historic sites
Colorado Preservation Inc., founded 12 years ago to preserve remnants of the Centennial State’s architectural past, today unveils its 2009 list of Colorado’s most endangered places. Since CPI was organized in 1998, 70 sites have been named to the list. Of those, 14 have been saved, 35 are works in progress, 18 remain in alert status, and three have been lost. This year’s list:
Fourth Street Commercial District Saguache
Dating to 1874, these buildings constituted the historic business center for the San Luis Valley and today represent an architectural example of an early Colorado frontier town. Several of the buildings have been abandoned and neglected and have begun to decay.
Greeley Salt Lake and Pacific Railroad Grade southwest of Laporte
Constructed in 1881 and abandoned in 1988, this section of rail line, a “linear landscape” listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is one of the few abandoned rail lines in Colorado to retain its historic alignment, railroad bed, ballast, ties, rails and bridges. It is endangered by a city of Greeley water pipeline construction project.
16th Street Mall Denver
Designed by the architectural firm I.M. Pei & Partners and opened in 1982, the mall features polychromatic patterned granite pavers, wide sidewalks and a central, tree-lined corridor. The walkways are endangered by pedestrian- and vehicle-related wear and tear, and an RTD plan to remove the pavers to reduce maintenance costs.
Walsen Power Plant west of Walsenburg
Built in 1898, the abandoned Walsen Power Plant provided energy to the Walsen Mine, Walsen Camp and the town of Walsenburg. It is the last remaining structure of Walsen Camp, a coal-mining settlement dating from the late 1870s. The building suffers from vandalism, scrap-metal scavenging and years of neglect.
