Excerpt from Historic Denver’s Preservation News:
What ideas do you have to encourage rehabilitation and adaptive use of historic properties?
Carol Boigon
I believe we must begin to set templates for marrying important new values such as universal accessibility, public safety and environmental protection and sustainability with historic preservation. On their face, these important values may seem to have conflicts with each other that are time consuming and costly to resolve in the context of a specific project. The City can take the lead in pushing the dialogue among the communities and experts, developing good strategies to resolve typical conflicts and creating incentives for projects and products that bring those values together. For example, I have proposed an architectural contest based on meeting the goals of historic preservation and universal access in Denver’s public realm from neighborhoods, to business districts to recreation areas. Good models that emerge from the effort would become part of reference library for developers working on actual projects.
Paul Fiorino
First we need to realize that progress is all relative to our past. Encourage land owners to really do due diligence in finding out what may have happened at that place. Develop a process to register the findings so future owners will know. If a building can be retrofitted to be sustainable it has a better chance to survive, however, those that can maintain its existence as pure historic should be given a credit for energy use. Developers have a choice to build around or integrate a design into the historic structure, but demolition should not be a given. The Evans School is one project that has been in process for decades, yet to be finished, leased and open to the public. Can we find the right use and help owners complete projects in a timely matter? This is the question that needs to be answered by a new administration with preservation in mind.
Michael Hancock
Much of our mixed-use development, as called for in Blueprint Denver, is a return to traditional urban design often found in much of our existing historic properties. I will ensure that historic design guidelines are streamlined, implementable and easy to follow. I will continue to support easements and tax credits available to property owners looking to apply for historic designation. I will educate neighborhoods and the business community on the importance historic preservation plays in economic development.
Doug Linkhart
I think we should make it easier for people to landmark their properties. First, we should do whatever we can to streamline the process, which can sometimes be somewhat burdensome. We should also look into offering tax incentives for such remodeling. In addition, conducting a comprehensive inventory of historic properties would allow us to be proactive in preserving important properties for the future. With such an inventory we could look at how to make the most effective use of older buildings. As Mayor I will encourage preservation as well as sustainability. Environmental sustainability and historic preservation are not at odds with each other and should work together as dual goals. As Mayor, I will facilitate discussions as to how both goals can be achieved.
James Mejia
Many of Denver’s historic properties are desired for both business and residence. To encourage owners to rehabilitate and use historic properties the historic significance must be established. Once the significance is established, the owner should work with the City and organizations like Historic Denver to come up with the best preservation solution. What discourages many owners from using a historic property are the costs of maintenance. I support state incentives and grant programs for upkeep for historic property owners. As Mayor, I will encourage Xcel to provide incentives to property owners to make historic properties more energy efficient. Historic properties add to the character of a neighborhood and I believe owners should be encouraged and incentivized to maintain rather than destroy historic properties.
Chris Romer
The city can help by streamlining the licensing process for redevelopment approvals. We should also monitor the recently approved zoning changes to ensure they support and encourage preservation efforts as well as support the unique character of Denver’s neighborhoods.
Theresa Spahn
Like many of the historic lofts in Downtown Denver, the adaptive use of historic properties helps preserve Denver’s rich heritage while bringing new life and revenue to historic buildings. We need to partner with Historic Denver, the Department of Planning, Colorado Preservation Inc., and the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission to raise awareness about both the state and federal tax credits available to property owners. We must encourage the adaptive use of historic buildings to create a sense of civic pride and rich cultural heritage while creating new opportunities for business and residential use.
Thomas Wolf
With the state of the economy and the lending environment this will clearly need to be demand driven. That said, I think there are plenty of creative minds in our design and development community that have had success with these types of projects and will continue to find opportunities that do not require public financial assistance. In very unique “but for” situations that respond to a greater civic good, I would be willing to consider financial assistance
