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."
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal
The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.
Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification
The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.
Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation
Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.
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
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service