Intensive Survey Report, Lafayette 2008 Commercial and Agricultural Properties Survey

Norman, Cathleen; Preservation Publishing

From introduction: "Lafayette, Colorado, a city of 25,000 people located in eastern Boulder County, is one of several towns that developed in the late 1900s to support mining in the northern Colorado coal fields. The city’s historic core, Old Town Lafayette, consists of the 1889 plat and several late 1800s and early 1900s additions. Beginning in the 1950s the city expanded further with residential subdivisions. The outer edges of the city have developed recently with residential neighborhoods and commercial centers. Several factors have impacted the city’s historic fabric and removed nearly all evidence of its important early activity. Alterations throughout the twentieth century substantially changed the historic appearance of most of the historic houses and commercial buildings in Old Town Lafayette. Subsidence from the underground activity impacted the area, and in the 1970s the federal government required remediation, including removal of coal tipples, slag heaps, and other remnants of the industrial activity. Commercial centers and residential subdivisions now surround many former coal mines that drove the local economy for more than 50 years. The rural farm properties at the city outskirts are likewise experiencing development at a rapid rate. During the past decade the city has developed a Historic Preservation program to help identify, protect, understand, and appreciate these vanishing resources. In 1999 Lafayette adopted an ordinance that created the Historic Preservation Board (HPB), established a designation process, and identified criteria for evaluating and designating properties as local landmarks. In 1999 Lafayette also became a Certified Local Government (CLG), the second municipality in Boulder County to achieve this status. To date, 16 properties have been designated as local landmarks. The 2008 survey is the fourth in a series of cultural resource surveys conducted in Lafayette. The first three surveys focused upon the historic Lafayette townsite: The 1999 Architectural Survey of Old Town Lafayette consisted of 210 properties in the 18-block area east of Public Road between Baseline Road and Cleveland Street. The 2001 Architectural Survey of West Lafayette consisted of 205 properties in the 20-block area west of Public Road. The 2004 Architectural Survey of the Old Town Lafayette Perimeter consisted of 199 properties at the north and south edges of Old Town. The surveys support the city’s efforts to balance well-planned development with conserving and preserving agricultural lands and significant historic properties. The city’s pro-active role continues a legacy of historic preservation begun by the Lafayette Historical Society and Miners Museum in the 1970s." Funding was provided in part by a 2007 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Lafayette (project number CO-07-015) administered by the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office (grant number 08-07-21609) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Lafayette, Colorado is a Certified Local Government.

Intensive Survey Report, Lafayette 2008 Commercial and Agricultural Properties Survey

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