A bill for an ordinance designating the Vassar School Bungalows Historic District as a district for preservation. Approves the designation of Vassar School Bungalows as a Landmark Historic District for preservation, bounded by Lincoln Street, Sherman Street, East Vassar Avenue, and the public alley between East Vassar Avenue and East Harvard Avenue in Council District 6. If ordered published, a public hearing will be held on Monday, 10-22-18. The Committee approved filing this item at its meeting on 10-2-18.
On the wall you will see your time counting down. Speakers must stay on the topic of the hearing and must direct their comments to the council members. Please refrain from profane or obscene speech. Direct your comments to the Council as a whole and please refrain from individual or personal attacks. Councilman Nu, will you please put Council Bill 1072 on the floor? Okay, move the council bill 1018 1072 Postpone final consideration and do pass. It has been moved and seconded. The public hearing for Council Bill 1072 is open. May we have the staff report? Good evening, city council members. My name is Jenny Button Borg. I'm a senior city planner with the Department of Community Planning and Development. And tonight I'm here to present to you on the landmark designation application for the Vassar School Bungalows Historic District. The authority to designate structures and districts for preservation is found in Chapter 30 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code, more commonly known as the Landmark Preservation Ordinance passed in 1967. One of the purposes of this ordinance is to designate, preserve, enhance and perpetuate structures and districts throughout the city and county of Denver. And the map you see in front of you on the presentation. We currently have 340 landmarks and 53 historic districts. The districts are indicated in purple and the individual landmarks indicated by red dots. This equals approximately 4% of the city or one in 25 structures that are designated landmarks. Designation. The designation process is very much designed to be community driven, and this is the case here with the Vassar school bungalows, where the idea and interest for the district was generated by the property owners. Applications for designations can be submitted by an owner or owners of the property by the manager community planning a development by a member or members of city council. And this is the case here. Councilman Cashman is the applicant for this district designation or three people who are either residents, property owners, or have a place of business in Denver. The proposed historic districts includes six parcels with six individual owners located at 105 115 119 127 135 and 141 East Vasser Avenue in the Rosedale neighborhood. The six primary structures that you see on the map here are those that will be contributing to the historic district. Again, this is council district number six, Paul Cashman, who is the applicant and blueprint Denver. This is an area of stability and the current zoning is you S.O.B. one. In order for property or properties to be designated, they have to meet a certain set of criteria. They are required to meet a designation criterion in at least two of the following categories History, architecture and geography maintain historic or physical integrity and be considered by the Landmark Preservation Commission for its relation to historic context or theme. The Landmark Preservation Commission has found that the district meets all required designation criteria. More specifically within those categories. It meets history a 30 years old and shall have direct association with the historical development of the city, state or nation architecture. A has designed quality and integrity and embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style or type and geography. B It promotes the understanding and appreciation of the urban environment by means of distinctive physical characteristics or rarity. And I'm going to go through each of those really briefly here with you. First for history. A situated one block east of South Broadway. The district is directly associated with the growth of South Denver in the pre Great Depression era. The development of the bungalows between 1925 and 1926 was influenced by the overall growth trends along South Broadway at that time. And the image you see on the screen on the left is the Gates Rubber Factory, and on the right is the Ford Motor Company running down the city or excuse me, the center of the street is a streetcar route along South Broadway, going north and south. This very much created a working class demographic in this area. If you look at the map in the middle of the screen, you can see the Vassar School that's highlighted by the red dotted line. That's in 1905. And then 24 years later, the map on the right, you can see that development has filled in in the neighborhood and you can see the six bungalows in the lower right that have replaced the Vassar School. The bungalows are directly tied to the former Vassar School, built in 1892, then in the town of South Denver. The school served K through eight, closed in 1924 due to construction of Rosedale School, which was built to accommodate the growing student population of the neighborhood. And the property was purchased and developed into six residences by Elbert L. Franz, who is pictured on the screen in Ohio native and building contractor. He designed the bungalows using the historic Vassar School topography and building materials. And although we don't have a historic image of the Vassar School, the Milton School, which you see here built around the same time, has pretty much the exact footprints of the Vassar School. So we can have a sense of what the Vassar School may have looked like. For architecture, the six buildings successfully convey distinguishing characteristics of Spanish revival style architecture. The flat roofs are found in only 10% of the style in the country overall. And although the buildings are not architect designs, there is a great deal of thought and resourcefulness that was put into their design with the elements reflecting the historic Vasser School . In general, there's a very uniform, cohesive appearance between the six buildings. Geography B to promote the understanding and appreciation of the urban environment by means of distinctive physical characteristics and rarity is achieved in this district due to its unique uniform grouping of Spanish revival style architecture and direct association with the design and layout of the former Vassar School. No other properties in the surrounding area resemble it or exhibit a uniform grouping of Spanish revival style architecture constructed by the same builder. If we take a closer look at those six properties, we compare it to the historic map of the Vassar School. We can see a lot of similarities. It maintains the South facing placement of the school. If you look at the three westernmost properties, they are mirror images of the three easternmost properties and plot size, location and spacing in between. You can even see in between the two middle buildings the historic entry into the Vassar School. The historic Fastener School materials were also reused in these buildings and in the properties with sandstone walls along the perimeter of the property and sandstone masonry in the foundations. So this truly is a very physically distinctive and rare piece of Denver's urban environment. The properties also retain a high degree of physical and historic integrity related to the district's period of significance from 1925 to 1926. Each building retains its original residential dwelling in the location where it was constructed and continues to serve in a residential capacity . There have been minor alterations over time, but they are found to be compatible in size material to the original. And finally, the proposed district does relate to a historic context or theme, and that illustrates the growth and development of working class housing along South Broadway and also the evolution of the Vassar School property from educational facility to residential development, all within the period of significance of 1925 to 1926. Because this is a proposed historic district. The planning board also has the opportunity to review this proposal per Chapter 30, Dash 4.6 of the Denver Revised Municipal Code. The Planning Board considers the proposed designation with respect to its relationship to the Denver Comprehensive Plan. The effect of the designation upon the surrounding neighborhood and such other planning considerations as may be relevant to the proposed designation or amendments. The Planning Board has found that the proposed district is consistent with applicable plans, including the Denver Comprehensive Plan and Blueprint Denver and will have little impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Two notes There is no neighborhood plan for the Rosedale neighborhood. Just a reminder that this is U.S. to be one single unit district allowing urban houses and detached accessory dwelling units. The proposed district advances several comprehensive plan goals, visions, objectives and strategies, and on the screen are the strategies that it meets. The Vassar School Bungalows Historic District Designation meets these by reinforcing the intrinsic, historic and cultural character of the city and Rosedale neighborhood, preserving the city's historic properties and neighborhoods and enhancing design excellence. According to Blueprint Denver, the proposed district's concept land use a single family residential and is in an area of stability. The primary character of the Vassar School bungalow is a single family residential, and the proposed district designation will help preserve that character. Areas of stability include the stable residential neighborhoods, where no significant changes in land use are expected over the next 20 years. The goal is to maintain the character of these areas and accommodate some new development and redevelopment that maintains the vitality of the area. The proposed designation identifies and helps retain the character defining features of the Vassar school bungalows, thereby providing greater, clear career clarity or certainty for any future change. Blueprint Denver does specifically note that historic designation is one of the most successful and common tools to preserve a neighborhood special qualities. The proposed designation is consistent with the Blueprint Denver concept, land use and area of stability recommendations. Because the proposed designation will help preserve the character of the Rosedale neighborhood. It will have little impact on the neighborhood. The designation ordinance and design guidelines that go along with it are only enforceable by the Landmark Preservation Commission within the district boundary. In some summation, both the Landmark Preservation Commission and Planning Board have unanimously recommended approval of the designation. There has been no public opposition to the designation, only support. Therefore, staff recommends approval of the Vassar School bungalows. Historic District designation. Thank you. Thank you very much. We have six individuals signed up to speak this evening, so I'd ask if you signed up to speak on this issue, if you could come up to this front row now. I do apologize if I mispronounce your name. I'll call you up. As soon as I call your name, you can step up to the microphone. There will be a slight delay and then your time will start. First up, we have Jennifer Kramer. Go ahead. Good evening. My name is Jennifer Kramer. In March of 2004. My husband and I purchased our home located in the Rosedale neighborhood at 119 East Vassar Avenue. Shortly after moving in, our neighbor informed us of our homes. Unusual history in the other five Spanish revival style bungalows on our block were built on the site of the demolished Vassar School. And some of the building materials had been reused in the construction of these homes that explain the unusual red sandstone wall that surrounded the property. It also explained the strange mix of brick and stone visible in our basement walls and the big pieces of chiseled sandstone that we would eventually dig up in our yard while landscaping. After Denver's real estate market took off, we anxiously watched. As three of the other bungalows went on the market. Each time. One sold, we were afraid that the new owners would decide to demolish. Their bungalow and build. A new home. On the lot. Destroying the cohesive. Appearance of our block. Finally, in February of. 2016, I decided I had to figure out a way to protect and preserve these six bungalows. So I emailed Annie. Levinsky. Of Historic Denver. From the get go, I involved the other bungalow owners and our councilman, Paul Cashman. Early in the. Process, we hosted a meeting with the Homeowners Historic Denver in the city's Preservation Department to discuss the pros and cons of creating a historic district with the other five homeowners on board. I plan to complete the historic district application myself and submit it to the city within a few months. This was completely unrealistic and nothing happened for over a year because of life just being too busy. Finally, I came to the realization that we needed to hire a consultant to complete the application if we ever wanted our historic district to become a reality. In August of 2017, I applied to historic Denver's Action Fund. A few weeks later, we were approved by the Action Fund and they provided 75% of the necessary funds to hire a consultant. The six bungalow owners eventually split the other 25% of the consultant's fee. The consultants started researching, compiling the necessary information in January of this year. In April, we hosted another meeting of the homeowners to review the rough draft of our application and to once again remind everyone of the ramifications of creating and living within a historic district. And in June, our completed application was finally ready for Councilman Cashman to submit to the city of Denver. Two years and eight months after sending that first email to historic Denver, I finally stand here before Denver City Council hoping you'll approve our master school bungalow historic district, so that our charming homes can enrich the character of. Our city and our neighborhood. Excuse me for another 92 years. It's been a long road, but along the way I've met. Some all of my neighbors and a lot of really great. People. I'd like to thank. The other bungalow owners for your support throughout the entire process. Everyone has sought Denver for your. Guidance, financial assistance of your action fund. Our consultant, Christina Anello. I'm sorry. In Geneva. I'm sorry. Your time is up. Thank you very much. Next up, Kristi minnillo. Good evening. My name is Kristi Minnillo, and I'm the owner of Minnillo Consulting, a business that specializes in architectural history services in environmental reviews. I am here because historic Denver hired me through the Action Fund to prepare the Landmark District application for the master school bungalows. I'm here to answer. Any questions you may have. About the application that Lamour staff may not be able to. And I'm also here to speak for this bill because not only, you know, I prepared it, but I have 15 plus years of experience in the world of historic preservation, and I frequently connect with the places and the times that I'm researching. But there's something very unique and very special about this place. I am proud to be associated with this application. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, Scott Nelson. Thank you. Hi, my name is Scott Nelson. I am one of the property owners. For this district and a neighbor of Jenn who I want to thank. For her passionate. Pursuit of this and. All the hard work and. All the energy and emotion as well as. Councilman Cashman for his support and help. Historic Denver Kristi minnillo. Everybody that's been involved has been it's been a fun process, and I'm hopeful that this will. Go through. I'm very much. In favor of of. Our homes being on this historic district because of the unique and consistent architecture. They all share. I've seen a lot of other individual homes. I'm a realtor. In the area and. See some of those. Historic homes that. Are one or two. And you can see. What the architecture is. But to see a group of this group of like this is is pretty unique for a whole block. I think they fit in very well with the neighborhood in terms of the size of home and the community in general. But they're. Very unique because of the style, the architecture. Their orientation, south facing instead of east or west facing. So it's something I'd like to see preserved, and I think all. Of our neighbors are in agreement with. That. Thank you. Thank you. Next up, Shannon Stage. Good evening, council members. I am Shannon age. My address is 1420 Ogden Street and I am the preservation coordinator at Historic Denver. For anyone unfamiliar with historic Denver, we are a preservation nonprofit that has the support of over 800 member households. And our mission is to assist the community of Denver in retaining the unique character that makes up our city. Historic. Denver is thrilled to be here tonight to show our support for the strong application of the Vasser School Bungalows Historic District. The neighbors of the bungalows sought out historic numbers support and started talking to us as well as Councilman Cashman a couple of years ago to create a historic district of their six bungalow homes. Last year, they applied to the historic Denver Action Fund, which they were awarded the funds to hire many consulting to write and complete the Historic District application as an action fund awarded program. The neighbors raised the 25% matching funds to help support this application process and have helped with organizing the project throughout the entire process as well . The neighbors, as well as historic Denver, truly believe their six Spanish revival bungalows are special, historic homes worthy of being protected in this quickly changing area of Denver. The homes were all built by the same builder Albert France in 1925 to 26 on the grounds of the demolished Vassar School. And one of the unique items here are all the elements of the Vassar School building that were incorporated into the residential properties, including the low sandstone sandstone wall that runs the length of the block, as well as parts of the foundation wall of the school that was incorporated into the foundation of the homes the Vassar School bungalows . Historic District is not only strong because it meets all three of the criteria history, architecture and geography, but it has had 100% support of each of the neighbors within the proposed district. Historic Denver strongly urges you to consider this historic district application for your approval. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next up, Jesse Paris. Good afternoon, members of council. My name is Jesse Pears. I'm a lawyer at large candidate for office in 2019. We are. I'm speaking on behalf of Black Star Action Movement and Community Action Committee for Change. We are in approval of this. We support Paul Cashman and his wise decision to keep areas of Denver such as this historic. And for that, we give a salute. I see no opposition coming from this whatsoever. It looks like it passed at planning board. The whole community is behind it. Are the neighbors that are in attendance are also on approval of it. So, yeah. I am in support of this and that is all I have to say on this. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next up, Chairman Sekou. But even Mr. President and his team members of City Council designated humble and trusted servants of the city and county of Denver. I am the organizer, founder of the Black Star Action Movement for Self-defense, being the voice for those who are voiceless, the poor, the working poor, the homeless, students, senior citizens and other oppressed groups within the city. Also on the candidate for mayor, the city County Dem 2019. This evening. What we like to do is. We like to join in with Jennifer Kramer in thanking the other bungalow owners for their support throughout the process. Everyone at Historical Denver for your guidance and financial assistance from your action fund or consultant Kristy. Many yellow. Kerrigan and Jenny Lunenburg with the city of Denver and Councilman Paul Cashman and other council members for your time, effort and energy. Taking on this consideration. You know it's very often lately that. I get these historical memories of this district and it seems to be strange. But the truth is, as a senior at Emanuel High School, we were given the opportunity to go to other areas of the city to get college credit and high school credit as we graduated from high school. And I was calling I going to borderline in terms of student whether he would go to high school or not or the war to Vietnam. And also, I just happened to be a basketball player for three championship teams. So despite of my academic. Shortcomings. I was given opportunity to attend the University of Denver. And up there I saw a whole different world from the east side. Five points. I didn't even know y'all was out there because at that point, our communities are pretty much grew up in a segregated community here in the city county in Denver, where you didn't find very many black folks out there like you was on the moon somewhere. We pretty much stay on a borderline between Colfax and I-70 and in downtown all the way to Quebec, the airport, because prior to that, outside airports when my daddy taught me how to shoot rabbits and gophers and things like that , and we shoot to eat. We weren't shooting for fun. So anyway, I'm out there. Do you? And a whole new world opened up and I had to go through this beautiful look like pristine gothic environment that you see on PBS or something, you know. But actually to live in that and see that and go to school out there, it was like it opened up a whole new world for me. So this is very important for us to preserve this environment because there is a history there for this entire city, including the part that I played and lived in, going out there because it opened up a whole new world now. It was amazing in terms of how life turns out. I leave my new high school and I have to go to Northeastern during college, go have the grades, to go to the University of Southern. Cal and I go to for two years, and then while I'm there, I get injured. And then I'm because of my integrity and how I was taught how to do things. I just applied my basketball skills are going to the library and then ended up graduating with a degree in accounting and offered a Ford Foundation scholarship to attend any major university on the planet. And I chose the University of Denver. And I was the first African ever in the history of the business school to get a full ride. I didn't have to pay a dime. And then I was given an internship. More Mitchell to become a certified public accountant. But it was that environment when I was first introduced to it at an early age of 17 years old that I came back because that that environment was a world I wanted to operate in. And it wasn't very many of us out there. But I had the greatest mentor in the world, Condoleezza Rice's father, John Rice. He was vice chancellor there. And he opened up a whole new world for me. I mean, a whole entire new world. And so I feel very fortunate to be a part of the history of that air in the area impacting my life, because that story needs to be preserved because that's part of the history that may not ever be written down. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen for me. So I have to support this. I have to support this other love that opened up avenues and doors for me in my life and the lives of others who are not present here to share this story. And so we're encouraging this to happen because it's more than a preservation of the buildings. It's a preservation of the history of the people who were there. And I'm telling you straight up, I was embraced by that community. And I felt right at home. I can't be alone. And that's something that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. So we support this. Thank you very much. And good evening. Thank you. All right. That concludes our speakers. We'll move on to questions for members of council. And I'll just start with Jennifer Cramer if you want to come back up. Sorry that you ran out of time as you were. You were going. And I think, Chairman, say, who helped you get to a few things, but is there anyone else you wanted to thank or any anything else you wanted to add about this application? He did complete my list, so I just was wanting to thank all of you for the consideration for all of the committees that we've sat through and everybody else had to listen. And for everybody at historic Denver and at the city's preservation office, it's been a great process. Okay. That's a great. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other questions? All right. Seeing none of the courtesy public hearing for Council Bill 1072 is closed. I would think that was required. Hearing comments by members of Council. Councilman Cashman. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. President. As happened on before the planning board. And we had the same mix of presentations. We first heard from Kendra about their project, which while it very possibly will have elements of great benefit to the neighborhood, if it should pass, it will change the face of that community. And here we have this simple group of six bungalows that will preserve the history of the community. And it is such a gift. These historic preservation, whether it's a district or an individual landmark, are so important to our community. And I'm always a bit embarrassed. I believe in the staff presentation. My name was mentioned three times, so I'm going to say Jim Cramer. Jen Kramer. Jen Kramer. Jen Cramer. You heard her passion and the sincerity with which she put this designation forward. These I've said it in committee to those who weren't there. If you have not driven this block, you've got to go see these. These are just beyond charming as a lovely group of homes that clearly meet all the requirements of our preservation ordinance. I'm just so happy to be able to bring this forward. It is so nice when people do a whole lot of work and I get to put my name on it that I always find that enjoyable. And I want to echo a thanks to besides Ms.. Kramer, Jim Boulden and Karen from staff Christie in yellow Shannon stage from historic Denver in the Legend The Woman, The Myth, The Legend, Annie Levinsky, our preservation maven in Denver. Seriously, for the work you continue to do with your entire staff. Thank you. And I would urge my colleagues to approve this designation. Thank you. Thank you. Councilman Cashman. Councilman Espinosa. Now, I just didn't want I just didn't want it to be one speaker, having heard how long of a process it was and having worked on community issues myself that seem daunting at first or seem simple at first and obvious and then become daunting and then rolling that long haul or hoeing the long row. Sorry to finally get there. I'm glad in in all the narrative that was presented because it sounds like all the sort of bits and pieces and the people that are involved, both in the nonprofit world and at the city and volunteers and neighbors and property owners, all came together in exactly the way they were intended to be put together. And but it's still an education process. You know, there's there's hesitation. There's I mean, I don't know that that happened, but there's reticence about what what what it all means and what it how it might impact somebody. And and I'm just grateful that you persevered and that your neighbors came on board and that everyone is, is, is, is, is and is in support because it's one of those I probably am familiar with it. You know, I'm going to make a point of going out there and checking it out because I'm sure it's one of those parts of Denver that as you go by it time and time again, you think it's basically obvious and that these things are part of history and should remain and are probably protected. And too often we find out sort of after the fact that no and and and then it becomes a struggle and it becomes too late . And so for you guys to recognize it real time in a time where you could still act and that you all sort of recognize the importance of these sorts of homes to to yourselves, to the people that came before you and the people that will come after you and to the rest of the city. So I just wanted to let you know that I appreciated your hard work, the involvement of your neighbors and the people that supported you in getting here. And Councilman Cashman. I said your name honestly, Jen, for bringing this forward and supporting your community in this effort. So thank you all. Thank you, Councilman Espinosa. I see nobody else in the queue. I'll just add that the day this was in committee, I got home and I told my wife, I said, Hey, there's this historic designation. I think it's on your training ground. She was training for the rock and roll half marathon. That was this last weekend. And the second I said three words about it, I think she's like, I know exactly where it is. It's so cool. She's like, I run by it all the time. So of course, she instantly knew. And so I think it's so exciting to have this in front of us for preservation. And then Councilman Cashman said in committee and don't let it go to your head. But I thought was so cool. I actually wrote it down. You said this is a gift that these people are giving Denver. And I think that that is really true, that what you're doing here today and preserving this as the owners is you're giving a gift to our city to preserve that history. And I was at the parade this weekend talking to another one of my constituents who who did the same thing. They created the South Lincoln Historic District recently. And I said, that's what we need if we're going to really, you know, preserve this history in Denver is we need we need to get the word out. So anybody is watching on TV. Take a look at your house and reach out and find out if you can do the same thing and give a gift to our city. Because it is it's really pretty phenomenal. So thank you for doing that and I'm excited to support this tonight with that. Madam Secretary, roll call. Cashman. I. Black Eyed Peas. Hi, Espinosa. Hi. Flynn Gilmore. I Herndon Cashman. Sorry. Can I. Lopez. I knew Ortega. Hi, Sussman. Hi. Mr. President. I. Madam Secretary, please close the voting, announce the results. 12 hours. 12 eyes council bill 1072 has passed. All right. We have one more hearing this evening. The public hearing for the mayor's proposed 2019 budget is now open. May we have the staff report?