Work resuming on Floyd Hill; expect overnight closings

PAGE 7 WEEKLY REGISTER-CALLJune 12, 2025

corporate Nederland and Lyons in Boulder County,

along with Central City.

The Black Hawk City Council was scheduled to

vote yesterday (Wednesday) on a measure that

would serve as the first step toward that plan. The

aldermen were expected to vote in favor of estab-

lishing an authority and to approve a petition for

residents, encouraging them to sign it if they believe

a local housing authority is needed.

If 25 of Black Hawk’s estimated 100 residents sign

the petition, it would allow the council to move for-

ward with the legal establishment of the Black Hawk

Housing Authority.

Mayor David Spellman stated that the city has a

clearer understanding of the housing needs within

the community, instead of relying on a proposed

multi-jurisdictional plan backed by Gilpin County.

In an exclusive interview, Spellman told the

Weekly Register-Call, “When considering housing

in Black Hawk, the City Council prioritizes ensuring

that existing housing is safe, healthy and not sub-

standard. Many homes in the city that have not un-

dergone renovation through the city grant program

are in various stages of deterioration and lack the

basic efficiencies and essentials that are standard

in today’s housing. Consequently, these homes may

be considered unsafe, unhealthy and substandard.

The city intends to continue dedicating funding to

address these homes, as it is cost-prohibitive for the

owners to tackle them independently.”

“Once this goal is achieved, the city will consider

infill development on a select number of lots within

the Historic Residential District, where a limited

number of new housing units could be constructed,”

the mayor added. “Beyond these two initiatives,

the city has no immediate plans to develop housing

within its boundaries. This does not mean that op-

portunities and possibilities do not exist; however,

the city is not currently focused on pursuing such

housing development.”

According to city documents, the petition will ask

residents to sign the following: “In support of this

petition, we state that there is a need for the Author-

ity to function in the City due to the existence of

unsanitary and unsafe inhabited dwelling accom-

modations in the City and a lack of safe or sanitary

dwelling accommodations in the City available

for inhabitants. More particularly, and in confor-

mance with C.R.S. § 29-4-204(3), the following are

in existence in the City: aged physical condition of

buildings; constrained land coverage; constrained

light and air available to the inhabitants of certain

dwelling accommodations; constrained size and

arrangement of certain rooms; need for additional

sanitary facilities; and conditions which endanger

life or property by fire.”

“Currently, there are about 61 homes in Black

Hawk. Many owners have signed up for available

city grants over the years to help rehabilitate or

repaint homes in the National Historic District.

However, others have not, which has left some

residents and elected leaders concerned about the

future condition of those homes.

“The City Council has determined that establish-

ing a housing authority focused on Black Hawk

priorities is the most effective way to achieve these

objectives,” Spellman said. “This is contingent

upon 25 Black Hawk residents signing a petition to

establish the housing authority. What the city will

not consider is entering into a multijurisdictional

housing authority with any other governmental

Colorado voters approved Prop 123 in November

2022, a ballot measure that allows the state to keep

an estimated $300 million each year from existing

state sales tax revenues to support affordable hous-

ing investment.

In the months that followed, the Gilpin Board

of County Commissioners decided to pursue Prop

123 funding to help create affordable housing,

potentially including Central City and Black Hawk –

which have existing infrastructure such as water and

sewage systems – as well as other unincorporated

parts of the county. During the past year, Central

City and county officials have held several meetings

to discuss this subject, while Black Hawk did not

participate.

Another potential location under consideration

is Rollinsville in northern Gilpin County, which

has available land but lacks sewage systems and

water lines. Last summer, the BoCC voted to spend

$125,000 to conduct a $250,000 infrastructure

study on Rollinsville, with the remaining funds

coming from the Colorado Department of Local Af-

fairs’ Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Grant

Fund. The county is also urging the state to create a

passenger rail stop in Rollinsville, which could help

attract development.

Spellman, however, stated he doesn’t support the

county’s ongoing plans to determine how it will find

contractors and receive Prop 123 funding to build

affordable housing at some unspecified future time

and location, including Rollinsville.

“It is also clear that Gilpin County is focusing on

Rollinsville for housing and other developments;

Black Hawk will not follow the county through the

Rollinsville looking glass and down the Rollinsville

rabbit hole,” Spellman commented.

(This series will continue next week.)

that Gilpin County is

focusing on Rollinsville

for housing and other

Hawk will not follow

the county through the

Rollinsville looking

Rollinsville rabbit hole,”

Black Hawk may form own housing authority,

plans to avoid county’s “looking glass rabbit hole”

Work resuming on Floyd Hill; expect overnight closings

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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