Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Historic Districts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Boulder City commission directs staff to pursue local motel historic district
Summary
After an intensive survey of nine motels along Nevada Way, the Historic Preservation Commission voted to ask staff to prepare a local historic‑district nomination covering eight properties (excluding the Best Western Hoover Dam Hotel). The action aims to preserve mid‑century motorcourt architecture and unlock local incentives for owners.
The Boulder City Historic Preservation Commission voted March 25 to direct city staff to prepare a local historic‑district nomination for a group of motel properties along Nevada Way, excluding the Best Western Hoover Dam Hotel.
Courtney Mooney, senior architectural historian with Broadbent & Associates, presented the results of an intensive‑level survey of nine motel properties built between 1932 and 1957 and described the research that defined the period of significance and evaluated each property’s integrity. Mooney said the Flamingo Inn (804 Nevada Way) and one other motel were individually eligible for the National Register, but the full set did not meet the National Register threshold for a district because a majority of properties must contribute.
Mooney recommended pursuing a local designation instead: “Eight resources, including five motels and three signs, are recommended as individually eligible for local designation and contributing to a potential local historic district,” she said. The survey found that while only two motels would contribute to a National Register district, a local district could include contributing buildings and important signs that fall outside national criteria.
Commission discussion focused on benefits and restrictions for property owners. Commissioners asked whether local designation would prevent adaptive reuse; Mooney replied that many interior changes can occur without altering contributing exteriors and that local design guidelines are developed collaboratively with owners. Commissioners also discussed whether to include non‑contributing parcels; Mooney said a non‑contiguous district limited to eligible motel parcels would be an option.
On a motion and second, the commission approved directing staff to prepare a local historic‑district nomination covering the eight motel properties Mooney identified (the commission explicitly excluded the Best Western Hoover Dam Hotel from the proposed nomination). The commission will provide mailed notice to property owners and hold a public hearing before making a recommendation to city council.
Next steps: staff will define proposed boundaries or a parcels‑based nomination, prepare a staff report and notice to property owners, and return the proposal to the commission for a public hearing before forwarding a recommendation to city council.
