Preservation committee pushes restoration, grant support and outreach for Woodland Park centennial

The Woodland Park Historic Preservation Committee discussed multiple preservation priorities and outreach steps at its meeting. Speaker 1, a committee member, opened the substantive discussion by raising the Templeton restoration plan and the need to schedule work in warmer weather, noting "we have an interest in getting the basket moved" and to improve site accessibility.

The committee agreed to prioritize a preservation plan to qualify for grants. Speaker 4 said staff will "check back in the 2026" funding cycle and seek a preservationist or state assistance; Speaker 3 added that having a formal plan will make future grant applications more competitive. On the topic of grant support, Speaker 1 said the New Pass Historical Society plans to apply for a T-Mobile "hometown" grant worth $50,000 and that the committee will provide a letter of support; staff (Suzanne) was assigned to put the letter on city letterhead and Kelly was expected to sign it.

Committee members also spent extended time on a privately owned historic structure referred to as the "Boss" building. Speaker 1 said the building has significant railroad history and is "one of a kind," but noted the property owner had not acted recently. Cost estimates and acquisition strategies were discussed: Speaker 4 reported a contractor estimated roughly $1,000,000 to rehabilitate or similar cost to tear down, while Speaker 1 said demolition would be expensive — "it would cost upwards of $3,400,000 to demo that thing." Members discussed possible phased restoration, grant partnerships (including History Colorado), or an offer from the community if an owner is willing to sell.

The committee also agreed to outreach around a large corner lot and long cabin at 515 North Park. Speaker 1 asked staff to send a letter to the realtor (Michael Harper) to flag preservation interest; Speaker 3 later said the property "looks like it already sold" with "439 k was the reported sales price," noting the assessor's transfer may not yet be updated and staff would wait for new ownership records before mailing outreach.

Members noted practical next steps: prioritize the preservation plan, proceed with the T-Mobile grant letter of support, continue outreach to property owners and realtors, and add the poster and Templeton restoration to the next council agenda. The committee asked staff to report back with grant-eligibility information and progress at the following meeting.