STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-February 27, 2020-The State Historical Fund has awarded a $31,800 grant to the City of Steamboat Springs for a project to create a historical context for the Mountain Area and survey its historical structures.
The mountain area has approximately 300 properties that will be 50 years or older. Think 1970 and before and drift back to powder dreams of the Thunderhead Lodge & Condominiums, Stagecoach Gondola, the beginnings of the Steamboat Village Resort, aka original Steamboat Sheraton, and the old mid-mountain Thunderhead Restaurant.
“Currently, the city has no surveys on properties located at the Mountain Area,” said Rebecca Bessy, Planning and Community Development Director and grant administrator. “With projects coming through the planning and building permit review process, and for those 50 years and older through the Historic Preservation Commission, survey information is critical to determine eligibility for the Local Register of Historic Places, make appropriate decisions and recommendations to property owners.”
Through this grant, the project will create a historical context of the Mountain Area, conduct a windshield survey of approximately 75 properties and complete 10 intensive surveys on historic structures. The new survey data will identify properties with historic significance and integrity, generate property owner awareness and encourage participation in the historic preservation program.
“Development is still steadily increasing in the mountain area, which means influxes of permits for alterations and demolitions of older properties,” continued Bessey. “Properties in this area have reached 50 years old, and Steamboat Springs is in danger of losing historic architecture from the beginning of resort development era.”
The Mountain Area project looks to produce analysis and data like what has been done for Old Town Steamboat Springs, where nearly 500 architectural and historical inventories of properties have been conducted since 2000. This information is key in notifying property owners and citizens of the historical significance of their buildings, encourage historic landmarking of properties, and inform owners of the financial benefits of listing their properties on a historic register. The Historic Preservation Commission and city staff have also used the information when making decisions on building permits and planning projects.
The State Historical Fund was created by the 1990 constitutional amendment allowing limited gaming in the towns of Black Hawk, Central City, and Cripple Creek. The amendment directs that a portion of the gaming tax revenues be used for historic preservation throughout the state.
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Contact
Rebecca Bessey, Planning & Community Development Director, 970.871.8202 or email
Erica Swissler Hewitt, Historic Preservation Consultant, 970.879.0819 or email
Ginger Scott, Grants and Special Projects Analyst, 970.871.8215 or email