Castle Rock preservation board approves up to $15,000 for restoration at 203 North Perry Street

The Castle Rock Historic Preservation Board voted to approve up to $15,000 from the local restoration grant to help restore the historic property at 203 North Perry Street, with disbursement contingent on staff verification of eligible costs and the applicant obtaining the required CL.

Staff member Brad told the board the applicant previously received a $25,000 downtown historic preservation grant approved by town council and that local restoration funds apply only to work on the landmark structure ("siding, roofing, windows, generally") rather than new additions. Brad said the program typically requires a 50% match and recommended approval: "therefore staff does recommend approval." Staff also emphasized that the local funds are not paid until the applicant obtains the CL and staff can verify eligible expenditures.

Property owner Taylor Lewison, who said they operate the childcare in the building, described a multi-year renovation that pushed construction costs into seven figures and noted efforts to retain historic materials. Lewison said the project unexpectedly revealed a historic well on site; they re-engineered the sidewalk to straddle it and ordered a glazed cover from the U.K. to protect the feature. "The glass cover itself was 4,500," Lewison said, and added shipping from the U.K. was about $1,400. Lewison said the business "finally opened this week" and asked the board to help offset restoration and operating costs.

Castle Rock resident Ed Rush spoke during public comment to question whether local restoration funds should support the current owners. "Why should the Castle Rock taxpayers provide funding to an out of state corporation owned by anonymous people who completely change what was once a historical structure into something that will never look anything like it did in 2004," Rush said. A board member and staff clarified that the local restoration grant is funded from the Philip S. Miller trust fund rather than general taxpayer revenues: "I don't believe the funds that we use are taxpayer funds. They come from a trust."

A board member moved to approve a $15,000 grant to assist restoration at the Saunders/Sounders House at 203 North Perry Street per the application, with staff to verify that expenditures meet the 50% match requirement and that the downtown historic grant costs are reconciled. The motion was seconded and the board took a roll-call vote. The minutes record Chair Lang, Vice Chair Pluczynski, Board Member Aranz, Board Member Vazani, Board Member Warneke and Board Member Thayer voting "Aye." The motion was recorded as approved.

Next steps: staff will verify the applicant's documented expenditures and the existence of the CL before disbursing funds. The board noted no further action was required at this meeting on the item.