Proposed Civic Area Historic District - Boulder

Thank you for taking this virtual walking tour of the Proposed Civic Area Historic District. Our intention is to explain the unique history of the area, increase awareness of what historic designation means, and encourage you to share your opinions on the proposed district with the City of Boulder Planning Department.

Historic district designation recognizes areas of historic, architectural, and/or environmental significance. It provides protection through a formal city-managed design review to ensure that future changes to this neighborhood are sensitive to its special character. There are 10 historic districts in town, including Chautauqua, the Pearl Street Mall, Mapleton Hill and seven other residential areas.

In 2022 the City Council directed planning staff to explore the viability of designating this area as a historic district. Three preservation organizations (Historic Boulder Inc., Friends of the Teahouse and Friends of the Bandshell), submitted the nomination for this area in June of 2023.

This historic designation will benefit Boulder in a number of ways:

1) It would provide official recognition of the layered history of this neighborhood in the heart of Boulder, highlighting its contributions to the story and spirit of Boulder.

2) Having an official historic district here will guarantee that advocates for historic preservation will be able to review future proposals of physical changes in this neighborhood. This will ensure that changes to the buildings and the Park are appropriately done in relation to the character of the district.

3) It will provide an opportunity to connect with national and state organizations for educational publicity, volunteer support and financial donations for this neighborhood

4) It will promote history-driven tourism. Almost $1 billion comes to Boulder each year from visitors' stays at hotels, attending conferences, dining and shopping. Boulder’s unique historic places are a large reason people visit. Heritage tourism directly supports the economic vitality of our city. Did you know that 6 of the top 10 most popular places to visit are historic landmarks?

The process for designation is anticipated to lead to a review and decision by the Boulder City Council by April of 2024.