WHO ARE Boulder Friends of Chautauqua (BFoC)



Why we formed:

When the plans were drawn up for a 7000 sq ft new construction, many citizens didn't believe it. How could this happen at Chautauqua? Some of us came together to spearhead the effort to get the word out about the new building.

While the Landmarks Board, the National Park Service, the State Historic Fund, and countless citizens OBJECTED to the inclusion of a list of new building ideas in the Framework hat was being proposed, the CCA kept the itemized list of location suggestions in their latest iteration of the CCSF.

Although that was pulled from being voted upon on May 15, it is not over. The CCA still has this on their mind. Having successfully temporarily halted that misguided effort, BFoC has since realized that the decision making process at Chautauqua lacks City oversight. Our current goal is to play a bigger part in making sure the City has appropriate oversight over the actions of the CCA, and acts in its full capacity as the main stakeholder in the preservation and financial sustenance of Chautauqua, AND THE OWNER OF THE LAND.

Our main goal is to stay on top of the truth, follow the process, and inform the citizens when critical decisions are to be make.

MORE BACKGROUND TIDBITS

BFoC's position on the proposed stand alone building was as follows.


  • the CCA has not proven that the new building, and the increased congestion, is NECESSARY to support the mission and purpose of the Chautauqua
  • the NEW building will change the quiet country feel of the cottage neighborhood
  • the negative view of the National Park Service on placing a non-historic NEW building in the middle of a National Historic Landmark District (by the way, it is also designated a Boulder Landmark Historic District) should carry more weight. The National Park Service strongly recommends the use of existing buildings over new construction for NHLs.
  • NEW buildings are discouraged in the 1989 Chautauqua Design Guidelines. The and the Chautauqua 2020 Stewardship Framework Draft Principles and Evaluation Criteria. By the way.. the design guidelines are being rewritten by the CCA and others -- which is interesting... stay tuned!) THERE IS NO NEED TO RE-WRITE THE EXISTING GUIDELINES unless they are trying to obliterate the Original Design Guidelines attitude toward new construction
  • The CCA claims to be stewards of this NHL in every iteration of the CCSF, in their Chautauqua 2020 Stewardship Framework Draft Principles and Evaluation Criteria and every document they have written on the subject since the idea of a new event center was first proposed by them. However, their relentless quest to move forward with building expansion despite the negative impact it will have on the historic fiber of this National Landmark PROVES they need to be assigned a preservationist to provide OVERSIGHT on the Framework and all their actions!
  • The CCA can generate income to support other important items on their infrastructure wish-list without the draining cost of a new building. Have they really considered ALL the alternative income generating ideas that would NOT require a NEW building? Heritage Tourism, more aggressive marketing of their lodging, updating the Dining hall in appearance and services to better serve the over 300,000 hiker-visitors that come through Chautauqua every year and DON't VISIT the dining hall
  • That hosting more corporate retreats is not necessarily consistent with the intent of the original Chautauqua. it may or may not be. However, while corporations can be one of the many renters of Chautauqua public buildings and cottages, they certainly don't justify a violation of NPS recommendation to NOT BUILD NEW CONSTRUCTION IN AN NHL!!!

THE CITY OWNS THE LAND


  • The City of Boulder owns ALL  the land at Chautauqua
  • The trails are managed by Open Space
  • The Green lawn, park, and tennis court adjacent to the park is managed by Parks and Rec.
  • The Colorado Chautauqua Association (CCA) owns 2/3 of the cottages (some cottages are instead privately owned) and the buildings. 
  •  The CCA manages the rental cottages and historic buildings.
  • The CCA leases the land in 20 year increments. 
  • The CCA board has made clear that they feel they need a NEW building to generate income during the off-season (DESPITE THE FACT THAT THEY YET TO SUBSTANTIATE THIS WITH OBJECTIVE FINANCIAL FACTS.)
  • Currently rental cottages and the Community House underutilized during the off-season -- CCA claims that the NEW building will NOT be used during "high season" thus adding to congestion. Thus, it is unclear why a new building is needed.
WHO WE ARE
BFoC consists of a core group, a strong cadre of active citizens who take action at important meetings and write letters at critical junctures, and a large mailing list of people who are kept informed.  If you want to join any part of BFoC please
contact us.

CONTACT US

Email Boulder Friends of Chautauqua