Greeley commission approves after-the-fact ADA ramp at Centennial Village Depot, asks museum to standardize appearance

On March 3, 2025, the Greeley Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to approve a certificate of approval for an Americans with Disabilities Act ramp installed at the Centennial Village Museum Depot, 1475 East Street (case HPDR2025-0004), with an amendment asking City Museums to modify the ramp’s finish to better match the site’s historic appearance.

Commission staff presented the request during a public hearing after staff found the installation met the city’s historic-preservation criteria. Staff said the project was reviewed under the historic-preservation standards in section 24-1003(j) of the Greeley Municipal Code and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and concluded the alteration had a minimal effect on the depot’s character because the prior landing and steps were not original to the building.

Betsy (staff member) told commissioners the previous east-side ramp did not meet ADA grade and posed trip hazards, and that the new ramp makes the depot accessible for visitor use. She said the ramp was installed before commission approval and that staff determined the visual impact was limited but visible because the concrete finish is brighter than surrounding materials.

Chris (Director, City Museums) said planning began before Centennial Village received local designation and that the original approved design called for a wood-like deck or cladding to match the depot’s siding. He said communication problems between facilities and the contractor, schedule slips and staff shortages contributed to a finished ramp that did not match the approved materials. Chris said the ramp is freestanding and that the building itself was not physically altered.

Commissioners pressed on alternatives (moving a ramp to a side entrance, use of lifts, and material choices) and on oversight by the city’s facilities team. Commissioner Sean Janet and Commissioner Norm Mazaric said they were disappointed the museum proceeded without prior approval and asked the museums and facilities staff to coordinate more closely on future work to designated properties.

To address aesthetic concerns, commissioners amended the proposed approval to require the City Museums to modify the concrete ramp’s surface and railing appearance to better align with the depot’s historic materials (for example, staining or paneling the concrete and coloring the railing to match trim). The motion as read by a commissioner found the installation met the city’s criteria and approved the certificate of approval with the expectation that the museum would standardize the ramp’s appearance; the motion was seconded and passed by unanimous voice vote (yes:6, no:0, abstain:0).

The commission discussed creating uniform design guidance for future ADA ramps at Centennial Village and other historic properties; Chris said the museums have proposed a museum master plan to the city that could address broader standards. Staff also said they will send reminder letters to owners of locally designated properties explaining the requirement to obtain commission approval before making alterations.

Clarifying details from the hearing: the depot was moved to Centennial Village in 1978; an earlier east-side ramp had been added (approximately 5–10 years ago) and later found noncompliant; the new ramp work was finished in January 2025 after a project delay; the project was reviewed under the local development code’s historic-preservation criteria and the Secretary standards. The commission approved the certificate of approval (case HPDR2025-0004) and added a condition on appearance modifications; staff and the museum will follow up on implementing the condition.

The decision records the commission’s approval only; the transcript and staff report do not specify a financial penalty or contractor remediation requirement. Staff said facilities manages the project budget and procurement; the museum director deferred questions about contractor remedies to facilities.