BLACK HAWK - At their regular meeting on May 28, 2025, the Black Hawk City Council covered a modest agenda, with key votes on land use authority, planning contracts, and historic preservation. 

Present at the meeting were Mayor David Spellman and Aldermen Linda Armbright, Paul Bennett, Jim Johnson (virtual), Hal Midcap, Greg Moates, and Benito Torres. Cynthia Linker, Community Planning and Development Director, rang the ceremonial bell.

Briggs Lot dispute with Central City

The big-ticket item was Council Bill 8, which formally reasserts Black Hawk’s home rule authority over the Briggs Lot/Colvin Tract—a 3.49-acre parcel the City of Black Hawk owns within the boundaries of Central City. Black Hawk has plans to continue using the lot for public parking and to develop a future trailhead.

Though the two cities reached a settlement in 2020 allowing Black Hawk to build a trailhead and continue work on its trail system, Black Hawk considers recent moves by Central City to have stirred tensions. Central included the Briggs Lot in an urban renewal district over Black Hawk’s continued use of the property.

“This ordinance just reaffirms what the Colorado Constitution already provides,” City Attorney Corey Hoffman explained, “that Black Hawk, as a home rule city, can own property in another municipality and build public infrastructure that benefits its residents.”

Hoffman didn’t mince words. “It’s silly,” he said. “Silly to have a tax-exempt property owned by another municipality within Central City’s urban renewal area.”

Spellman said Central’s recently hired consulting firm, now leading its Master Plan, had floated alternative uses for the Briggs Lot. 

“Black Hawk is authorized to acquire property within the City of Central and to build public infrastructure that benefits the City of Black Hawk, even if it is in the City of Central, and that the City of Central can't acquire that property to the extent that they want to or the urban renewal authority can’t acquire that property to the extent they want to which at least it seems to have intimated over time,” said Hoffman.

Spellman said the bill comes in a timely manner to "put Central on notice" of Black Hawk’s continued stance and usage of the lot. 

The ordinance passed unanimously after a brief public hearing during which no one spoke in opposition.

Planning contract update

Next, the Council unanimously approved Resolution 31-2025, the Third Addendum to the city’s service agreement with Baseline Engineering Corporation, which provides community planning and development services.

The update comes after the retirement of lead planner Vince Harris. Julie Esterl, Senior Planning Project Manager at Baseline, will now take the lead on all planning matters.

Under the revised scope, Baseline will primarily handle commercial applications, while a state program will cover residential matters. The change is expected to cut costs while keeping continuity in planning services.

Exterior work approved for Crook’s Palace

The Council also approved Resolution 32-2025, giving conditional approval for planned exterior repairs to Crook’s Palace, a locally designated landmark located at 200 Gregory Street.

Built around 1900, the building replaced an earlier wooden structure dating back to the 1860s. Crook’s Palace remains a key part of the Central City–Black Hawk National Historic Landmark District.

The upcoming work includes repairs to lap siding, the roof, and other minor elements. While some alternative materials will be used, staff assured the Council they won’t be visible from the street and won’t alter historic features.

“We’re just fixing it up,” explained Linker. “Nothing’s being changed, and we’re aiming to get it in great shape as part of the Gregory Street group of buildings.”

There was some talk about eventually replacing non-original plywood panels on the front with more historically appropriate materials in a future phase.

The meeting concluded with an executive session to discuss legal matters and possible property acquisitions related to the City’s trail system. No additional actions were taken after that point.

The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2025, at 211 Church Street in Black Hawk. Meetings are open to the public.