Historic preservationists to tout economic impact in Colorado

Preservationists talk a lot about the aesthetic value of saving an historic home, building or neighborhood, but rarely do they sum up the economic impact of their work.

They’ll try this week at Colorado Preservation Inc.’s annual conference, Saving Places 2004, which tackles the business of preservation today and Saturday.

By J. Sebastian Sinisi
Denver Post Staff Writer

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~33~1938375,00.html

"If Denver’s LoDo and Larimer Square areas had not been saved by preservation efforts that came before development, Denver would not have two of its key tourist and business attractions today," said CPI executive director Mark Rodman. "And if those areas had been torn down and rebuilt – which has happened in other cities – would they be half as interesting?"

The now-hot topic of eminent domain – pushed to the front burner by proposed condemnations for the construction of metro-area Wal-Mart stores – will also be explored during the conference.

About 700 preservation specialists, historians and state and local elected officials are expected at the conference. The meeting will be held at the 1770 Sherman Street Events Complex, the circa 1907 El Jebel Shrine Temple rescued and revitalized a few years ago.

CPI will announce its list of Colorado’s "Most Endangered Places" – historic buildings that are in danger of being lost to development, neglect or vandalism – at a luncheon today at noon.

This year’s list includes the 1889 Allen Beaumont home in Pueblo; the 1912 Luigi Gianella building in Aguilar; the 1894 Paris Mill that processed gold and silver ore in Park County; two historic schools in Bent County; and the 1903 Redstone Castle in Pitkin County

Since the endangered-places program started in 1998, 50 properties have been named to the list. Six were saved, 29 are in progress, seven are on alert status, and two have been lost.

For conference information, call CPI at 303-893-4260 or visit http://www.coloradopreservation.org