By Stan Garnett
I have agreed to provide legal counsel to the group called Protect Boulder Civic Space and proudly added my name to their coalition. Like the other members of this group, I believe Downtown Boulder is for everyone. But when we raised concerns about the St Julien’s proposed nearly 60,000-square-foot expansion, the group was painted as “Millionaires for vacant concrete pads” in an opinion piece by Brian Keegan (May 20).
This portrayal is not only inaccurate, it completely dismisses legitimate community concerns from a growing chorus of Boulder residents. Our cause? Certainly not preserving a vacant slab, but fostering a thoughtful, inclusive dialogue to shape a development that meets the commercial interest of the St Julien (the pad’s owner) as well as the civic use intent this space was meant for. The Boulder Civic Pad should be preserved and developed in a way that benefits the public, not merely serving the private profit of the St. Julien.
Let’s be clear: PBCS has never advocated for leaving the pad empty. However, a ballroom and 39 extended-stay hotel rooms don’t meet any possible definition of “civic use.” We’ve even offered an alternate idea on our website, protectbouldercivicspace.com, to begin the conversation. Painting this group as simple NIMBYs is, at best, disingenuous.
Our issue is with the current St Julien proposal — a nearly 60,000-square-foot, five-story, 55-foot-tall structure with no setback. Describing this structure as monolithic is not hyperbole: It’s factual.
Our issue is not just about respecting the neighbors’ views, but following the city’s design guidelines to “encourage thoughtful, well-designed development projects that are sensitive to the existing character of the area.”
While perhaps not common knowledge among many in Boulder, this parcel was set aside for community-oriented purposes when the construction of St Julien began nearly 25 years ago. In 2018, the city reaffirmed that the final project should host “nonprofit and community civic uses.” Now, it’s slated to become a private event center and extended-stay hotel. This was to be a space for public good, and we want to ensure that vision comes to fruition.
Through open discussion, we can arrive at a design that respects Boulder’s character, addresses practical concerns and truly serves the community while also respecting the St Julien’s commercial interests. Over the years, many initiatives — ranging from a children’s museum, an art coalition and even an ice rink — did not come to fruition. Nevertheless, we still believe this space should be developed in a way that remains accessible to the public, not just to St Julien ballroom and extended stay hotel guests.
Did my clients seek out communication and legal counsel? They did, because they’re serious about this issue and feel strongly about making sure this space serves the community as a whole. Having a website or seeking legal advice shouldn’t invalidate grassroots passion for a solution that works for the St Julien while also honoring the civic intent and enhancing our downtown space.
Reaching the right conclusion will require genuine dialogue, not rushed approvals or dismissals of community input as mere obstructionism. We found it interesting that Mr. Keegan commented only on the current makeup of our organization rather than on the very real issues we’ve brought forward.
Described as “an astroturf group for wealthy condo owners next door,” the residents, in fact, are not the only members of the coalition. The make-up of the coalition is constantly changing as new people add their names to the list through our various outreach efforts. We actually don’t know much more about most coalition members than their names and email addresses. Some people signed on for personal reasons while others represent an interest they have in a business or commercial building nearby.
The St Julien expansion project isn’t a battle between millionaires and progress. It’s a crucial moment for all of Boulder to define what we want on the last piece of civic space in downtown Boulder with views of the Flatirons. Everyone — whether you own or rent, live downtown, in Martin Acres or in Gunbarrel — deserves a seat at the table.
We do agree with Mr. Keegan’s statement, “I encourage the Planning Board and city council to act expediently on proposals to develop the Civic Use Pad into more productive uses for all Boulder residents.” We go further and encourage Mr. Keegan and anyone else to join our coalition and participate in this important dialogue.
Downtown is a tapestry of diverse businesses, cultural amenities, dining and entertainment and public spaces that reflect our values. The decisions we make now will be with us for decades. Let’s come together, listen to one another and collaboratively design a project that truly embodies Boulder’s unique spirit.
Downtown truly is for everyone.
Lifelong Boulder resident Stan Garnett is the co-founding partner of Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes, has been a trial lawyer for more than 42 years and served two terms as the district attorney for Colorado’s 20th Judicial District in Boulder. He represents Protect Boulder Civic Space.
This opinion does not necessarily reflect the views of Boulder Weekly
