Carbondale Clay Center presents revised Main Street design to Historic Preservation Commission

Gavin Brook, a representative of the Carbondale Clay Center, presented a revised design for a new two‑story Clay Center building at the corner of Second and Main streets during the Historic Preservation Commission meeting, saying the project team will bring a formal minor site plan to Planning and Zoning after the commission’s comments are recorded.

The presentation matters because the site sits inside the town’s Historic Commercial Core (HCC) and because the Clay Center’s program — galleries, classrooms, artist studios and kilns — will change the feel and activity level on the east end of downtown. The commission’s input will be summarized in staff materials that accompany the site‑plan review at P&Z, where conditions of approval will be set if the plan is accepted.

Brook introduced the project team and described the existing site as a dilapidated former storage property adjacent to the Rio Grande Trail. Mark Chane summarized site history, saying the block was historically industrial and noting an earlier rezoning action: “rezoned in ’9 2022, ordinance number 4, series of 2022, adopted by the board of trustees,” which brought the north side of Main into the HCC designation at the Clay Center’s request. Will Young of CCY Architects walked the commission…