Push for West Side historic designation slows down
Albany County Historic Preservation Board abandoned a $21,600 grant that could have helped the West Side apply for national recognition as a ‘historic place,’ saying support from the city is lacking.
As private developers look to increase the city’s housing stock — and as the city government seeks to encourage them — some residents of the West Side neighborhood are looking to shield their streets from new demolitions or developments.
The Albany County Historic Preservation Board is helping with that push, but is now reining in its efforts so as not to lose any ground.
The preservation board is hoping to one day see the West Side neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places — a designation that incurs some protections against speedy redevelopment.
But to nominate the West Side, the preservation board needs state grant money — and during an Albany County Commission meeting Tuesday, its representative said the board was not ready to apply for that grant.
Preservation Board Chair Karen Bard said the effort has yet to gain the political support it will need to go all the way.
“We do not want to take the risk of pushing this too hard and losing a city council vote,” Bard said. “If they vote no, it's going to take a decade to overcome that ‘no’ vote.”
The commissioners had been set to vote on a grant agreement between the preservation board and the State Historic Preservation Office for up to $21,600. That money would have empowered the local preservation board to hire a consultant — a consultant who would conduct background research and prepare the final nomination document for the National Register.
But Bard asked the commissioners to pull the item from their agenda, adding her organization would try again in the fall. Bard said her organization would use the extra time to build support.
“City council members want to go out to the West Side neighborhood and do more consultation,” she said. “And in addition, we would like to have meetings with the city councilors, (State Historic Preservation Office) and also the city planners, as we see potentially just some misunderstandings as to exactly how this nomination will impact the residents, and that has not happened yet.”
One possible hang-up is how a National Register of Historic Places designation would interact with city code. If a building is placed on the National Register, it must be given special consideration before any demolition or redevelopment can occur.
Laramie’s Unified Development Code decrees that a property owner wishing to demolish a “historic” structure must notify the city six months in advance. During those six months, the city will generate ideas with the owner to make the historic structure more profitable or attempt to locate a buyer who would preserve the building rather than tear it down.
West Side residents have been active in defending their neighborhood from perceived attacks on its character. In late 2021, they stopped the city council from rezoning two lots in the neighborhood from residential to commercial. In the following months, they attempted to block a housing reform measure that now allows denser housing in multi-family zones.