YourHub.com \\ Old Colorado City \\ Blogs \\ General

Blog Entry 3 of 14 Old Fort Carson

A running history of Fort Carson, from its beginnings in World War II. I know some of it. You fill in the rest.

Blog Url: http://coloradosprings.yourhub.com/~oldcarson

Is Historical Westside Worth Saving?

e-mail to a friend | print this | link to this

Contributed by: Dave Hughes on 4/3/2007

Yeah, it sometimes called just 'The Westside' and at other times "Old Colorado City." But whatever its called people love its glimpses of a history neither Colorado Springs nor Manitou Springs lived through or is reflected in their more upscale architecture.

For the Westside's architectural roots were laid down in the rough log cabin and wooden framed buildings of 1859 lasting into the 1880's. And then, over the years, getting its first economic boost after uppity Colorado Springs - where there ain't no springs - and pretentious Manitou Springs - which has springs, yet never went through real frontier days but pretends it did - were both founded after the Civil War - in the 1870s by easterners and Englishmen who had money. So Colorado City got some trickle down income as the homes and workplaces of the stone masons, iron workers, carpenters, and working men serving the wealthier towns flanking it were built.

And then came Cripple Creek gold in 1891, and all the gold and gambling seekers had to change trains from the narrow gauge Denver and Rio Grande which ran up Cucharras Street ending in Manitou,to the full gauge Midland Railroad in Colorado City - carousing all night in between trains. Which,brought in a little more money and capitalized, not only the Victorian Brick commercial buildings, 21 saloons, the red light district on Cucharrasand the gamblers on the second floor- which buildings still stand and are at the heart of what you know as 'Old' Colorado City. (Minus the gambling - we think. Grin)

But the flow of money also quietly paid for the widespread, westside, residential building fromMonument Creekto the Manitou city limits - in what might be called Carpenter Victorian architecture - the modest homes of the gold mill, railroad, store front and saloon - workers and their families.They are hardly the fancy homes on Wood Avenue, or on Lake Avenue, Broadmoor. But many people love em. They, even more than the look of the once notorious commercial "Old Town' are the soul of the Westside and its friendly people. The heritage of hard working, god-fearing, blue-collar conservative Wesiders who produced 4 mayors for Colorado Springs.

But are they worth saving? You bet! At least in the opinion of a LOT of Westsiders, new and old, and me.

So your 'neighborhood' organization - the long lived "Organization of Westside Neighbors" - OWN - has been struggling to do something about it for over 10 years now.

They asked me, who helped form OWN way back in 1978 while my energies were turned to revitalizing the three block 'Old Town' district to rejoin them and use whatever talents I have, to help them save those architectural gems before the developers tear them down and replace them with modernistic whatevers. And endless 'duplexes which are popping up now.

So even though I am getting long in the tooth at 79, I said I would. And as of today, April 2d, 2007, a bundle of papers have at lastgone forth to the Colorado State Historical Fund to try and get the seed money for the creation of something called a Colorado Springs city "Historical Overlay Zone" which carries with it tax incentives, over NO LESS than 3,600 Westside homes that can help save the westside, from a fate worse than death - PROGRESS!

I will here in this blog add bits and pieces of what that all means, and solicit your input and commentary on the whole issue of 'Saving the Westside.'

So what do you think?

< Previous: 'What's Gone Wrong With...' | Next: 'How to Celebrate My 80...' >

[Report this as objectionable content.]

SUBMIT COMMENT

Rate the above blog

Current Rating

Based on 1 user ratings.

Talk Back : submit comments to the blog

*Note: you need to log-in to add a comment or rating.

Thank you! Your comment has been updated.

Showing 1-7 of 7 comments

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 6/4/2007 @ 8:29:11 PM

(Not Rated)

The flip side, (because we on the Westside are smarter than some people in other parts of town) this will be entirely, under the City Historic Preservation Ordnance, voluntary - no 'property rights compulsion' which is enforced on the Old North End Historic Overlay Zone (because they got that area on the National Historic Register - which brings with it obligatory rules). So we have now taken a big step toward Preserving the architectual integrity of the Westside. Hurrah! (we were helped greatly by Councilmen Heimlicher and Purvis, whom we - OWN - lobbied in January.)

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 6/4/2007 @ 8:28:56 PM

(Not Rated)

Well, Good News on the Historic Preservation front! The State Historic Fund (SHF) just notified the City of Colorado Springs that it had approved the $18,031 grant towards OWN (Organization of Westside Neighbors) completing the Design Guidelines for a Westside Historic Overlay Zone. The City itself had committed a $15,000 match, so with about $32,000 in hand, OWN can hire the architect to do the grunt work for the Design Guidelines that will reflect what exterior remodeling of Westside homes will further preservation. The Guidelines then become the key element in OWNs application to the city to establish the 'Historic Overlay' zone over 3,600 homes. With that, if a homeowner makes improvements to their property that are reflected in the Design Guidelines, he or she becomes eligible for a 20% State income tax CREDIT against the costs of the improvements. Not chicken feed! ($1,000 off each $5,000 of improvements.)

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 4/19/2007 @ 7:03:04 PM

(Not Rated)

Well Jacqueline - keep your eyes open for the time when the issue before the City Council on whether or not it should enact the Overlay Zone. Then either show up in person, or write the Council your support for it.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Jacqueline Myers

posted on 4/17/2007 @ 7:30:27 PM

Rated Blog Entry

The West Side is worth saving. It is a piece of our heritage. I live about a half-block from you. Just let us know what we need to do to support the cause!

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 4/3/2007 @ 9:56:38 AM

(Not Rated)

But there is LOTS yet to do before the City can or will create the Westside Overlay Zone. Thereby hangs a tale, I will tell you a bit at a time. So what is your opinion so far?

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 4/3/2007 @ 9:54:22 AM

(Not Rated)

So OWN has proposed an Historic Overlay zone over the 3,600 Westside homes you can see on the attached Graphical Map of the Westside. Any risk? Hell no! UNLIKE the controversial Overlay Zone that the 'Northend' asked for (Wood Avenue et all) there are NO Property Rights issues. Because NONE of the westside homes are on the National Historic Register, the city does NOT have the power to tell you what to do! As they do the North End. IF you want the tax break and you do your design within the Design Guidelines, you can be certified by the HPC. If you don't you just go ahead with your remodeling! BIG difference from the North End, which is locked in.

[Report as objectionable]

Submitted By: Dave Hughes

posted on 4/3/2007 @ 9:28:35 AM

(Not Rated)

So what is an 'Historical Overlay Zone' that OWN is pushing for? It is, under a City Ordnance, a group of structures, usually residential that are of historical architectural merit. Worth preserving. So if your house is under such a zone, when you start to remodel the OUTSIDE of your home, your Building Permit goes to the appointed City Historical Preservation Commission, which reviews it against Historical Standards for all buildings in that Zone. THEN, depending on one of two IMPORTANT distinctions, IF the HPC 'Certifies' your planned improvements because they are ok by the historical design standards, you become eligible for a 20% State (income) Tax CREDIT! Or $1,000 back from your income tax on $5,000 worth of improvements. Thats not chicken feed!

[Report as objectionable]

Showing 1-7 of 7 comments

CONTRIBUTOR INFO