Arvada council workshop hears proposal to seek Certified Local Government status to expand preservation grants and local oversight

Senior Planner Chris Sandeen told the Arvada City Council at a Sept. 23 business workshop that the city can pursue Certified Local Government (CLG) status through History Colorado and the National Park Service to participate in the national preservation program and access grant funding.

Sandeen said CLG status would let Arvada apply for no-match grants through History Colorado for work such as updated surveys, preservation plans and design-guideline updates, and could make additional grant programs and tax-credit opportunities available to property owners. "Cities with CLG status are eligible to apply for a no match grant through History Colorado that can help pay for new preservation plans, design guideline updates, outreach campaigns, or celebration events," he said.

The presentation summarized Arvada’s historic resources and current protections: surveys done in 1997 and subsequent work led to three National Register historic districts (Old Town, Reno Park and Stockiewalter) and a separate Church’s Ranch historic district near Long Lake Regional Park. Sandeen noted that surveys capture a moment in time and recommended updating them…