Landmarks Board approves demolition of 2889 Valmont Road

The Boulder Landmarks Board voted unanimously on June 4, 2025, to approve the Boulder Valley Health Center's application to demolish the building at 2889 Valmont Road after finding the property does not meet the city's landmark criteria.

The decision followed a staff presentation from Claire Brandt, the city's historic preservation planner, who reviewed the demolition criteria in the Boulder Revised Code and described the purpose of the review: "The purpose of reviewing demolition applications is to prevent the loss of buildings that may have historical or architectural significance by providing time to consider alternatives to demolition." Brandt said the board may either place a stay on demolition to allow alternatives to be pursued or approve the demolition if the property lacks the integrity or significance required for landmark designation.

Brandt's analysis, supported by photographs and a structural assessment provided with the application, concluded the house (constructed circa 1905 and associated with the Olmec family) has been substantially altered since 1975, is set lower than the current street grade and partially hidden by channel modifications and parking, and no longer conveys its historic context. Staff also noted structural problems including an inadequate foundation, visible cracks, widespread replacement siding, single-pane windows, porch settlement and other issues.

The applicant, represented by planning consultant Rosie Dennett and facilities director Christy Burkhart of Boulder Valley Health Center, told the board the building is not economically feasible to restore. Dennett summarized the applicant's position: "We believe the building does not meet the criteria for landmarking and respectfully request that you approve our application for demolition of the structure." Burkhart described operational reasons for consolidating the clinic's sites, saying that "Consolidating into 1 building significantly reduces that risk," referring to duplicated security, staffing and operational burdens when services are split between two buildings.

More than a dozen members of the public spoke in favor of approval during the public hearing, citing the building's condition, barriers to accessibility, safety concerns and the clinic's operational needs. Neighbor Deborah Halvey said renovating the structure would not achieve accessibility: "It excludes people with disabilities by design, and renovating it to meet accessibility standards would be prohibitively expensive." Margo Josephs told the board restoring the property would cost "over a million dollars, and that's just to meet the minimum code," a figure she said was reflected in materials provided with the application.

Board members weighed the staff report, the applicant's packet and public testimony and found that the property does not meet the criteria for designation as an individual landmark under Boulder Revised Code section 9-11-23. Board chair Renee Golubic and members John Decker, Abby Daniels, Chelsea Castellano and Michael Wray each voiced agreement with staff's analysis that the building's historic materials and setting have been diminished by alterations and surrounding development.

Chelsea Castellano moved to approve the demolition application and adopt the staff memorandum as the board's findings. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, recorded as 5-0 (John Decker: aye; Chelsea Castellano: aye; Abby Daniels: aye; Michael Wray: aye; Renee Golubic: aye).

The board attached a documentation requirement: staff will collect archival photographs for the Carnegie Library local history archive; Claire Brandt told the board the approval would be conditional on receiving those photographs. Brandt also explained procedural next steps: the demolition approval expires one year from the date of the decision unless a deconstruction permit is obtained within that year.

During deliberations the city attorney reminded members that prospective future uses of the site are not criteria for the demolition review and should not form the basis of the board's legal findings. The board's formal deliberation focused on the four statutory factors in the code: eligibility for individual landmark designation, relationship to neighborhood character, condition of the building, and projected cost of repair or restoration.

The board's approval completes the local demolition review; the property owner must still obtain required permits and submit the agreed archival documentation. The Landmarks Board noted its appreciation for the public participation and the documentation provided by staff and the applicant.