A bill for an ordinance designating 1272 Columbine Street as a structure for preservation. Approves an individual Denver landmark designation for property located at 1272 Columbine Street in Council District 10. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 12-15-20.
My name is Jovan Fitzgerald, and my husband's right behind me here. We live at 955 Pearl Street, which is in the Equality Hill Historic District. And we are very pleased you are considering our property at 1272 Columbine for designation as a Denver landmark, and it will be known as the Stahl House. John Stahl, as Kara told you, was a pioneering businessman with the foresight and daring to leave his family, house and businesses in Lockport, New York, and join many fortune seekers flocking to the young state of Colorado in the 1870s. He and Partners, also from Lockport, established hardware stores in the mining district from Tin Cup to Buena Vista. Within just a few years, they saw more opportunity in the capital city and moved to Denver, each pursuing his own business interests. For stall, it was to introduce a relatively new device, his typewriter business, possibly. Denver's first opened in 1885. At 16th and Tampa, it quickly transformed communications in the city. The business gave stall the contacts to gain prominence and influence in all aspects of civic civic life. Up to his death at age 90, at the Columbine Street House, the stall house was built in 1889, among the earliest in what is now the Congress Park neighborhood. He chose lots just three blocks from East High School, where all four of his children would graduate. He chose William Lang, the most popular architect at the time, to design the home. This tall family lived, married and died in the home from its construction to the 1940s. When we purchased the property in 1982, we were amazed to find such a classic example of Queen Anne architecture still standing among nearby apartment buildings, having survived for 93 years. Obviously loved by two previous owners, the home observed deserved a future life. We decided the two dwelling units would protect the architectural features and retain the historic character. Also, it seemed a better fit for the block, which was so altered by mixed use in the 1960s and seventies. We've always believed the style house worthy of landmark status, but when the Citywide Discover Denver survey identified it also as one of the few Queen Anne structures and one of the most intact of Lang's designs. We were encouraged to apply for individual designation, thanks to the help of historic Denver and the support of the Landmark Commission and staff. We are seeking your approval. We hope it might inspire other owners wanting to preserve the history and character of the Congress Park neighborhood. Thank you for your comment and. All right. Perfect. Next up, our speaker. Our second speaker is Annie Levinsky. Hi. Good evening. Thanks, but thanks so much for hearing this designation. Application tonight I am Annie Levinsky. I'm the executive director of Historic Denver. We're located at 1420 Ogden Street. And as you know, we're a membership based nonprofit organization dedicated to education and advocacy to help promote and protect our historic places and spaces. And I'm really pleased to be here tonight to support the designation of 1272 Columbine. While the home's history was well known to its owners and as you can tell, Jovan is very passionate about it. And it was not well known more broadly until the Discover Denver survey was working in the neighborhood over the last couple of years . And we were able to reconnect with the Fitzgeralds and the research team noticed the home because of its prominent and unique design features and it being a very intact example of an early Denver style, the Queen Anne style. But further research did uncover the architect, William Lang, who was the architect of our own organization's Molly Brown house, as well as the house known as the Castle Barn, another well known property in District ten. And that uncovered the story of the stall, how the stall family, which is a really fascinating story of two generations of Denver leaders who were very heavily involved and lived in the home for more than 50 years. And I think it's a testament to this house that it's had only three owners, the stall family, the subsequent owner, and then the Fitzgeralds. And they've all obviously poured a lot of sweat and energy into maintaining it in such a fine condition. And so I want to commend the Fitzgeralds for taking this action and for their patience, because it is something that they have long wanted to achieve. And we were really happy to be able to help bring it across the finish line. Jovan did a lot of the research herself about the house over the years and then our team, including interns and staff intern Scott KRATZER Shannon stage on our staff and Leslie Kroupa helped to complete the application and the Fitzgeralds have been incredibly thoughtful in their efforts to maintain and restore the House. Their choice early on to convert it into from one tiny single family home. Later it had borders and then into the two units that are there today, demonstrates the flexibility of older homes to accommodate the changing needs of our city over time. And because of this designation, the House will continue to survive and thrive there and provide for community needs long into the future. So thank you for your consideration and I can be available for questions about the application if needed. All right. Thank you very much, Annie. Next up, we have Jesse Paris. Go ahead, Jesse. Yeah. Yes. Good evening. Members of Councilman erm is just in with Tom Perez, our representative for Denver of Stylo Black. It's a moment for self defense, positive action coming in for social change as well as the Unity Party of Colorado and Mile High. Knowles and I will be the next mayor of Denver in 2023. This car preservation tonight at 1275 Columbine Street. It meets all the criteria. For a designation of this kind. However, I would be remiss if I didn't bring up the historical significance of this area. With the redlining that occurred in Denver in the 1800s and the 1900s and still pockets continues to this day. This area, this family that you have brought all this praise and galore on, they were racist white supremacists. They didn't do anything to help so-called people of color in the city. They built their fortunes off the backs of them, and they probably came here from the riches they acquire from the slave trade. As well. They are beneficiaries of the slave trade. So with that being said, we all have to acknowledge this history. This was not that long ago and in 2021 we are still dealing with the same issues. So I am in favor of this reasoning despite the horrible history, because it meets all the criteria. And there is nothing I can tell you tonight that is going to change your vote on this. So thank you. Thank you. Our next speaker is David Hagan. Hi. My name is David and I live in District nine. And so we thank you for being here. And I think it's allowing you to speak. And in the spirit of what you said earlier about preserving the voices, since I was unable to speak earlier, I have something to speak on a general comment, because I signed up at 1230 on Friday and was not given my 3 minutes. I wanted to talk about the fact that it was an atrocious act last Wednesday that happened at the Capitol. And it's not only Donald Trump that's responsible, it's every single Republican. You see, Mr. Hagan. That being. Unable. To. That because we. Don't have enough time. And so we're not going to you're going to have to speak on the land preservation, this landmark preservation tonight. I'm sorry you weren't able to be heard during public comment tonight, but if you want to use your time to speak on this landmark preservation, you may be so. I. Hello? And I still go on. You're still on. Okay. To finish your public comment on the landmark preservation we're talking about, Frank. About. I'm sorry. What? You can use your time tonight to talk about the landmark preservation of this home. I will not be talking about that. So you can either cut me off. Then we're going to go ahead and move to the next speaker. We've got Tess Doherty up. All right. We're going to go ahead and move to our last speaker, and that's Tess Dougherty. And we would just ask that, folks, stay on the top topic of the landmark preservation that we're talking about tonight. All right. Well, we'll see if we can get Ms.. Doherty into the. Meeting here. Okay. All right. Unfortunately, we had them leave tests, left the meeting. And so that concludes our speakers tonight. Questions from members of council. All right. See? No questions. There we go. Wanted to take a second. Councilwoman, can each. Madam President, just one real quick one. I heard a passing reference to being inside of a historic district, and I just wanted to ask the staff if you could clarify what the significance of being a designated individually is inside of a district and whether, you know, and whether there's any, you know, difference in terms of what happens in the future. Just any clarification on that would be helpful. So this property itself. Is not inside of a district. But I believe that John Fitzgerald, the house they currently live in, is in a historic district and I think that's the reference you are talking about. I misunderstood that. Okay. Thank you very much for clarifying. No further questions, Madam President. All right. Thank you, Councilwoman Canete. All right. Going one last time for any other questions from members of council. See none. The public hearing for Council Bill 20 Dash 1456 is closed. Comments by members of Council. Councilman Hines. Thank you, Madam President. This this historic designation is in District ten endeavors. Perfect. Ten in the country's best neighborhood. And and I'm really excited about this this designation. I want to I want to recognize that we're a growing city. We should make sure that we prepare ourselves for tomorrow. But but we should also observe and celebrate Denver's rich history. I don't know if you know, but I grew up the minute that was ten inches taxes and there was actually evidence of human remains or human activity as far back as 10,000 years. So as far as, you know, American history, that's a long time. And and so growing up in a town, the oldest town in Texas, where there were a lot of recognition of history as well as, you know, obviously business people conducting business today. It helped give me a respect for for for balancing both and with 1272 Columbine, I am I am really excited to support this historic designation. I want to thank CPD staff for all their research and and a great presentation. I want to thank Congress Neighbors, the registered neighborhood organization that took out the community engagement. I want to thank the members of Congress Park who responded to the survey and and recognize the beauty, quality and significance of 1272 Columbine. I want to thank historic Denver, but most importantly, I want to thank the Fitzgerald family. I want to thank you for your interest in the homeowner initiated historic designation. My first my first brush with historic designation after I took office was with Tom Steiner. And that was not of an odor initiated. In fact, it was owner opposed. So so this is a far kinder, gentler designation. And and and I want to thank the Fitzgerald family for their willingness to engage me historic Denver and other stakeholders as they went through the appropriate process to give this designation a best chance that its best chance for success. So to the Fitzgerald family, thank you very much to my colleagues. I will support this and I hope you do as well. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you, Councilmember Hines, and I appreciate your comments. And I will also be supporting this tonight. It meets the criteria. And I really appreciate Ms.. Fitzgerald sharing the history of the House and their work on preserving this structure for generations to come. Madam Secretary, roll call, please. Hynes. All right. Cashman. Can each. I. Ortega, I. Sandoval. I. Sawyer, I. Torres, I. Black I. CdeBaca, I. Clark. I. Flynn. I. Herndon. I. I see. Cashman. I. Madam President. I. Madam Secretary, please close the voting and announce the results. 13 Eyes. 13 Eyes Council Bill 20 Dash 1456 has passed the pre adjournment announcement on Monday, February eight. The Council will hold the required public hearing on 20 Dash 088 relating to the Denver zoning code, updating household regulations, consolidating residential care uses and establishing a new congregate living use category, which is also known as the group Living Text Amendment