City council approves easements and funding option; preserves Slaughterhouse Gulch flume in place for further study

Littleton City Council on July 15 approved a package of four agreements with the city of Englewood to allow Englewood’s planned piping of the City Ditch to move forward and set terms for how Littleton handles the historic flume located in Slaughterhouse Gulch Park.

Council voted unanimously to approve: (1) a relinquishment and grant of easements that establishes the new City Ditch alignment through Slaughterhouse Gulch Park; (2) an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Englewood governing construction and bank stabilization; (3) a temporary construction easement permitting contractor access and staging during construction; and (4) a quitclaim deed to record transfer of responsibilities once the Englewood pipe is operational. Each resolution passed 7–0.

The agreements include a newly negotiated option giving Littleton the choice to preserve the steel flume in place and require Englewood to reimburse Littleton up to $100,000 for historic preservation purposes if Littleton elects preservation. The IGA also requires Englewood to stabilize ditch banks adjacent to private property and to pay an estimated tree mitigation fee of about $216,000 for trees removed during construction.

Public commenters and historic preservation advocates urged the council to preserve the flume. Rick Cronenberger, a nearby resident and preservation advocate, urged redirecting demolition funds to preservation and noted the ditch’s regional historical significance: "Our City Ditch, completed in 1864, is 1 of the 10 oldest structures in the Front Range," he said. Historic Littleton Inc. and the Historic Preservation Commission also advocated saving the structure.

Staff presentations summarized the flume’s condition, preservation options, and estimated costs. A structural assessment showed corrosion, missing anchor bolts and concrete scaling; staff presented four costed options (remove; stabilize to carry water; stabilize structurally in place; and relocate). Staff added a lower‑cost “stabilize in place” option to prior analyses after public input. The stabilization‑only estimate—intended to keep the flume standing and safe but not fully restored or painted—was presented at roughly $50,000 with additional recurring maintenance; full restoration (including painting and returning it to a carrying capacity) would be substantially more (estimates discussed in staff materials ranged into the mid‑hundreds of thousands for more extensive restoration).

Council debated liability, costs and timing. City staff and Englewood representatives said construction would start this summer, Inglewood (Englewood) council consideration was expected July 21, and the piping project should reach pipe operational status in the first half of 2026. Staff explained the quitclaim deed showing transfer of responsibilities to Littleton would not be recorded until Englewood’s pipe was operational.

After approving the four resolutions, council approved a motion directing the city manager to accept up to $100,000 from Englewood toward efforts to preserve the flume in place and to pursue stabilization and interpretation options. City staff said initial stabilization work could be completed for roughly $50,000 and that the city would pursue grant funding and coordinate with the Historic Preservation Commission and Historic Littleton Inc. for signage and interpretation. Staff also committed to addressing safety and maintenance issues, including graffiti removal and measures to discourage climbing.

Ending: With the legal easements and construction agreements approved, Englewood can proceed with its piping project while Littleton retains an option (and limited reimbursement) to preserve the historic flume in place and pursue stabilization, interpretation and potential additional restoration, pending further design and funding work.