WEEK OF JUNE 1, 2023
VOLUME 128 | ISSUE 16
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Elizabeth considers historic district Friday Night Market returns
Meeting set for June 12 as board lays out plan BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
In early 2022, the Town of Elizabeth Historic Advisory Board (HAB) launched a survey to gauge public interest in historic preservation and in creating a historic district for the town — and received an overwhelmingly positive response from town residents and others in the area. Now the HAB has laid out plans for a new historic district, based on more than a year of work updating design and preservation guidelines. On May 8, the HAB held a community meeting to update residents and discuss the benefits of creating a historic district, led by HAB Chair John Quest. As explained, a historic district would: 1. Protect and enhance the identity and character of the town. 2. Protect and enhance property values. 3. Enhance the economy of the town, encouraging marketing and sales opportunities. 4. Expand access to state and federal tax credits. 5. Open up opportunities for certain grants, including facade improvement grants. 6. Enhance the concept of a sense of place. 7. Increase heritage tourism. 8. Revitalize downtown Elizabeth. “We’ve defined a boundary so we can move forward with the idea. We do have some legwork to do to work with the property owners to get their approval. We’ll be working on that this summer,” said Quest. “A lot of the groundwork is in place, we just need to move towards making it happen.” SEE DISTRICT, P2
Elizabeth event will launch season June 9 BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Plans displayed during a May 8 public meeting show a proposed Elizabeth historic district in pink and town historic designated properties in yellow. PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON
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The Friday Night Market is picking back up on June 9 for another year’s live music, food trucks and local vendors. The weekly events will continue through Aug. 18 at Running Creek Park in Elizabeth. The Town of Elizabeth has hosted the weekly Friday Night Market events since 2018 and this year the series is being touted as bigger and better than ever. The Friday Night Market events are family-friendly and people of all ages are welcome. “It is a great opportunity for people in the community to meet and relax over some live music and food. There are many people who attend the event regularly, including those that pride themselves on not missing a single Friday night,” said Patrick Davidson, town administrator. “Generally, even the vendors are there every Friday and form relationships and friendships with their customers. If someone has not been, I would encourage them to go a couple of times and just see how fun and relaxing it can be, particularly if they are new to the community.” In collaboration with the Town of Elizabeth, the Elizabeth Brewing Company also hosts the event. Though the Friday Night Market events started a year before EBC opened its doors, the company is aiming to establish itself in the town and to help host an event that would bring everyone together. SEE MARKET, P4
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