Saturday, July 14, 2007

Preserving Our History

Those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. (Paraphrase of some famous quote by a famous person.)

The City of Pueblo will soon be considering landmarking two new historic districts, one around Rosemount and the other just north of Parkview Medical Center.

Both districts are the result of an Historic Architecture Survey undertaken by Historitecture, LLC. Most of the documents developed by them are available on their web site. The study itself, with maps of the proposed districts can be found on the City of Pueblo’s web site. Details about historic districts which are landmarked by the City can be found at the Historic Preservation Commission’s web site, including a copy of the ordinance.

A team from the Old Historic Northside Organization, Inc., the neighborhood association which includes the historic districts, is going door-to-door with information about historic districts. The literature includes a pros and cons sheet and a frequently asked questions sheet.

Why do we need historic districts? Don’t they just add another layer of intrusive government regulation?

Well, if you believe that education is part of government’s responsibility, then government needs to educate about history, and the buildings we have are the most obvious artifacts from that history. If you believe that local government should foster pride in the community, develop a sense of identity, and “sell” the community to new businesses and residents, then the government needs to promote historic preservation to preserve and develop that identity.

What cities have the strongest characters and identities in your mind? I think of Santa Fe, New Orleans and San Francisco. These are all cities with a strong sense of the historic preserved through their architecture. People are still eager to buy historic properties in New Orleans, despite the flooding that occurred with hurricane Katrina.

Pueblo’s culture and values are reflected in its architecture. Stone “castles,” Mediterranean villas, stuccoed “pueblos” sit side by side, reflecting the many countries residents immigrated from. The importance of religion is reflected in the many fine churches and the importance of education in the handsome schools (Central, Keating, Carlile) that are still in use today. Pueblo’s work values are exemplified in the strong industrial and graceful commercial buildings (Union Depot, Bessemer Historical Society, the Ice House) still standing and finding uses today. Pueblo’s respect for government and pride in community are seen in City Hall, the County Courthouse and the Federal Building on Main Street. These are all positive, attractive qualities made obvious by our architecture.

As far as government regulation goes, the restrictions on buildings in an historic district add very little to the restrictions made by zoning and code enforcement. Any changes to the exterior of a landmarked or historic district property must be approved by the Historic Preservation Commission. This sounds cumbersome, but in reality most people buy historic building because they like them just the way they are. Other than painting and roofing, which require approval but little or no fee, most people will never make changes. If they do, they can get lots of free advice from City staff regarding their project and how to proceed. They may be eligible for tax credits and grants to help with more extensive projects.

The process for landmarking an historic district is fairly straightforward, although there are several steps. The nomination goes before the Historic Preservation Commission which meets at noon in City Council Chambers on the fourth Thursday of the month. A hearing with input from the public is part of the process. If approved, the nomination goes to the City’s Planning and Zoning Commission for approval. P&Z will not take testimony from the public. Finally, the nomination is presented as an ordinance to City Council, which holds a hearing at the second reading and votes on the landmark at that time. Public testimony is again gathered. City Council meets on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7:00 pm. Residents and other interested parties have two opportunities to comment: at HPC during the day, and/or City Council in the evening. In addition, written comments may be sent to Wade Broadhead, Planning Department, 211 E. “D” Street, Pueblo, CO 81003.

As you read this, you will no doubt have additional questions. For more information about historic districts and restrictions specific to Pueblo, you can call Dave Cockrell, Senior Neighborhood Planner, at 553-2249.

Additional web sites of interest are the Colorado Historical Society’s Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation,  Colorado Preservation, Inc., and the National Parks Service.

We hope you will support the historic districts as an aid in promoting a positive, healthy image of Pueblo.

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