Boulder housing provider to remediate Ash House following city closure notices

DENVER (KDVR) — Boulder secured an agreement with the property owners of an off-campus residence known as the Ash House to return the building to approved conditions within two weeks, the city announced Thursday.

However, the city is standing behind its original position that the property is currently presenting life-safety risks to residents. City officials issued notices to tenants of the building, located at 891 12th St., on Sept. 16. The city said the owner had created bedrooms in each apartment unit without city approval.

The city had approved plans presented by the property owners, 891 12th St. LLC., to convert the building into 16 three-bedroom apartments, and all of the apartments were required to meet the city’s current building code. The city said applications were submitted and approved to allow 48 students to live in the building.

However, the city said the closure notices were going to displace approximately 60 student renters. A civil lawsuit was filed to prevent the displacement of those residents, and a hearing was held Friday.

The city said the property owners had acknowledged the life-safety threats at the court hearing. A judge ruled that the residents would be allowed to stay in the Ash House as the city and LLC worked toward an agreement.

On Thursday, the city said it secured such an agreement with the LLC wherein the property owners committed to “addressing current life-safety issues and building code violations at the property and restore it to its approved condition within two weeks.”

“The city has been proactively working with the property owners on a resolution. Our hope is to make this property safe for the students who are living there as quickly as possible,” said Brad Mueller, director of Planning & Development Services, in a release. “We know this has been a disruptive situation for the students and are committed to doing what we can to work toward a fast resolution with the property owners and bring certainty to tenants.”

There is another court hearing scheduled for Oct. 8, which the city said will be held if needed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.