Landmarks Board conditionally approves relocation of garage into Tyler House landmark at 2940 Twentieth Street

The Boulder Landmarks Board on Sept. 3 conditionally approved a landmark alteration certificate to move an existing one‑story garage into the boundary of the Tyler House individual landmark at 2940 Twentieth Street.

The vote was 5‑0 after staff recommended approval with conditions. Board member Abby Daniels moved the motion and Michael Ray seconded. The motion adopted staff findings and made issuance of the certificate contingent on final details being provided and City Council’s 16‑day call‑up window passing.

Claire Brandt, historic preservation planner with the City of Boulder, presented staff analysis and said the application was evaluated under the Boulder Revised Code section 9‑11‑18. Brandt summarized the key findings: the accessory building is subordinate in mass and scale to the primary structure, the proposed location is consistent with historic site characteristics, and staff recommended conditions including final details for the gravel driveway realignment, gutter and drainage work to direct water away from the historic house, and a moving‑company relocation methodology statement.

Owner and applicant Catherine Barth said the relocation was driven by safety and reuse. Barth said, “The main reason that I've wanted to move that garage ... is that from my back door to the garage is 66 feet. ... in the winter months ... there is a skating pond between my house and where my car is parked,” and added she preferred reusing the structure rather than demolition: “I just didn't want to put my garage into the landfill if I could reuse it.”

Mark Powell of Powell Structure Moving, the contractor on the proposal, told the board he expects to preserve the roof section intact but will deconstruct and reconstruct concrete block walls, noting the blocks lack rebar and grout and some disassembly will be required. Claire Brandt told the board staff had received a relocation methodology and an engineer’s report in the days before the hearing and that the change in how the building will be moved did not alter staff’s recommendation.

Public commenters and preservation advocates spoke in support. Leonard Siegel, speaking for Historic Boulder, said the project “is a great example” of reuse and commended the environmental benefit of saving embodied energy by reusing an existing building. Board members asked about lot boundaries, setbacks, potential tree removal and zoning/building‑permit checks; staff and the applicant said no mature trees would be removed and that lot coverage and setbacks will be verified before building permit review.

Abby Daniels made the motion that the board “adopt the staff memorandum dated 09/03/2025 as the findings of the board and conditionally approve the application for a landmark alteration certificate to relocate an existing accessory building currently outside the designated boundary to within the designated property at 2940 Twentieth Street, the Tyler House.” After Michael Ray seconded, the board voted aye: John Decker, Abby Daniels, Michael Ray, Chelsea Castellano, and Renee Golovic.

Because the decision is subject to a 16‑day city council call‑up period, staff will either issue the LAC after conditions are satisfied if council does not request review, or schedule a council hearing if council elects to call up the decision. Brandt told the board that denial would have carried a 30‑day appeal period and that a denial would bar a substantially similar application for 12 months.

The board’s conditions—adopted by reference in the motion—include final, reviewable plans for the gravel driveway realignment and concrete curb, final guttering and drainage details to ensure positive drainage away from the historic house, and a written moving‑company methodology statement. Staff may add or refine conditions if additional details are provided before permit review.

The board’s approval formalizes the garage as part of the Tyler House landmark once relocated; staff noted the accessory building would be recorded as a non‑contributing feature but remain within the landmark boundary such that future changes to it would require an LAC.