There’s a new breakfast place in Golden as of this morning. Scully’s Coffee Camper has opened at South Golden Road and Moss Street, next to the Columbine Cafe (map). In addition to coffee, they’ll have smoothies, homemade baked goods, and made to order breakfast sandwiches. They’ll be open Monday-Friday, 6:30-11AM.
6:30PM The Historic Preservation Board will meet in City Council Chambers this evening. They will review plans to add on to the garage and include a 2nd story apartment at 1407 Ford St. (map). They will also review proposed exterior changes to the building (former grocery store, former mortuary) at 1100 Washington Avenue. See the meeting packet for more details….
Their major topic of the night is a review of the City’s proposal to sell the Astor House. The meeting packet does not include any background information, so here’s the story:
The Astor House, built in 1867, was saved from demolition in 1972 and was furnished and operated as a museum by the Golden Landmarks Association. GLA hosted a popular series of teas (lectures with tea and cookies) in the Astor House, which generally sold out. They also hosted an ice cream social during Buffalo Bill Days and participated in the Christmas Homes Tour. Golden’s third-graders toured the house every year during their “Day in Golden.”
The City took over operation of the Astor House in 2010. In 2015, the City received a $200,000 grant from the State Historical Fund to do structural rehabilitation on the old building, so the Museum was closed for that work. The City then discovered that “any changes or modifications to the entirety of the property and its use would be restricted by the Historical Fund for 20 years.” The City didn’t want the State to restrict what it could do with the property, so they turned down the grant and funded the $480,000 rehabilitation project entirely with City funds.
While the museum was closed, City staff sold the furnishings that Golden Landmarks had collected. Museum staff had hoped to turn the building into a Beer Museum, but a study concluded that the site was not suited for that purpose (too small, not enough parking). With the artifacts gone, the building can no longer be re-opened in its previous form, as the Astor House Hotel Museum. The building is now gutted and is currently uninhabitable. According to the staff memo on the subject, “The basic interior finish needed to occupy is estimated at $500-700 thousand dollars.”
Now the city isn’t sure what to do with the building. Last year, they issued an RFP to solicit ideas. Five proposals were submitted and the review committee narrowed them down to one. Their chosen proposal would involve selling the Astor House to the owners of the Dove Inn for $550,000. The Golden Landmarks Association, which saved the building, furnished it, and operated it for 40 years, is more than irritated that we have come to this pass. They will attend tonight’s Historic Preservation Board meeting.
This is Open Mic Night at both Dirty Dogs Roadhouse (6:30PM) and the Columbine Cafe (7PM). For those who prefer to leave the music-making to the professionals, from 6-9PM the Golden-based bluegrass group, Thunder & Rain, will hold a fundraiser to help release their third album. Join them at New Terrain Brewing for a chance to hear the new music and hob nob with the band members.
7:30PM, Miners Alley Playhouse will have a special performance of Fairfield to benefit the Denver Actors Fund.
Tuesday Preview:
9AM – 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Party at the Library
11:30AM – Changes at the Colorado Railroad Museum During the Donald Tallman Era
1PM – Hexie Ladies English Paper Piecing at the Quilt Museum
2PM – South Golden Merchants Meeting
3PM – Under the M Farm Stand
5-8PM – National Night Out with the Police in Parfet Park
5:30PM – Textile Society at the Library
6PM – SoundCheck Music Match-up at Over Yonder Brewing
6PM – Yoga on Tap at New Terrain Brewing
7PM – Trivia Night at the Ace Hi
7:30PM – In Transit, a play touching on LGBTQ+ issues at Miners Alley
