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The Trouble with Committees

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Contributed by: Dave Hughes on 2/1/2008

THE TROUBLE WITH COMMITTEES

The Westside Pioneer covered, on January 30, the latest meeting of the Board of the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN) over the continuing flap about the Westside Historic Design Guidelines.

I wrote earlier on the Hub about what that Guidelines project was all about. Its an effort to help preserve the historic westside by a city and state funded set of architectural guidelines for making home improvements in ways that help preserve, and not destroy the historical character of the buildings.

I was part of that effort until I resigned in frustration from both the Guidelines Committee and the Board of OWN. Which act the Pioneer article fairly covered. But as Paul Harvey is fond of saying on his radio program "Now here is the REST of the story."

Now my criticism of this whole operation, which was a large part of my reasons for resigning, stems from my life-long aversion to operations run by Committee. I have a conviction that a Camel is a strange animal that God let be designed by a Committee of angels. Maybe they were all angels, but they were a committee nevertheless. If you want to get something done well, and quickly, and economically, according to the original vision, don't do it by Committee. Either do it yourself or hire a person to do it, giving a clear mission and letting him or her do it without endless second guessing.

Now I would like, as much as anyone else, to see 4,000 houses on the Westside which were built in periods going back into the last century, continue to exhibit the historic look and feel that gives the Westside its charm, sense of 'traditional neighborhood' and community. After all I was the one who, 32 years ago, convinced the city to put their money into historic, not just functionally plain, redevelopment of what you know as the "Old Colorado City' commercial district. Wrote the first separate history of the original Colorado City. And then two years ago got the City to put up, with the State Historical Fund, the money to get the Guidelines done.

One way is to create a printed set of Historic Design Guidelines done by a qualified architect that gives practical as well as architecturally sensible advice, based on whatever 'style' their home may originally be. Many such westside homeowners simply don't have the taste or backgrounds to do remodeling design by themselves. Especially if they are about to hire their brother-in-law who once learned carpentry in high school, to redo the front porch. Sure they can, at a price, hire a hot shot architect, which owners on upscale Wood Avenue would do. But this is the Westside! Far more do it yourself operations.

I agreed (with some reservations I might add) to join in the effort by rejoining OWN - after 30 years. In fact I found the only architect willing to the job for less that $50,000 which OWN certainly didn't have. And after several abortive attempts at getting grants to do it, I persuaded the City Council to fund the Guidelines. And they in turn wrote a grant to the state historic fund to supplement the effort. But that was the beginning of the 'committee' approach, where the City would split the authority with the state.

Then OWN decided to form an Historic Overlay Committee, which not only included elected board members but also several 'interested' westsiders who had, in the past shown an interest in historic preservation on the westside. And brought their opinions - on everything from where the Architect should live, and what time periods should be covered - to the table.

Now committees to study problems or opportunities for some governing board or entity, and make recommendations can work. (and sometimes they don't). But in this case the City wrote a three way 'contract' with OWN in which OWN agreed to 'manage' the Architect, even though it is the City, AND the State which is paying the architect, not OWN! And OWN chose to do that managing by Comittee!

Then OWN wrote and adopted a set of 'Terms of Reference' for the operation of the Committee, even specifying who could talk to the architect, the city, or even other members of the Board!

Beginning to see the convoluted picture?

Now I have a pretty simplistic view of the value of these architect-done, OWN-sponsored, city-paid for, state-second-guessed Historic Guidelines. Some of you may know what happened when the 'Old North End' (Wood Avenue Etc) lobbied to get, not only a set of Design Guidelines done but for the city to also enact an Historic Overlay Zone for the area. Ha! THAT caused a public flap and even a lawsuit. Because the North Enders first went out to get the area designated a National Historic District. THAT, under city ordnance, then permitted the bureaucrats of the City (in the form of an Historic Preservation Commission) to DICTATE to homeowners under the Old North End Overlay Zone, what they could and could not do to the outside of their homes! A real Property Right's Issue in a 'property rights conservative' city.

Before I even agreed to join the effort to get the Guidelines done for the Westside, I did my homework and found that NO westside home is on the National Register. Thus if the Guidelines were turned into an 'Historic Overlay Zone' by the city, any improvements made to the exterior of the home would be voluntary. According to the Ordnance. The city staff could only 'jawbone' the owner, trying to persuade him to do the right historical thing. Not compel him. ONLY if the homeowner wanted to go further and try to get a State Tax Credit for his 'historic' improvements, would he have to get agreement on his design with the Historic Preservation Commission. Preservation by the Carrot and not the Stick.

But you know what? I don't think most Westsiders (and there are over 18,000 of them) are either going to spend over $5,000 to redo their porch (the threshold for a 20% tax break for homes under an Historic Overlay Zone) OR are going to hire hot shot historical architects to do a big project.

I think most Westsiders would just like to have a set of printed Historical Architecture Guidelines covering all the styles and periods of the Westside and the original Colorado City so they can 'consult them' and do, voluntarily, what they will. But having expert advice on what they should tell their brother-in-law to do or not do or go find.

A pretty simplistic view of the most direct way to historic preservation.

But what do I know? I am not a Committee person.

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CONTRIBUTOR INFO

Dave Hughes

Colorado Springs , CO

Dave Hughes has posted 91 stories and 89 comments since joining on 3/1/2007. Dave Hughes 's average story rating is 4.9.

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