Dear Editor,

We attended one of the recent charrettes to review and comment on the proposed demolition and redevelopment of the north side of 1st Street in Nederland from Bridge Street to Snyder Street. We discussed our questions and concerns with the owner/developer Ron Mitchell and want to share them with the public in this forum.

• The demolition of an entire block of historic downtown Nederland will forever change the character of our town. The pseudo “historic” storefront designs proposed mimic a movie-style western town but are not the type of simple mining town architecture historically found in Nederland. As one longtime resident commented, “I wonder what they’ll call the town because it won’t be Ned anymore.”

• The demolition and rebuilding of an entire block of our downtown will be dramatically disruptive to the entire town. This will result in increased traffic congestion for all and financial loss to businesses across the entire town as visitors will likely avoid coming to a town that is torn apart. Our businesses have already suffered in recent years from lack of visitors due to Boulder Canyon closing due to repairs and COVID closings. They do not need this years-long disruption. Businesses on the south side of 1st Street will be the most negatively affected.

• Does the Town of Nederland water and sewer system have the capacity to handle the increase in water and sewer demands created by a new 120-room hotel? Who would pay for these infrastructure improvements if needed?

• Have the necessary engineering studies been done to determine if a two-story underground parking garage to accommodate 300 cars is feasible both from an engineering standpoint and a cost-effective basis? The geology of this area and the placement of this underground structure between two creeks brings to question the feasibility of such a structure.

• What will happen to the businesses currently operating in the 100 block of 1st Street’s north side? The Covered Wagon is one of the most historic and storied businesses in our town – and one of our favorite dining destinations. Locally owned businesses are one of the reasons we bought our home here nine years ago. Instead of demolishing the Covered Wagon and other historic buildings, we encourage the town to use its code compliance

authority to force the owner, Ron Mitchell, to bring it up to health and safety codes.

• With currently high lending rates and expensive, new two- and three-story buildings on this block of 1st Street, along with added common elements such as the courtyard, covered sidewalks, etc., the tenants for these proposed retail spaces will have to be charged much higher rents as well as common area maintenance (CAM) fees. Will this mean that the new businesses will force out local businesses in favor of national chains? This will have a huge impact on the nature of Nederland and its proud history of locally owned, community-minded businesses.

• Since this proposed redevelopment would obliterate much of the historic nature of our town, we suggest that the staff, Planning Board and Board of Trustees work to establish an historic district which will require any redevelopment to retain the historic mining town nature of Nederland. Tax incentives can be built in as an incentive for developers/property owners.

• What happens if this redevelopment plan is approved (lot consolidation and the construction of a three-story “resort” hotel on what is now several separate commercial lots) and the new hotel is not successful? Would this large commercial site be easily adaptable for other uses or would it sit vacant on our main commercial street as an eyesore?

In talking with several local residents and business owners about the proposed redevelopment put forth by Ron Mitchell, most say that it will never happen. We sincerely hope so, but to make sure that town decision makers (the Nederland staff, Planning Board and Board of Trustees) get a clear understanding of the apparent widespread opposition to this sweeping proposal, we encourage everyone to voice their opinion and specific concerns to those serving in these decision-making positions. The future of our town is at stake. Speak up!

You may easily email your comments and concerns to the Planning Board and Board of Trustees on the town website at https://townofnederland.colorado.gov/ contact-a-board-or-commission.

In the September 28 front page story in The Mountain-Ear, Ron Mitchell is quoted as pledging to “wash his hands of the project” if the Nederland community decides they are against it. Please speak up so we can proceed with this hand washing.

Jeff and Margie Yansura

Nederland