The balance of power in the historic preservation process shifted slightly toward the preferences of property owners in Denver.
The Denver City Council recently approved a new law that provides property owners with recourse to oppose historic landmark designation.
Joe Rubino reports for the Denver Post: “The council voted unanimously Monday to grant property owners time to provide their own presentations explaining why they feel their property should not be a landmark if an application is filed against their will.”
The new law was crafted in response to the controversy surrounding a 2019 episode involving the location of Tom’s Diner at the corner of Colfax Avenue and Pearl Street in the city. The owners of the property opposed a landmark application filed for the property, and the City Council ended up stopping just short of the approval.
Previous to the new law, “applicants were given time to give a presentation stating their case for preservation but property owners had to sign up to speak as part of the broader public hearing, capping their time at three minutes,” according Rubino.
The new law will also change the process for creating historic districts in the city, according to Rubino. “Property owners in potential district boundaries can now cede their time to one speaker who can deliver a longer presentation.”
More on the controversies surrounding historic preservation in Denver is included in the source article, linked below.
FULL STORY: Citing Tom’s Diner saga, City Council tweaks Denver’s landmark ordinance
Denver Looks to Landmark Designation Changes
In the aftermath of a battle around preservation of a Denver diner, local officials are considering changes to the city’s historic landmark law.
Big Changes Coming to Denver's Downtown Historic District
A development proposal would add two new buildings in addition to major renovations in Larimer Square.
Is Washington D.C. Preserving Buildings or Hoarding Them?
A piecemeal, reactive approach to historic preservation in the capital may burden the future with too many buildings of "middling merit."
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie