Long's Gardens -- In the Heart of Boulder, Colorado

Here is a link to Catherine Long Gates' family's connection to water in Boulder.  Today Long's Gardens is a well known location in the heart of Boulder, and people come from all over to purchase the garden's beautiful iris plants.

Catherine is a member of Historic Boulder and a good friend.  Enjoy the story.  You may have to turn up the volume.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClTLMuG3Q5U&feature=youtu.be

Buying Historic or Interesting Older Homes

How Do I Start?

If you are buying or thinking about purchasing an older home, you are at the beginning of an exciting adventure.  Be sure to have a thorough inspection with a trained professional.
(I can provide you with excellent resources.)  Map out what you want to accomplish and budget.

Here are the Department of the Interior's "Ten Basic Principles for Sensitive Rehabilitation" also known as the "Do's and Don'ts for Buyers."

1.   Make every effort to use the building for its original purpose.
2.   Do not destroy distinctive original features.
3.   Recognize all buildings as products of their own time.
4.   Recognize and respect changes that have taken place over time.
5.   Treat sensitively distinctive stylistic features or examples of skilled craft work.
6.   Repair rather than replace worn architectural features when possible.  When replacement is necessary, new material should match the old in design, composition, and color.
7.   Clean facades using the gentlest methods possible.  Avoid sandblasting and other damaging methods.
8.   Protect and preserve affected archeological resources.
9.   Compatible contemporary alterations are acceptable if they do not destroy significant historical or significant historical or architectural fabric.
10. Build new additions so they can be removed without impairing the underlying structure.

If the home is landmarked and/or in a historic district, review county or city requirements.

For more information contact me at:  jancy.campbell@coloradohomes.com
or view my website:  www.jancycampbell.com

Open the link below to look at Boulder's new Museum of Boulder . . . a museum at the beginning as it evolves.  Open the link below and see what all 2A will bring to the City of Boulder.

http://boulderhistory.org/new-location/

For information on the Boulder real estate market go to:    www.jancycampbell.com    
Click "search properties" and then go to "map a property" . . . A fun way to find out about your
own home.    

Boulder,Colorado's Fine Mid-Century Architecture

Coming up will be the second and third gatherings of Historic Boulder's 2014 Winter/Spring Salon Series. The theme is Boulder's mid-century architecture.

This Wednesday, March 12th, Jack Brokaw, architect, will talk about his first-hand experience carrying the baton of Modern Architecture in Boulder from the 1960's to the end of the 20th Century.  On Wednesday, April 9th, Harvey Hine, architect, will present his contemporary design work and place it in the context of Modern Architecture in Boulder.

These sessions will be held in the Spruce Street Mansion, 1123 Spruce Street in Boulder from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.  Historic Boulder's popular Salons are free and open to the public.  Light refreshments will be served.  

Also on March 19th at 6:30 pm at Boulder's Public Library Auditorium will be a fascinating presentation of The Greenest Building.  It is true that the greenest building is the one that has already been built.  This discussion and screening of The Greenest Building, is an hour-long documentary that considers the question "Is demolition in the name of sustainability really the best use of natural, social, and economic resources?"

Architecture Matters is a spring lecture series that will highlight different topics related to architecture and historic preservation in the Boulder region.  This series is sponsored by the City, Landmarks, Historic Boulder, The Boulder Public Library, the Carnegie Library for Local History, and the Boulder History Museum.

Architecture in Boulder -- As Unique & Original as the City

Historic Boulder's successful Salon Series kicked off its Spring 2014 series, The Influence of Modern Architecture in Boulder with a presentation by Len Segel, architect who spoke about why Modernism flourished in Boulder, and how it is the true architectural "style" of Boulder's progressive spirit.

The next two presentations in the series are:

Wednesday, March 12th
Jack Brokaw, architect, will talk about his first-hand experience carrying the baton of Modern Architecture in Boulder from the 1960's to the end of the 20th Century.

Wednesday, April 9th
Harvey Hine, architect, will present his contemporary design work, and place it in the context of Modern Architecture in Boulder.

These events are all free and open to the public.  

To find out more, contact me:  Jancy Campbell, 303-931-9663 or jancy@jancycampbell.com
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Historic Boulder has been working hard to restore the Hannah Barker House located at 800 Arapahoe in Boulder.  Not only is this a stunning example of Italianate architecture, but was also the home of an accomplished and significant woman who lived in Boulder in the late 19th Century.  When Historic Boulder decided to take on this project, this beautiful home had been literally left to ruin.

We are now in what is called Phase 3B of the restoration of this beautiful home.  Starting this spring perhaps the most work done at any time so far will take place.  This work will include the restoration of the cupola and some interior stabilization.  .

The home is zoned residential and sits across the street from Boulder's City Club.  Arapahoe is a beautiful street, and is easy walking distance to Boulder's famous Pearl Street Mall.

At some point in time Historic Boulder plans to put the Hannah Barker House on the market, but would entertain talking to a potential buyer who might have an interest a financial partnership in the further restoration of this beautiful home.  Definitely something Historic Boulder has an interest in exploring.

For more information contact me at:  303-931-9663
Also visit my website at www.jancycampbell.com

A Powerful Conference -- Saving Places 2014

Saving Places ran from February 5-7 in Denver, Colorado . . . The theme, Preservation in Plain Sight:  providing information on developing a community vision.

As always it was a powerful conference bringing people from all over the country to Denver.  One of my favorite sessions was called, Better Blocks Movement and Embedded Historic Districts.

Many of America's streets along streetcar lines were once vibrant places with  rich histories and notable architecture.  The fun of this session was to watch an effort to revitalize a neighborhood and to see the results.

Jefferson Park's commercial streetcar blocks in Denver had lost their spendor in the last half-cenury when attention shifted to more car-oriented development patterns.  Recently urban peoneers have returned to neghborhoods close to downtown, bringing with them urban infill development, a desire for active lifestyes, and revitalization of neighborhood commerce.

In 2012, Walk Denver, a local nonprofit dedicated to making Denver more pedestrian-friendly, chose Jefferson Park for "Better Block," a complete streets demonstration project.  Groundwork Denver was an active and valuable partner in those efforts.

Since then, Jefferson Park has become a laboratory for an urban renaissance led by community engagement and new business.   This was a successful effort, returning vitality to the buildings and blocks in the area and demonstrated the great potential for historic preservationists to become more involved in the "Better Block" movement in their community.