Landmarks Board schedules follow‑up on St. Aidan’s Church redevelopment; stay of demolition remains in place

The Boulder Landmarks Board on Jan. 8 agreed to hold a follow‑up meeting with representatives of Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church about redevelopment options for the site at 2425 Colorado Avenue, while retaining a stay of demolition that is currently in effect.

Staff and several board members called for a second, focused review after the applicant meets with planning and development staff to clarify land‑use and process questions beyond the Landmarks Board’s preservation remit. “We have a meeting set up with the development review manager and the planning and development services director,” Marcy Gerwing, principal planner, said, and the board asked staff to arrange a follow‑up Landmarks meeting after that consultation.

Why it matters: St. Aidan’s has proposed redevelopment options that may include denser housing and a possible future land‑use change; those options would intersect with the citywide comprehensive plan update in 2025. The Landmarks Board’s role is to assess whether historic preservation considerations should shape or alter those redevelopment options.

Background and board concerns: The board and staff visited the site on Dec. 13 and found the building’s spaces and envelope present both preservation opportunities and constraints. Staff reported the church’s interiors and certain building elements are “a little bit Goldilocks”—some spaces too big and some too small for the congregation’s needs—and that redevelopment could provide housing capacity that would require planning‑level reviews outside the Landmarks Board’s purview.

Board members who attended the site visit said they found the applicant team prepared and forthcoming; several members supported returning for a follow‑up session to continue brainstorming possible approaches and to review updated materials after the development review meeting. John Decker, a landmarks board member who attended the visit, said a second meeting with the applicant group would be useful to explore opportunities and constraints more deeply.

Timing and next steps: The stay of demolition on 2425 Colorado Avenue remains in effect and is set to expire March 19, 2025. Marcy Gerwing said staff will reach out to the applicant to confirm whether they want a follow‑up Landmarks meeting after their consultation with development review staff; the board asked members to review materials the applicant already provided before any subsequent meeting so that the next session can focus on new questions rather than rehashing site details.

Ending: The board’s decision keeps preservation review active but scheduled the conversation to align with planning staff’s guidance so the Landmarks Board can consider preservation within the broader redevelopment and land‑use context.