.
Site details can then be resolved in cooperation with the concerned city staff prior to the site
related construction planned for next spring. In summary, the reasons for this request are:
• This is a redevelopment of an existing building, not new construction. Therefore, work
on the building is largely independent of the site and site issues.
• The fire -damaged building roof was blown off in a storm last May. This forced the
owner to move forward with the project much faster than would normally be prudent in
order to protect and stabilize a building at risk. In addition, the owner had to use personal
and business operating funds for this purpose - funds that will not be recovered until the
construction permit is issued and the building loan is closed.
• The Harmony Mill site is included in the adopted Downtown Plan as a "Special
Redevelopment Project". This designation indicates that the project has special potential
and significance to the development of the Poudre River Corridor District. The Plan also
recognizes that the site has special problems that will require the City to "Actively
support and encourage the appropriate redevelopment of architecturally or historically
significant and underutilized buildings in the Downtown".
We will be available at your earliest convenience to discuss this request. Please contact this
office or Glenn Konen at Architects' Studio (482-8125) if you have any questions. Thank you in
advance for giving this matter your attention.
Sincerely,
Barry J. Gutwein, Ph.D., P.E.
Supervising Engineer, Colorado Office
Enclosure
cc: Chip Steiner, DDA
Glenn Konen, Architects' Studio
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