Historic preservation panel urges pause on enforcement after Boss Building owner offers restoration plan

The Woodland Park Historic Preservation Commission on Tuesday discussed new progress on two locally significant properties, urging the city to give an owner time to pursue restoration plans before advancing enforcement actions.

Chair (Speaker 1) said the owner of the Boss Building, identified in a committee exchange as Andrew Wing, provided an informal letter of intent and had granted access for inspections, and the committee asked whether the city could 'back off' enforcement while the owner pursues remediation and historic-designation funding. 'So let's let him give him a chance to do it,' the chair said, urging a pause to allow the owner to respond to outstanding notices.

Commission members described a confusing history of inspections and a previously aggressive city condemnation process that prompted concern among volunteers and preservation advocates. Speaker 4, who identified himself as an architect and said he would recuse himself from any formal votes related to the building, recommended owners respond directly and professionally to inspection notices. 'I'd intend to hire an architect,' Speaker 4 said, and added he would recuse himself from any later vote on the building.

Separately, Speaker 2 told the commission that the federal Brownfields program can offer planning services at no charge and can include asbestos testing, virtual renderings and remediation planning if a site qualifies. 'Brownfields offers planning services at no charge to the city,' Speaker 2 said, describing the program as a way to reduce the workload on local planning and parks staff while advancing cleanup and reuse.

Members said independent structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing inspections will be commissioned to generate professional reports the owner can use to answer regional building, health and fire department findings. 'David's already made plans to get independent inspection of the building, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing,' Speaker 2 said; the committee expects that report to inform a coordinated response to any departmental notices.

The group also debated a widely circulated claim that sewage had backed up into the building. The chair called that account inaccurate for the basement, saying the reported sewage occurred in a kitchen area, not below ground. The commission described the broader situation as 'a lot of hearsay' and urged clear, documented responses from inspectors and the owner rather than unverified rumors.

The commission discussed funding timelines as part of evaluating a restoration path: Speaker 2 said certain historic-funding programs limit the amount and timing of awards (the speaker cited a maximum single award figure for a state historic grant program), and the committee noted that Heritage or preservation-plan grants typically require a letter of intent and competitive application steps.

The meeting recorded no formal vote on enforcement actions. The commission asked its city liaison (council contact) to consider whether enforcement could pause while the owner pursues inspections and funding, and members said they would continue coordinating access and documentation to support any application or professional response. The panel adjourned after other agenda items.