Irene Nelson: Style a gray area
Sunday, September 9, 2007
It seems that a very large can of worms has been opened in regard to the "teardown" ordinance enacted by the City Council last week. This action surely was prompted by the good intentions of both the Council and the historic preservationists. But somehow I feel that the main problem is not addressed and the truly important issues not faced. And telling anyone what they can or cannot do with their own property is offensive.
What is truly offensive can hopefully be addressed in a definitive way, avoiding the nebulous issues of style and taste. What is truly "offensive" is when a much bigger home is built on a small lot in a neighborhood of smaller homes. Views, light, trees and neighborhood character can be lost, all of which could be regulated with explicit controls. Excessive energy use and emissions could be controlled with explicit regulations. This is where the regulatory focus should be. And this could probably be accomplished in much less than 90 days.
When you get to the issues of style and taste, you get into a gray area. As Rob Hawkins said last week, although he lives in a truly historic log cabin from 1895 from Hahn's Peak, he enjoys the very contemporary home two doors down. I get a kick out of some of the homegrown innovations that can spontaneously happen that may not appeal to some on the Historic Preservation Advisory Committee. I loved a house I saw recently down in southern Colorado built out of free-form cement and wine bottles.
It has always seemed to be common sense to me not to build on a ridgeline (what animal do you know that would think a home there appealing:buffeted by the winds and plagued by the elements?). And why would you want to build a house that did not fit into its setting? It would be like putting the Mona Lisa in a chrome frame. But from another perspective, one must keep in mind that even Frank Lloyd Wright caught some sideways glances from his neighbors. Le Corbusier might have gotten run out of town. Some homes here truly do have historic significance, especially some of the bungalows. But some that are not exactly interesting would probably benefit from a new life - and it would breathe fresh air into the neighborhood. Truly valuable historic buildings should have preservation controls, but they should be designated as such clearly and simply. Not very many structures around town are historically significant, and they benefit from remodels that do not relate to the original structure.
An especially succinct and informative Web site is www.nationaltrust.org/teardowns/, and I would recommend that any new owner or prospective remodeler be required to read this article.
Irene Nelson
Steamboat Springs
Comments
rodcarew 5 years, 8 months ago
First you say restricting property rights is offensive, then you go on to make recommendations for how you'd like to restrict someone's property rights by regulating the size. You also seem to come (almost) full circle in supporting the historic preservation ordinance.
I don't disagree with your premise about the too big of home on too small of a lot problem. A big part of that issue is spec builders who only want to maximize their square footage and number of bedrooms (= max. gain) and who could care less about how it fits into the neighborhood.
You say you like the funky little houses. Most people do. The problem is that most people don't have that attention to detail and build stuff that degrades the neighborhood through poor design -we see it everywhere in town. The historic preservation ordinance utilizes nationally recognized standards in reviewing applications and if your addition pays a shred of attention to it, you're probably going to be okay.
trollunderthebridge 5 years, 8 months ago
So could someone tell me what style is a miner's cabin brought to Steamboat from an old mining town put togther with odds and end? Craftsman? Victorian? Innovative? "Old mining cabin"?
inmate2007 5 years, 8 months ago
Troll it's called "Affordable"
id04sp 5 years, 8 months ago
As I sit here looking at my Mona Lisa poster, framed in chrome, and my Andrew Wyeth "Master Bedroom" print in the lime green painted brass filigree frame, it reminds me of the view of the new so-called "justice center" tower visible above the hardware store and Sears. In a town where a dog is underdressed unless he sports a red bandana, style is simply not an issue.
If you want to see some historic homes, go look at the beautifully maintained victorians along the main drag in Eufaula, Alabama, or the restored victorian homes in Inman Park in Atlanta. How about Georgetown -- you know, where "The Exorcist" was filmed.
The "historic" homes in Steamboat were mostly built out of what was available for cheap at the time, and are only historic because nobody got there with a bulldozer in time to clear them out of the way for something nicer.
Someone, please, name ANY historic event in Routt County that can be associated with a residence. How about, just name ANY historic event in Routt County?
trollunderthebridge 5 years, 8 months ago
Does that make it historical and architecturally signficant to Steamboat or some mining town near Steamboat?
inmate2007 5 years, 8 months ago
Architecturally significant, it should be an example for city council but I doubt they understand it.
Vince arroyo 5 years, 8 months ago
Thank you Irene.
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