The Boulder City Landmarks Board recently conducted a mid-year review, highlighting significant changes and improvements in the handling of landmark alteration certificate (LAC) applications and demolition requests. The review, which covered the first six months of 2025, revealed a 30% increase in LAC applications compared to the same period last year, with a total of 106 applications received. This surge is 23% above the five-year average, indicating a growing interest in preserving the city’s historical properties.

One of the key changes implemented this year was the shift of the majority of LAC reviews from the Landmarks Design Review Committee (LDRC) to staff level. This adjustment aimed to streamline processes and reduce the volunteer time commitment for board members. As a result, staff now reviews 79% of LAC applications, a significant increase from 33% last year. Consequently, the number of LDRC meetings decreased from 24 to 18, and the cases resolved in a single meeting rose from 65% to 80%.

The review also noted a 16% increase in demolition applications for non-designated buildings over 50 years old, totaling 72 applications. However, the process improvements did not significantly affect demolition reviews, which remained steady. Notably, there has been an increase in the number of pre-1940 buildings proposed for demolition, with 16 cases this year compared to just 6 last year.

In terms of efficiency, the average review time for both LACs and demolitions is now just 8 days, with 84% of cases approved within this timeframe. This efficiency is attributed to the process improvements and the establishment of a design review team that allows staff to collaboratively address more complex cases.

Overall, the mid-year review indicates that the Landmarks Board is effectively managing an increased workload while maintaining a commitment to preserving Boulder’s historical integrity. The board's next steps will likely focus on continuing to refine these processes and addressing the community's growing interest in landmark preservation.