Old Town buddies divided on growing the new historic district
Some Old Town Fort Collins residents hope to shield the man or woman in their loved neighborhood by establishing it as a metropolis-distinctive ancient district.
Supporters say the potential designation might preserve the outward appearance of ancient homes that give the vicinity its particular look and appeal.
However, different community residents fear the proposed Loomis Addition Historic District might complicate efforts to transform their houses, even those that are not historically significant, by adding a layer of bureaucratic oversight and doubtlessly extra fees.
For buddies lobbying for the historic district, it’s a reminder of maintaining the integrity of the Loomis Addition as well as a broader vicinity that has seen several modest old homes demolished in recent years and replaced with structures they say are out of scale for the community.
“We intend to maintain the historic man or woman and attraction of this region,” stated Gina Janett, a longtime network activist and member of a set exploring the possibility of setting up a district.
Some citizens see the proposed district as a manner for historical upkeep fanatics to control what neighbors can do with their homes.
“I don’t consider this group,” stated Andy Milbauer, an outspoken critic of the proposed district.
Milbauer and his husband went through a nine-month metropolis overview procedure three years ago before receiving permission from the Landmark Preservation Commission to rip down their structurally unsound, 106-year-vintage house. They replaced it with one similar in outward appearance but designed internally for a contemporary dwelling.
“We have quite a few issues regarding the historical district and the ancient protection system,” he stated. “We’re fine now. Our issue is how this will affect each other’s houses within the neighborhood.”
The Loomis Addition
The Loomis Addition covers 15 blocks. It borders Laporte Avenue on the north, Whitcomb Street on the east, Mulberry Street on the south, and Washington Street on the west.
The subdivision became platted in 1887, making it one of the earliest annexations to the original metropolis of Fort Collins.
The addition was platted by Abner Loomis, a longtime network chief who came to Northern Colorado in 1859. Loomis had numerous enterprise pursuits, including farming, livestock, and land improvement. He served on the primary board of Larimer County commissioners.
Loomis Avenue, which runs through the subdivision, became named in his honor in 1900.
Houses within the Loomis Addition feature a variety of residential architectural styles, including single-story cottages built for center-class families, stately two-story affairs on Mountain Avenue, and a few mansions.
The Loomis Addition plat of 1887.
The streets are wide and lined with towering bushes. Dirt alleys and outbuildings are commonplace inside the place. The Fort Collins Municipal Railway’s historic trolley runs along Mountain Avenue in the summer.
According to a 2017 historical survey of the area, about 85% of homes in the addition were built before World War II, and more than 94% are more than 50 years old. Dozens of area homes are eligible to be listed on the local, kingdom, and federal registers of ancient places, according to the survey.
The McMillen-Patterson House, 121 N. Grant St., is on the National Register of Historic Places. The residence was built in 1887 and given away as a part of an of-venture Loomis used to promote the sale of masses in the new subdivision.
The Loomis Addition has 309-person homes, which aligns with the historical survey. Most of the houses were built between 1890 and 1925.
What a historical district manner
A historic district is a cluster of homes and structures traditionally by transcendent beyond events, human beings, architecture, and physical improvement.
Fort Collins has five ancient districts containing momore than 800 residences, said Karen McWilliams, the metropolis’s Historic Preservation Division manager.
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Old Town and the Laurel School Neighborhood are blanketed through countrywide historical districts. Local districts cover Old Town and the Sheely Drive and Whitcomb Street neighborhoods.
Buildings within a district are considered contributing, meaning they have historical or architectural significance or are noncontributing. Noncontributing homes lack importance or have had exterior modifications to the volume; they are not eligible for landmark designation.
