Tight Resources Hurt Denver's Historic Preservation

"Three of the four staff members who support the Denver Landmark Preservation Commission quit this week. The senior duo, preservation architects Everett Shigeta and Chris Murata, have been with the office for 12 and eight years, respectively; officially, they retired. I know you've heard about it; the preservation and design communities are abuzz with it."

"Shigeta has a simple reason for leaving: Without more staff, and with more duties being added as the city's preservation ordinance has been refined and expanded, they don't think they can do their jobs well. Also gone: staffer Alice Gilbertson, there for a year but already making a big impact."

"In short, they're beat."

"'The amount of work has outpaced our ability to perform in a manner we feel is consistent and supportive of the preservation ordinance,' Shigeta said Wednesday, the day after he and Murata announced their resignations."