John Scarffe, Black Hawk.  An agreement to purchase the old clinic site for a surface parking lot faced delays during a regular meeting of the Black Hawk City Council on Wednesday, March 23, at 3 p.m., at 211 Church Street. The property exchange agreement between the City of Black Hawk and Smithrock, LLC, would be delayed until April 5 pending a City of Central Special Review Use.

“The property exchange between the City and Smithrock has been necessarily delayed due to requirements imposed by the City of Central regarding the Special Review Use of the old clinic site for a surface parking lot,” according to the request for Council action. “The City needs access to and possession of the land west of Bobtail to satisfy work described in the Phase 1 Contract of the Gregory Street Improvements.”

The second phase of the improvements is scheduled for bid opening on April 1. Possession or an easement on this property will be required to make possible award of the second phase of the project, according to the request. The actual exchange of property will be accomplished once the required improvements are completed on the clinic parcel and it is permitted for parking. In the interim, temporary parking will be permitted on the property below Bobtail. The acquisition will be financed through the Gregory Street Redevelopment fund.

According to the resolution amending the original agreement, the City and Smithrock have previously entered into a property exchange agreement dated on August 26, 2015. In that document, the City agreed to acquire property owned by Smithrock in exchange for granting Smithrock a permanent and exclusive parking easement on Central City property, “and other good and valuable consideration.”

The dates contemplated in the original agreement are in need of an extension to allow the City to complete parking lot improvements and satisfy the conditions of the resolution approving a special use review permit by the Central City Council, adopted on January 19, 2016, according to the resolution.

The amendment to the original agreement stated that on or before April 1, 2016, the City will provide Smithrock with a number of temporary parking spaces equivalent to the number of parking spaces currently located on the property. The temporary parking spaces will be located adjacent to Gregory Street.

The parking spaces will be temporary and are intended to allow Smithrock to access and use them until the parking lot is completed on or before July 1, 2016. “In exchange for the City providing Smithrock with the temporary spaces as set forth in this First Amendment until July 1, 2016, Smithrock grants the City a temporary easement.

The Original Agreement described the address of Smithrock, LLC, as Smithrock, LLC c/o Edward E. Smith, Member, #65 Hideaway Circle Road, Evergreen, Colorado. In consideration of $10, which had been received, and other goods and valuable consideration, Smithrock granted to the City a Temporary Easement for excavation, together with all rights and privileges necessary.

Ameristar Casino applied for a Site Development Plan and Certificate of Appropriateness for the Ameristar Sprung Building. On September 17, 2015, the City of Black Hawk received the application for property located at 381Avenue of the All Stars, according to the request for Council action. The project proposes to permit the permanent use of an existing structure that has been operating with expired temporary use permits. No physical alterations are proposed to the existing site conditions, size of the existing Sprung structure, or the existing materials. Staff has determined that the submittal is in compliance.

Since this structure was originally built as ‘temporary’ building numerous years ago, the permitting building code and inspections of the structure were handled differently than if it was to be a ‘permanent’ building. Now that the owner desires to keep this building as a ‘permanent’ building, they need to gain approval of the site development plan.The Council approved the site development plan. The Council also approved a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed St Charles Carriage House building and for the demolition of the existing Monarch Garage.

On February 10, 2016, the City of Black Hawk received an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for a City-owned property at 270 Gregory Street, according to background. The project proposes construction of a new parking structure. The structure will be utilized for free public parking for Black Hawk visitors. The site today is currently empty of structures. Formerly, Winner’s Haven and the Black Forest Inn were located on this site.

Monarch Casino applied for a Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the existing Monarch Garage. On January 28, 2016, the City of Black Hawk received an application for a Certificate of Appropriateness for property at 444 Main Street, according to the request for Council action. The project proposes demolition of an existing parking structure.