Steamboat Pilot & Today

Buildings are eye sores

With our city demanding that the construction of residential and commercial buildings conform to the Western look prevalent here, to which I agree, it was surprising the see that Gart Sports and other new buildings in Wildhorse Marketplace were allowed to build some of the most unattractive, non-Western-looking buildings in Steamboat.

The roof of the Gart Sports building gives the impression that Gart Sports ran out of money and could build only part of the roof at each end, leaving the middle of the roof totally unfinished. Plus, they used unsightly vertical rusting panels. And this building, because of its location and size, is one of the first commercial buildings you see when entering Steamboat Springs from the south.

But beyond that, all the buildings in Wildhorse Marketplace have made extensive use of stucco and especially vertical rusting panels, which is neither attractive nor Western in appearance. How such architectural designs were approved is impossible to understand especially because the city paid for and received a report drafted by Colorado consultants Clarion Associates advising the city to stay away from such materials. The report was the result of interviews of city officials, owners, developers, residents and other stakeholders. Concerning building materials and colors, the report stated that "stone and wood were listed as acceptable materials, and stucco and vertical metal panels were unacceptable."

What is the purpose of paying for such reports or surveys if the City Council doesn't pay attention to them?

Hopefully, before the architectural designs of the remaining buildings to be built in Wildhorse Marketplace and other projects across our city are approved, the city will pay attention to this report, which, as stated, is a census of the architectural design the residents of this city want for Steamboat.

James A. Humphrey