December 10, 2019: Historic Preservation has been experiencing a transformation in Colorado Springs.  This month, the City of Colorado Springs adopted HistoricCOS, the new historic preservation master plan, the first since 1993. This two and a half year effort involved grant funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, History Colorado/State Historical Fund, CLG funding from the National Park Service and the Historic Preservation Alliance of Colorado Springs, the member-based nonprofit advocacy organization celebrating 20 years. The HistoricCOS consulting team included Stan Clauson Associates, Inc. of Aspen, Ron Sladek of Tatanka Historical Associates, Inc. of Fort Collins, and Roxanne Eflin Consulting of Colorado Springs.  Planning staff efforts were lead by Daniel Sexton, AICP, Principal Planner with the City.  This new preservation plans builds upon the City’s current preservation plan and coordinates preservation efforts across the city.  The plan also:

• Provide content for an ongoing conversation of historic preservation that will leverage limited resources to educate, plan and survey additional resources throughout the city
• Inform the City about its historic resources
• Improve preservation of historic resources
• Guide and prioritize preservation projects
• Aid in the development of effective regulatory processes and procedures
• Works in concert with PlanCOS (the City’s new Comprehsnsive Plan) and RetoolCOS (revising the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance)

“The HistoricCOS Preservation Plan celebrates the legacies of our founders and those that have followed; together our City can embrace its past and be ready to share its heritage. Through HistoricCOS, preservation in the City of Colorado Springs is best understood at the neighborhood level and influenced by willing and active members of the community. The acceptance and incorporation of historic and cultural resources is a central part of the ongoing economic and community development strategy of the City.”  stated Mayor John Suthers in the Plan’s opening message.

Implementation kicks off in January, which is well timed as the City is making plans for its upcoming sesquicentennial celebration. For more information about historic preservation in Colorado Springs, contact Roxanne Eflin (HPA Board President), roxanne.eflin@gmail.com, or Daniel Sexton with the City’s Planning Department at daniel.sexton@coloradosprings.gov or visit  https://coloradosprings.gov/historiccos.