A bill for an ordinance designating the Tilden School for Teaching Health Historic District as a district for preservation. Approves the designation of Tilden School for Teaching Health as a Landmark Historic District for preservation, located at the intersection of Grove Street and Fairview Place in Council District 1. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 11-19-19.
All right, Madam Secretary, please close voting and announce results. 12 provides counsel about 1158 has passed. Councilwoman Torres, will you please put Council Bill 1259 on the floor? I move that. Council bill 1259 be placed upon final consideration and do pass. Thank you. It has been moved and seconded. The public hearing for Council Bill 1259 is open. May we have the staff report? Good evening. I'm Karen with Landmark Preservation in Community Planning and Development. And we are here for the Tilden School for Teaching Health Historic District, which is located in District one. It is just north northwest of the school, and it is comprised of three different buildings that were used as a holistic treatment facility. The designation application was submitted by a former former council member, Rafael Espinosa, when he was still in office. It was the application was researched and written by members of the community and residents. It has gone through a variety of public outreach before it came to the Landmark Preservation Commission. And we are here at the public hearing. The Landmark Preservation Commission reviewed this. They reviewed it under the previous set of criteria because it was submitted prior to October 31st. This is the second to the last application that will be coming forward to you guys. That is under the old criteria. It is required to meet two out of three categories of history, architecture and geography to maintain its historic and physical integrity. And the LPC was to consider how it relates to a historic context or theme in Denver's history. This particular application meets two criteria under history, three under architecture, and two under geography. The does the designation application talks about the history of this property. It is associated with the development of the city, state or nation. So the development of Denver and is associated with the development of sanatoriums in Denver. At the turn of the century, physicians around the country believed that Denver's climate was beneficial for health purposes, oftentimes for people treating two per kilo cis. And so Denver became an area for treatment facilities for a variety of different types of ailments. This particular school was started as a teaching school for teaching people to have better health. It was developed by Dr. Tilden and established in 1915. In 1916. It started in the administration building, which is the Basler house, if any of you are familiar with that. And then it was built. A couple of other buildings were built along with it. The patients building in 1816 and then the main building, which is the Fairview Lofts, which is currently a condominium, was built in 1919, in 1921. Dr. Tilden taught nontraditional teaching health methods. He felt that patients need to know how to cure themselves. He protested that doctors cannot cure disease. The disease is caused by wrong life, and the doctor's prerogative is to teach the patients how to get well. So patients would come here and they would stay for a long term period of time in order to learn how to heal themselves through better living. It is also significant for its association with Dr. Tilden himself. He developed and extensively wrote about his treatment theories. These nontraditional theories or holistic treatments became well known for those who are seeking alternative methods to to surgeries or medications. And so he has he became well-known within the nontraditional treatment facilities, are nontraditional treatment theories. And so it is the building or the district is significant for his affiliation. And he was affiliated with the facility from 1915 to 1924. The school went from 1915 to about 1931. And so it's significant for its association with its founding medical professional. The property is are the district is also significant under architecture for a couple of different architectural styles. One, the Italianate style, which is seen in the Basler house, which is the building on the top. It's its asymmetrical design. The third story tower, which has been reconstructed according to preservation standards. The narrow windows, the segmental arches, and then the front and side porches are all character defining features of the Italianate style. It's also significant for its colonial revival style, which is the building on the bottom. It is. You can see its symmetrical features. It's a dominant two story central portico entry on the hipped tile roof and then the coining on the sides of each of the building in the front as well as the door surrounds in the taillight . Windows are the character defining features of the colonial or classical revival styles. And so the district contains two architectural styles that it's significant for. The district is also significant for the work of a recognized architect or master builder. It is a significant work of Harry W.J. Ed Ashbrook. He worked for his uncle, who was a well-known architect, Frank Frank at Brook, and he began his career in Denver working for him. When his uncle retired, Harry at Brook started his own practice and he designed the buildings other than the Basler house was already constructed, but he designed the other buildings in the historic district. It was early on in the life of his firm and it shows a strong collection of his work. Historian Wilber Fiske Stone felt that the patients building was one of Harriet Brooks most notable designs. So this property is a significant work of the recognized architect of Frank at Brook. Harry at Brooklyn. Apologize. It is also significant under architecture for portraying the environment of a group of people. The district is significant for portraying the environment of the patients at the school. This was a large scale institutional building that was intentionally designed to be in a residential area. It was designed to fit in with the with the community because the patients were going to be staying there for a significant period of time. So the district portrays the environment of the patients who had to stay there long term. It is an intact campus of early 20th century sanatoriums, and the buildings were designed to sort of feel like home for the patients. It also represents early 20th century thought for how patients and medical treatments for people, especially for people who came to these, whether it was the sanatoriums for tuberculosis or other other ailments. It has raised porches, bright sun rooms and a large number of windows, which were the leading theories of medical practice at the time. It reflected the importance of having ventilation and late into into into patients rooms and spaces and to provide fresh air and sunshine as a way of helping patients heal themselves. The property is also significant under geography for a couple of different criteria. The first is having a prominent location that is an established, familiar and orienting visual feature of the Committee of the Contemporary City. This is a series of large buildings in a in a residential area. They're large scale buildings. They stand out to the community, stand out in the community. And so they sort of they visually dominate the blocks around it, especially with the park that is really low scale. So it is a familiar and orienting visual feature of the neighborhood. And then finally, it is significant under geography for promoting the understanding and appreciation of the urban environment by means of distinctive physical characteristics or rarity. This this area was intentionally designed. If you note on the maps, the top is an 1887 survey and the bottom is the 1905 based real estate map. And if you note that the streets around it are designed in the north, south and east west grid, this was intentionally designed to take advantage of the contours of the land and to be more residential and pastoral in its design. It was intentionally developed and followed by a layout of the Riverside neighborhood in Chicago. And so this is distinctive for it's characteristic of the layout of the blocks in the lots. It is also rare, as one of the remaining examples of sanatorium sanatorium health campuses in Denver. That is a combination of buildings and larger scale. We don't have that many sanatoriums that are remaining and retain integrity. In order for a building to be designated, it also has to retain its historic and physical integrity. The building that is the most changed is the primary building, which is the main building or the Fairview Lofts. When it was converted into condominiums in the 1990s, there were alterations. The roof tiles were changed. There were some dormers that were added in. The windows were replaced. However, however, the overall massing has been retained. The proportions the bulk of the original building is still readily available, readily obvious. And so the building overall retains its integrity. And then as a district, the other two buildings have been minorly changed and they retained very good integrity. So overall, the district conveys the significance of an early 20th century medical facility. The LPC considered the context of this particular building that the operation of medical sanatoriums had become a major component of Denver's economy, that doctors from around the country were sending patients here. And so this reflected the growth of Denver at that particular time and is an important part of Denver's economy at the turn of the century. Because this is a historic district, it also goes to a planning board for their review, planning, planning boards. Review is really narrow. They look at a historic district's relationship to Denver's comprehensive plan and any plans that we might have, and then the effect of the designation upon the surrounding neighborhood. This property is related to comprehensive plan 2040. It relates to several different goals or strategies. The strongest one that it relates to is the strong and authentic neighborhoods. The proposed district reinforces the vision of comprehensive plan 2040 by preserving a historic cultural asset in the West Highland neighborhood. It is also supports environmental resiliency and that the buildings will remain standing and they will not be demolished in adding waste to our landfills. So it relates to two different vision elements within the comprehensive plan. It also relates to Denver's blueprint. It is currently the neighborhood context is urban, which is primarily characterized by single unit and two unit residential uses with some multi family residential. And it is has some mixed use throughout. So with its relationship to blueprint Denver this would meet the future places low residential. The designation would help ensure that the future growth is of residential character. It would also meet the strategy of to a under land use and built forms that recommends historic designation to ensure that the neighborhoods retain their historic character. That designation is consistent with Blueprint Denver's vision to improve the quality of design, and that preserves and creates authentic places. Planning Board also looked at its effect upon the surrounding neighborhood. The Tilden School for Teaching Health Historic District would help preserve the character of this particular block, but it would have little impact on the surrounding neighborhood. The intent of designations is only to preserve what was in the actual boundary of designations and not for anything that is outside of the historic district. And so it would have little impact on any of the surrounding neighborhood. We have received public comment from 26 individuals, 23 with 23 were written comments in support. Four were from neighborhood groups were organizations. 19 were for individuals. At the Landmark Preservation Commission Public Hearing, there are three members who spoke in support. There were no public comments at Planning Board. The Landmark Preservation Commission unanimously recommended approval and forwarded it for your review and the Denver Planning Board also unanimously recommended approval and forwarded it for your review. And I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much. We have four individuals signed up to speak this evening on this item. So first up, Chairman Sekou. Yes. My name is German Sake who likes to action movement for self-defense. In order representing poor, working, poor and homeless people are most vulnerable folks in the neighborhood. As a resident of this town. This is what we told. We support this 100%. This represents who we are and who we should stay. Like, not this mess we got being thrown up now out of clapboard and cheap construction material that won't even last that long, maybe 30 years. But we had to redo all of that. And what this represents also is the quality of how we felt about ourselves. You can't buy that today. You can't buy it. You can't buy it. And most remarkable thing about it is you had wholesome medical practices going on. Well, here's a doctor that said, if you want to be disease free, stay away from me and fix yourself before you reconcile. That is the everyday common stuff. All right. And he was well received by that and the medical community. So he's my kind of guy that will go against the grain. Take the risk of not being popular and then do the right thing. It wouldn't be great public officials acting like that and not get scared because somebody might not like the principles and values that you hold dear that you're willing to compromise. Chairman, if you could stay on the topic of this hearing, please. I was waiting for you to say so. Help me appreciate it. So not to belabor the point, and I'm sure that we're going to continue this on. Thank you very much for allowing me this time. Thank you. Next up, Arianna Stettner. Good evening, council members. And there's not going to be a test on all the history of the children teaching school for health. But now you know a lot about it. I am one of the owners in the condominium complex that Fairview Lofts building is celebrating its centennial this year. And we, as owners and neighbors have been working together to celebrate its history and work with our neighbors to create this historic district designation. We're very pleased that we have gotten unanimous support from the neighborhood and from our colleagues and from the owners in the property. And so I thank you very much for your consideration of this particular designation and the time it's taking you to review all of this. And I also want to express my appreciation to Paul Cloyd, who did considerable, incredible work on the application with me. So thank you for your time and thank you for your consideration. Would you mind stating your name for the record? Yes, it's a Greek name. Ari on the Stettner. Thank you very much. You're welcome. Next up, Paul Cloyd. Thank you, counsel. My name is Paul Cloyd. My wife and I have owned our home in the West Highlands for the last 35 years. I'm a registered architect and a licensed professional engineer, and I serve as chair. Of the West Highland Neighborhood Association Design and Preservation. Committee. I just quickly would state that I believe the application clearly shows the Tilden School for Teaching Health exhibits the significance and integrity to warrant designation as a Denver landmark. And as you may know from the application, these buildings are already on the National Register. I'm grateful to have had a small part in uncovering the story of the Tilden School and further sharing that story with the people of Denver. A historic district designation is the very best tool to ensure. That the buildings that perform the historic, historic character of our West Highland neighborhood are not lost. Please protect this historic part of Denver by voting yes on this designation. Thank you very much for your time. Thank you. Next up, Jesse Preuss. Good evening. Members of council, members of the audience, those watching at home. My name is Jesse Paris of the City Council, where large, almost 15,000 votes with no money. And I'll be running again in 2023 to be your next mayor. And I'll represent for Denver Homicide, a low black star action movie for self defense positive actually committed for social change. Unity Party of Colorado and Universal African People's Organization Denver Branch in Mile High knows we are in favor of this. As has previously been stated, this is something that Denver needs to preserve this this history needs to be preserved. And seeing that the community was all in support of this and you reached out to the community, I have no qualms against this. So good job, Espinosa. And now Amanda Sandoval, this pass. No problem. Thank you. Thank you. That concludes our speakers this evening. Are there any questions from members of council on this item? Councilman Flint. Thank you, Mr. President. Took a while to click in there, as I had a couple of questions. Carol, maybe you could answer or maybe help. Excuse me. The way the lines for the district are drawn. It excludes a little portion of some property parcels. And I'm wondering, is that an unusual or is that something we've done on other occasions? And what's on the parcels that are not included within a district but are on the parcel, like with the main, with the patients building right behind it, there's a a rectangle that's excluded. Yes. It's it's the garage of the patients. Building garages have been basically considered non contributing buildings because we want people to have the ability to change them or alter them. This particular property owner asked that their garage be excluded and so it's somewhat unusual to do that. But because the block was a little not uniform anyways, that that boundary was going to be a little bit changed. And because the garage would be considered non contributing, whether it was in or out was something that we, we felt in order for the building to get designated. And then the other excuse me, the other question I have is the building is on Highland, is it a highland place on the north side, three buildings that are part of the parcel that has the the the apartments, condos. Now what are they. Tell me a little bit more about those. Are those because they're not on the original maps. Right. Right. So so so they're they're recent infill garages. So they're they're part of the boundary. But changes could be made to that through design review. But they're modern garages and they're non contributors. So they were recently built. Yes. They're like within now. I'd have to. Yeah. 26. 26. So we're including them in the historic district but they're non contributing. Right there at the. Rear of the property. Okay, that's enough clarification. That's all I have, Mr. President. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. All right. I've seen no other questions. The public hearing from Council 1259 is closed. Comments by members of council and the councilwoman for this district is not here this evening. Councilman Clinic. Thank you. I just want to share my appreciation as one of the At-Large council members for all of the work that everyone put into it. And I think that, you know, I used to go by these buildings all the time when I lived in the neighborhood. And so knowing the story, I think enriches the experience. So thank you for the awareness that this brings and just thank you to the staff for the thorough work in presenting it and exciting to see our historic dedications continue to grow in the city. So thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. All right, so no other comments. I will just add my thanks to staff and everyone who put in all the hard work and to the Honorable Councilman Espinosa for your continued passion and work on behalf of our city. Thank you. I will be happy to support this this evening. Madam Secretary, Roll Call. Black Eye CdeBaca I. Flynt I. Gillmor High. Herndon High. Cashman. High. Commission. Ortega, I. Sawyer, I. Torres. Hi, Mr. President. Hi, Madam Secretary. Please go to the voting notes. Results 1212. Hours counts. Bill 1259 has passed. Councilwoman Torres, will you please put council bill 1289 on the floor?