Historic Preservation

The City of Greeley Historic Preservation Office, housed in the Community Development Department/Planning Division, works with the public to further the preservation of historic resources through administration of the Greeley Historic Register, assisting property owners with National and/or State Register nominations, administration of incentives such as State Tax Credits and the Low Interest Loan Program, surveying historic areas to identify resources, public education about preservation, and provide staff assistance to the Greeley Historic Preservation Commission, established by City Council in 1995.

The mission of the Historic Preservation Commission is to identify, preserve and enhance Greeley’s historic resources. Through research, educational programs and economic incentives, the Commission will build upon public enthusiasm for the protection of the unique character of the community’s past and present for the future.

The Commission prepared the City's Historic Preservation Plan to assist citizens of Greeley in understanding and accessing information concerning historic preservation and its impact on the community. Historic Preservation is defined as the "stewardship of the important places from our past, including buildings, structures, sites, districts and landscapes." (Definition source: Colorado Preservation 2010, statewide preservation plan, History Colorado/Colorado Historical Society)

We offer the following services:

• Assistance in historic property research. Download information about how to research a historic property.
• Administration of the Greeley Historic Register, including nominations, incentives and design review.
• Offer financial incentives for rehabilitation projects, including a Low Interest Loan Program, refund of building portion of permit fees, State Historical Fund grants and State Income Tax Credits for work on historic properties.
• Provide fun educational opportunities, including walking tours during the summer, production of Windows of Time, a GTV8 produced documentary, and Historic Preservation Month activities.
• Historic Preservation Internships for Graduate and Undergraduate students

May is Historic Preservation Month!

Celebrate Historic Preservation with the City of Greeley during May!  The City of Greeley is celebrating Historic Preservation Month with several free events.  

Thursday, May 10th - Sunrise Neighborhood Ice Cream Social and History Event, 6-8 p.m., Sunrise Park Shelter. 

Come hear stories about the history of the neighborhood and see the recently completed history of the neighborhood while enjoying refreshing ice cream.  Click here to download the document or contact the Historic Preservation Office to purchase one.  Light refreshments will be served.  History Colorado State Historical Fund and the City of Greeley provided funding for the project.

Thursday, May 17th - Historic Preservation Month Reception, 4-6 p.m., Centennial Village Museum. Celebrate 100 Years of Building Permits in Greeley!

Come hear about the beginnings of Greeley’s building codes.  Greeley Chief Building Official Tim Swanson and others will share about the early history of the Building Inspection Office.  Building codes originate from ancient days, found in the Bible and the Code of Hammurabi.  The City issued the first permit for a one-story house in February 1912.

The Historic Preservation Commission will also recognize Linde Thompson for her significant contributions to historic preservation in Greeley, Dick Spitler of Dick’s Electric for his outstanding work on historic buildings, and Historic Greeley, Inc. for their involvement with the rehabilitation of the First Baptist Church. 

May is National Historic Preservation Month, which celebrates the heritage and preservation of historical, architectural and archaeological resources significant in our local, state and national development.  “Connecting Colorado” is the statewide theme for Historic Preservation Month, and the national theme is “Discover America’s Hidden Gems.”

Sunday, May 20th - Historic Preservation Month Scavenger Hunt, 1-3 p.m., Lincoln Park Gazebo. 

The Greeley Historic Preservation Commission invites the public to a Downtown Scavenger Hunt, to be held on Sunday, May 20^th from 1 – 3 p.m. beginning at the Lincoln Park gazebo.  Participants will receive a page with photos to identify building features in the area and will return for awards for winners.  Light refreshments will be provided.

Upcoming Events

Download the Historic Preservation 2012 Event Calendar

FREE History Brown Bag Series - 4th Thursday of the month February - October 2012 - Begins February 23rd!

Bring your lunch and join us at noon on the 4th Thursday of each month from February through October 2012 in the Community Room of the Greeley History Museum, 714 8th Street, to hear about history and historic preservation-related topics! February 23 - Hanna Eckroth, Swedes of Greeley. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

March 22 - Jean Messinger, Why a Courthouse Looks Like a Courthouse and Why a Church Looks Like a Church. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

April 26 - Duane McDonald, Firefighting History and the Greeley Fire Department. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

May 26 - Mike and Barbara Webb, Ghost Signs. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

June 28 - Tannis Bator, Rattlesnake Kate. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

July 26 - Michael Welsh, What the Colorado Plains Meant to James Michener. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

August 23 - Jerry Vielma, Classic Cars. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

September 27 - Susan Herold, Artist Studio in Historic Building. Studio at D&D Bean Building, 701 7th Street, 12-1 p.m.

October 25 - Ron Edgerton, Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra. Greeley History Museum Community Room, 714 8th Street, 12-1 p.m.

2012 Walking Tours

Monday, April 16, 2012 - This tour is open to the public but will be focused specifically for UNC students. Tour topic: Monroe Avenue Historic District Starting Location: SW corner 9th Avenue & 16th Street, 5:30 p.m.

Monday, June 4 - Pre-World War II Development of the Arlington Neighborhood Starting Location: SE corner of University Center Parking lot, intersection of 10th Ave. & 22nd St., 7 p.m.

Monday, July 2 - North Downtown Houses of Pioneers Starting Location: West side of Lincoln Park, 10th Ave & 8th St., 7 p.m. Monday, July 9 - Highlights of Designated Properties in Cranford Starting Location: SE corner of 16th St & 10th Ave., 7 p.m.

Monday, August 6 - Early Greeley Planning in the Meeker Home Area Starting Location: Meeker Home Museum, 1324 9th Ave., 6:30 p.m.

Monday, September 17 - 10th Street Corridor Starting Location: Wilshire Shopping Center Parking Lot, SW Corner 10th St & 28th Ave., 5:30 p.m.

Loft Tours in Historic Downtown, Thursday, March 8th Co-sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority and the Greeley Historic Preservation Commission Starting Location: Margie's Java Joint, 931 16th Street 5-7 p.m.

June 14th - Gabe and Jody Lopez, Spanish Colony Presentation Location: Rodarte Center, 920 A Street, 7 p.m.

Current Projects

Grants Awarded to the City for Historic Preservation! The City of Greeley recently finished a historic and architectural context report of the Sunrise Neighborhood, funded by a State Historical Fund grant from History Colorado. The final report will be available soon. Contact the Historic Preservation Office for more information about this project and other historic preservation projects.

Building Permit Fee Refund Policy Adopted
At their September 13, 2010 meeting, the Historic Preservation Commission adopted the Building Permit Fee Refund Policy. Owners of designated properties and properties in historic districts are eligible to apply for a refund of building permit fees.

Annual Reports
Read these quick synopses of the Commission activities from 2010 and 2011. Historic Preservation Commission Annual Report 2010 & Historic Preservation Commission Annual Report 2011

Historic Resource Survey Report
The City of Greeley recently completed an intensive level historic resources survey of a two-block area bounded by 17th Street on the north, 6th Avenue on the east, 18th Street on the south and 8th Avenue on the west. Download the survey report with the project results. For more information about individual properties, contact the Historic Preservation Office.

Walking Tour Notes Available Online!
Notes from various walking tours are posted below! The topic and tour date link to the tour notes.

Island Grove Park (June 2009)
POW Camp 202 (July 2009)
Glenmere Park Area (August 2009)
Downtown Arts & Entertainment District (June 2010)
Josephine B. Jones House and Park (July 2010)
Maplewood (July 2010)
Alles Acres (August 2010)
Sunrise Park Neighborhood (September 2010)
Cranford (October 2010)

Other Greeley Preservation Resources
View the Historic Preservation 101 presentation to learn more about preservation in Greeley and around Colorado
Presentation about how to research a historic property
Access our Data Base listing of Inventoried Properties
Historic Register 1996-2011 Map - Recently updated!
Greeley Historic Register Designated Properties Information 1996-2011 - Recently updated!

Brochures
2012 Event Calendar - Includes information about events from February to November 2012. Hard copies also available at the Historic Preservation office or locations around Greeley
From Colony to City - highlighting some of Greeley's Local and National Register Properties Greeley has many old or historic properties, and often treatment to those properties is different than for new or recent construction. Not all old properties are historic or significant, but the same information can be applied to both. The goal of this brochure is to provide some basic information and tips about handling historic or old properties.
Historic Properties: Additions, Remodeling & Maintenance Tips – New Brochure