Boulder Landmarks Board approves demolition of former Fire Station No. 2 at 2225 Baseline Road, 3-2

The Boulder Landmarks Board on July 2 voted 3-2 to approve the city’s application to demolish the former Fire Station No. 2 at 2225 Baseline Road, a one-story masonry building designed by Hobart Wagner and constructed in 1958.

City staff presented the demolition request as a non-designated demolition review under section 9-11-23 of the Boulder Revised Code (1981). Marcy Gerwing, principal historic preservation planner, told the board the building was surveyed in 2000 as part of Boulder’s modern architecture inventory but that subsequent alterations — including infill of the apparatus bays, replacement of original clearstory glazing, and changes to the roofline and eaves — had “diminished the architectural integrity of the building.” Gerwing said staff’s recommendation was to approve the demolition because the property is not eligible for landmark designation and because adaptive reuse was not feasible given programmatic and space needs.

The staff presentation characterized the building’s key constraints as functional: the apparatus bay openings are too narrow to house a modern fire engine and a wildland response truck simultaneously; sleeping and restroom layouts do not meet current needs for mixed-gender crews; the roof structure needs replacement; and the building lacks modern insulation, sprinklers and ADA-compliant restrooms. Gerwing summarized the board’s options under the code as approval of demolition (valid for one year) or placing a stay of demolition to allow time for alternatives (a stay would have expired Nov. 18, 2025).

Adam Goldstone, senior facilities project manager for the City of Boulder and the applicant, said the site remains optimal for fire response and that the city purchased an adjacent apartment site to create a property large enough for a modern station. “This location is actually the perfect location for Fire Station 2,” Goldstone said, and he described schematic design work already completed and a target to begin construction in about a year. Goldstone and other city staff emphasized operational reasons for replacement: engine and wildland apparatus dimensions, crew accommodations, site circulation to avoid backing into traffic, and contamination separation in living areas.

Two members of the public spoke in opposition to demolition and urged preservation or a delay for further study. Leonard Siegel, speaking for Historic Boulder, acknowledged the operational needs but asked that the board and city consider sequencing so site review information informs demolition decisions. He argued that some alterations are reversible and suggested new construction could incorporate design cues from the original Hobart Wagner building. Lynn Siegel, a community member, also urged restoration and repeated concerns about process sequencing and loss of mid-century buildings in Boulder.

Board discussion focused on applying the code criteria to the building as it exists today. Some board members said the building’s original character and architect’s workmanship remain visible in brickwork and massing but agreed that cumulative changes have reduced the structure’s integrity. Vice Chair Michael Ray said during deliberations, "I can't support this demolition application," arguing the building's architectural features were intact and reversible; however, the final roll call produced a 3-2 majority to approve. The board’s approval means the demolition authorization is valid through July 2, 2026; the applicant must file for a deconstruction permit and proceed through site review and permitting for the replacement station.

Claire (staff) explained next procedural steps: the demolition approval is effective immediately and expires July 2, 2026, and the city will submit a deconstruction permit as the next administrative step. Board members and public speakers noted the practical trade-offs between preserving historic fabric and meeting contemporary operational requirements for emergency services.

Votes at a glance: the Landmarks Board approved the demolition application for 2225 Baseline Road (Fire Station No. 2) by a 3-2 vote. The recorded outcome meets the legal threshold in BRC section 9-11-23(f). The approval is valid until July 2, 2026; the alternate outcome (if the board had placed a stay) would have held demolition until Nov. 18, 2025.

The board spent approximately 45 minutes in deliberation on this agenda item. The record of the hearing will be available in the city records archive and on the city’s YouTube channel within 28 days.