Chapter 26.04
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sections:

26.04.010    Acknowledgements.

26.04.020    History.

26.04.030    Project background.

26.04.010 Acknowledgements.

We would like to acknowledge the fine residents of the North Seventh Street Historic Residential District for all their input and dedication to a continued vision and belief in a prosperous and enduring Historic District. We would also like to thank all the residents who attended the neighborhood meetings and gave their input while this document was drafted.

These Guidelines and Standards were made possible because of the hard work, guidance, and vision of the residents and the support of City staff.

First Edition: December 2011

Owner: City of Grand Junction, Colorado

 

SPECIAL APPRECIATION TO

 

Paul and Nicole Sizemore

Teddy and Kathy Jordan

Joe Hatfield

Bennett Boechenstein

Peter Robinson

City of Grand Junction Historic Preservation Board

City of Grand Junction Public Works and Planning Department Staff

 

Special recognition to Teddy Jordan for his photography.

(Ord. 4508, 3-21-12)

26.04.020 History.

The North Seventh Street Historic Residential District is the heart of the original square mile for the City of Grand Junction. Seventh Street was intended to be a park-like residential area where prosperous residents, who were instrumental in the development of a young city out west, built their homes.

North Seventh Street was a two-lane street with parking for vehicles in the front of their homes. Some of the homes still have a walk across the grass to access Seventh Street.

It has always been the showcase for all the City. Seventh Street was the route chosen for President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, to travel from the airport to the courthouse for the Education 2000 tour in 1991.

In spite of the traffic now impacting the area, it remains a close-knit neighborhood where neighbors visit neighbors on their front porches. Daughters or sons still get married in the family home or have their wedding receptions there.

Over the years, however, some homes on North Seventh Street have fallen victim to “progress,” sacrificing historic preservation to modern expediencies.

The Grand Junction Town Company officers did more than develop lots and provide street names. They had great expectations for Grand Junction. They set aside parks in each quarter of the town, and developed certain areas with hallmarks of beauty, elegance and exceptional quality. Main Street and Grand and Gunnison Avenues were wider than other streets, and the lots facing those streets were deeper than most residential lots. Seventh Street was a fine boulevard, with landscaping in the center, and it was the only street with lots facing east-west rather than north-south. In harmony with the town officials’ plan the homes on Main, Grand, Gunnison and especially Seventh Street were larger and more stately.

In 1923, C.F. Martin and C.D. Smith petitioned the Grand Junction City Council to have electric street lights installed on the parkway in the middle of Seventh Street. The City agreed. These lights were removed in 1965.

As a Bicentennial project Kathy Jordan, a North Seventh Street resident, petitioned the Grand Junction City Council for help in having lights of the period re-installed in the parkway. Neighbors on Seventh Street and many business people in Grand Junction donated time, money and materials. In December of 1975, Kathy, along with City Council members, flipped the switch to turn the lights back on.

In 1984 Kathy Jordan was instrumental in getting the area placed on the National Register of Historic Places with the U.S. Department of the Interior. The goal was to preserve the vision that the founding fathers had for this neighborhood.

A cluster of the first homes on Seventh Street were constructed by members of the same family, starting with Cyrus “Doc” Shores. Shores built his home at 427 North Seventh Street in 1893.

Franklin I. Lee built his home at 402 North Seventh Street in 1903. His wife, Laura, was the daughter of M.M. (Marcus Morton) Shores, the brother of “Doc” Shores. Franklin’s father, W.H. Lee, built the house at 406 North Seventh Street in 1906.

418 North Seventh Street was also built by Franklin I. Lee in 1904. 428 North Seventh Street was built by Allison “Roe” Monroe in 1900. His wife’s sister was married to Doc Shores.

520 North Seventh was built by Mr. and Mrs. O.H. Ellison in 1924. Mrs. Ellison was the daughter of M.M. and Laura Shores.

The White House at 337 North Seventh Street (the green house at the corner of Seventh and Grand) was built by W.F. White who owned the White Mercantile Co. at Fifth and Main. Claims have been made that this home was built for George Crawford; however, Mesa County records show that the house was built in 1893, two years after Crawford’s death. Crawford’s name is on record showing he owned the land, but his name is on most of the property deeds for the original square mile because he was the developer. George Crawford lived in the Hotel Brunswick, a hotel he built, or on his Rapid Creek Ranch when in Grand Junction. Crawford’s niece, Josephine Rich, did build a home in the 500 block of North Seventh Street in 1892.

Eight homes were built from 1883 to 1899. Of those eight structures, only six remain.

The years 1900 to 1909 showed the largest growth on Seventh Street with 18 homes constructed. Of those 18 homes, 16 remain. From 1910 to 1919 four homes and one church were built and they are all still standing.

From 1920 to 1970 six homes, one school, one duplex and one church were built. They are all still standing. Currently, there are 35 structures in the District.

(Ord. 4508, 3-21-12)

26.04.030 Project background.

The City of Grand Junction’s Comprehensive Plan (adopted February 17, 2010, pp. 108 – 109), Title 31 GJMC, states:

Retaining our Heritage

Historic Buildings and Neighborhoods

Many communities have started to capitalize on their best assets such as historic buildings. Grand Junction has, like most cities, seen many of its historic buildings replaced with new construction. Appropriate historic buildings should be preserved to the extent possible. Modifications and additions to historic buildings are acceptable if the alterations are constructed to complement the original character. The neighborhood just north of the Downtown retains the original grid pattern of tree-lined streets and many older homes. To allow the Downtown to grow but not disturb the character of this neighborhood, the Plan recommends that increased density be allowed in this neighborhood through Accessory Dwelling Units.

Individual Neighborhood Character

The Community has expressed the desire to foster neighborhood identity. This can be accomplished through many elements and aspects such as parks, schools, signage, architecture and streetscape that become specific to that neighborhood. Many strategies to foster neighborhood identity, as well as specific land use issues and goals, are addressed in the various neighborhood and area plans adopted by the City and County. The Comprehensive Plan supports these individual neighborhood and area plans of the region. Several of the plans were incorporated into the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. However, others are out of date and need revision. During the revisions, these neighborhood and area plans are to adapt the Comprehensive Plan to each neighborhood at a finer, more detailed level. (Housing Variety Recommendations and Grand Valley Housing Strategy)

On February 17, 2010, a public hearing was held for the adoption of Ordinance 4403 to replace Ordinance 2211 that was adopted in 1984. At that meeting, the City Council requested that the City of Grand Junction Planning staff work with the neighborhood on specific historic preservation guidelines and standards for the North Seventh Street Historic Residential District.

The Grand Junction Historic Preservation Board has agreed to be responsible for preserving the historical value and character of the District’s structures by reviewing and deciding development applications through use of these design guidelines and standards. The City Council will hear appeals.

If properly adopted, administered and adhered to, the North Seventh Street Historic Residential District Guidelines and Standards will result in appropriate improvements that achieve a common level of quality in terms of allowed land uses, site design, architectural design, landscaping and other site improvements.

The general purposes of the North Seventh Street Historic Residential District Guidelines and Standards are:

(a)    To preserve and protect the single-family residential character of the District.

(b)    To preserve the historical and/or architectural value of buildings.

(c)    To create an aesthetic appearance of the properties and the streetscape within the District that complements the historic buildings.

(d)    To stabilize property values.

The North Seventh Street Historic Residential District Guidelines and Standards are based upon an analysis of the existing character of the North Seventh Street Historic Residential District. The Guidelines and Standards were developed through a collaborative neighborhood-based process. Property owner surveys, public meetings, and guideline development exercises were coordinated by Seventh Street residents and this document is the final result of these efforts.

(Ord. 4508, 3-21-12)