Friends of City Park seek landmark designation, funding to renovate historic bathhouse

Friends of City Park representatives presented a proposal Monday to renovate the historic City Park Bathhouse, asked council to reintroduce a local historic‑landmark ordinance and sought selection as the city’s partner to complete the project.

George Concilia, speaking for Friends of City Park, told the council the group submitted a response to an earlier city RFP but received a May rejection citing four reasons: the group’s stated intent to pursue historic‑landmark designation, noncompliance with restroom‑fixture requirements, lack of financial guarantees and proposed delegation of day‑to‑day restroom maintenance. Concilia said the group believes the landmark designation is critical because it would allow them to apply to the State Historic Fund and History Colorado for grant funding; he cited the potential to apply in both annual rounds and said those grants do not use city general‑fund dollars.

Architect Gary Trujillo described a three‑phase plan: (1) selective demolition and structural stabilization (including helical piers and foundation/soil remediation where needed), (2) interior reconstruction (mechanical, plumbing, electrical, floors, finishes) and (3) exterior work to integrate the historic building with a complementary addition and portico. Trujillo said the plan would reuse the historic structure rather than demolish it and that prior state historic‑fund reviewers visited the site and considered it a candidate for funding.

On restroom fixtures, Friends of City Park said the proposal calls for a total of 10 fixtures — five men’s and five women’s — and three lavatory sinks in each restroom; they noted the existing building currently contains only two fixtures for men, two for women and a single sink in each restroom. The city’s planning consultant HGF had previously proposed 13 fixtures (six men, six women, one unisex) in an earlier plan, and staff had cited that benchmark in the RFP. Friends of City Park said nearby campus restrooms (kiddie‑ride restroom and the City Park Annex) could qualify to satisfy fixture calculations during events, and that the group would use porta‑toilets during peak tournaments.

Friends of City Park acknowledged they do not yet have all construction funds in hand; Concilia estimated professional predevelopment work at roughly $30,000 to $35,000 already spent by the group and said long‑term donors and contractual donor commitments are being pursued. Concilia said the group expects to sign a time‑limited lease agreement under which ownership would remain with the city and the fully renovated facility would be returned to city control.

Councilors and staff raised technical and procedural questions. Councilor Maestri urged the group to submit plans for an early plan review with the building department and pursue any necessary plumbing‑fixture variances, so the city can confirm whether the proposed reuse will meet code and ADA requirements. The group said they will pursue conceptual plan review and meet with building and preservation staff and that History Colorado representatives had already visited and discussed eligibility for historic‑fund grants. Councilor Flores said he would introduce an ordinance to reintroduce the historic‑landmark designation and encouraged the group to meet with city administration to negotiate details and possible city contributions to accelerate work.

Several councilors said the site should be preserved if feasible; Councilor Latino and others praised the preservation effort. No final contract award, binding funding commitment or formal council vote took place; council directed staff and the proposers to meet and to pursue plan‑review conversations and grant application planning.

Key clarifying details stated at the meeting: Friends of City Park estimated a total project fundraising need in the proposal of about $7,750,000 (they said the full construction‑fund target would be requested from donors and grant programs), but the group acknowledged no cash deposit was on hand. They said State Historic Fund grants (administered by History Colorado) are awarded via competitive rounds and that parties may apply in spring and fall rounds; awards are not guaranteed.