A court has intervened in a historic designation case pitting a new Denver city councilman against a Jefferson Park homeowner and a developer, delaying a city preservation hearing that was set for Tuesday.
Councilman-elect Rafael Espinoza is part of a group seeking designation for a 1880s-era Queen Anne-style house at 2329 Eliot St., against the wishes of owner James Sonnleitner. Sonnleitner hopes to sell that home and one next door to a developer planning 18 townhomes. But historic designation would prevent demolition.
After a court hearing Thursday, Denver District Judge Bruce Jones issued a temporary order staying the Landmark Preservation Commission’s designation process while a lawsuit proceeds, said Wendy Aiello, a spokeswoman for Adams Development LLC. The commission’s agenda for Tuesday says the matter has been postponed indefinitely.
The lawsuit pressed by Sonnleitner and Adams Development contends that Espinoza misused his status to file his group’s designation application past the deadline.
But city e-mails say officials accepted the application, and rescinded an earlier “certificate of non-historic status” that would have allowed demolition, because Espinoza raised valid questions about uncertainty over the deadline in a city ordinance. He will join the council July 20.
Jon Murray: 303-954-1405, jmurray@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JonMurray
