Business Retention and Development Committee Agenda and Packet 2011 05 02

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MEMO To: Mayor Sisk and Members of the Louisville Revitalization Commission Cc: Business Retention and Development Committee From: Peter Stewart, Chair, Historic Preservation Commission Re: Rod and Gun Club, Aggregate Concrete property redevelopment Date: March 28, 2011 I am writing in regard to the Rod and Gun Club, a historic building, located on what is known as the Aggregate Concrete property. This is the property recently acquired and currently being redeveloped by DELO, LLC. This building was evaluated by an architectural surveyor in 2000 and more recently in the Northwest Rail Environmental Evaluation report. Both reports determined the building to be of significant historical value and each determined it to be eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. According to these reports the building, constructed in 1926, has both architectural and social significance. It is the only historic Mission Revival style building recorded in Louisville, and one of only thirteen examples of the style known to exist in Boulder County. Its social significance, relative to National Register Criterion A, is for its association with Louisville's social and cultural development during the period 1926- 1952. Used as a clubhouse by the Rod and Gun Club, and later as a troop room by Boy Scout Troop 69, the property has had a long and continuous history as a social meeting place. Following the joint LRC /BRaD meeting in February this year, at which DELO presented an update on their redevelop of this site, staff brought forward to the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) a demolition application for the Rod and Gun Club building. It was not clear why the application was submitted separate from a site development plan, nor why the City accepted the permit application apart from a PUD application as is required for redevelopment of the site. Regardless, a demolition hearing was held to determine if the permit should be released and if the building is potentially eligible for local designation. At the meeting the developer was very open to exploring alternatives to demolition. HPC was quite happy to hear this and encouraged the developer to consider including the building in their development plan. HPC did not release the permit and did find reasonable cause to believe the building has the potential to be locally landmarked. As a result of that hearing HPC is actively exploring possible alternatives to demolition including providing information to the developer regarding financial incentives that may be available. HPC assigned one of its own members, Florian Speier, to work with the developer towards this end. One alternative to demolition would be to include this building as an integral and useful part of the redevelopment. I believe the building could enhance the development by providing an authentic sense of place and identity, and also by establishing a substantive link between downtown Louisville and the new development on the east side of the rail corridor. I bring this to your attention because recognition and preservation of Louisville's cultural history is not just the purview of the HPC, but a City wide goal and policy included in the