HIghlands Ranch Herald 012413

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Herald HIGHLANDS RANCH 1/24/13

Highlands Ranch

Douglas County, Colorado • Volume 26, Issue 10

January 24, 2013

A Colorado Community Media Publication

ourhighlandsranchnews.com

Fly’n B House fate is up in air Metro District welcomes input from public By Ryan Boldrey

rboldrey@ourcoloradonews.com Vacant since 2004, the century-old Fly’n B House in northwest Highlands Ranch may soon have its fate determined. Whether that will involve restoration or demolition remains to be seen. The house, built by Matthew Plews in 1906, has seen its share of owners over the years, but since Erickson Living — owners of Wind Crest Retirement Community — bought it from longtime owners John and Katie Bowen, it has sat empty and boarded. The building, along with the land for Fly’n B Park which it sits on, was conveyed by Erickson to the Highlands Ranch Metro District in 2006. The district began the master planning for the park — which opened in 2010 — the following year.

“We started some restoration work on the house when the property was conveyed to us but discovered our budget wasn’t big enough to deal with the structural issues that we weren’t initially aware of, primarily issues dealing with the foundation,” said Carrie Ward, director of parks, recreation and open space for the district. After getting a Historic Structure Assessment from the state of Colorado, it was determined that it would cost $800,000 to bring the property up to standard. “Some of us didn’t think that was probably the wisest way to spend money,” said Metro District General Manager Terry Nolan. “So we are now going through a process that will end in May with an answer on what the board wants to do with that house.” Options, according to Nolan and Ward, include bringing it up to historical standards, doing enough renovations to make it usable without putting it on par with historical standard requirements, removing the house altogether, and doing exterior renovations now and completing interior renovations at a later date. Fly’n B continues on Page 7

Talks are beginning in the Highlands Ranch Metro District about what to do with the 107-year-old house at Fly’n B Park. Public input is being welcomed. Photo by Ryan Boldrey

READY TO SOAR

Market strong for housing, expert says Sales, prices on way up, according to economist By Jennifer Smith

jsmith@ourcoloradonews.com Patricia Silverstein, president of Jefferson County-based Development Research Partners, compares the country’s economic recovery to a long traverse up a big mountain — slow, steady, treacherous and frustrating. “There are times when you’re going straight across and it feels like you’re getting absolutely nowhere,” she said. Speaking Jan. 15 to the South Metro Denver Realtor Association, Silverstein said the news is good for the metro-area housing market. A normal year would see an average of 17 homes sold for every 1,000 people in the state; Silverstein predicts the number will be 16.6 in 2013. There was a 17.5 percent increase in sales in 2012 over the year before, and prices are well above the national median — $257,000 here, compared with $178,000 nationally. “Our expensive housing market might a little bit of a detriment,” for potential employers looking for a location, she said, but she notes that its stability compared with other areas could offset that. Foreclosure filings are decreasing in the seven-county Denver metro area, down to 15,516 last year from a peak of 26,520 in 2007. Silverstein predicts there will be 14,895 this year. She asked the Realtors if they were falling over each other for the slim pickings of new units. Last year 8,000 were built in the metro area, as compared to 27,000 in 2000. They look different, as well — about a third are apartments, more than the usual quarter. Silverstein attributes that in part to aging baby boomers who no longer want to care for a big house. Housing continues on Page 7

Xavier Wright points to his family in the audience after receiving his diploma from Eagle Academy Jan. 17, in a ceremony at Rock Canyon High School. He was among 29 graduates from the night high school. More coverage on Page 5. Photo by Courtney Kuhlen

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