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New Golden Horn ownership seeks redevelopment

Rick Carroll
The Aspen Times
File photo
Rick Carroll/The Aspen Times |

The new owner of the Golden Horn Building is eyeing a major remodel of the downtown Aspen structure, but city officials have concerns about how the new design could impact the right of way in the Mill Street pedestrian mall.

The proposal was set to go before the Aspen Historic Preservation Commission on July 22, but a city planner said Monday the meeting has been postponed until August so that the project’s architectural team can modify the submission.

“Part of the issue with the application is there is a fair amount of encroachment into the right of way where the building sits,” said Jennifer Phelan, planning deputy director of the Community Development Department.



Among the changes proposed for the 59-year-old building are an exterior renovation, expansion of the second floor into the alley and toward Cooper Avenue and an elevator addition.

Net leasable space would increase from the 6,368 square feet to 7,233 square feet under the proposal. The building is two stories above grade, with a subgrade level occupied by the new Maru restaurant, where longtime tenant Taka Sushi once was.




“The proposal is for a renovation to the existing facade of the building, renovation of the interior floor levels, an addition to the upper-level space and an addition of an elevator accessible to each level,” said an April 29 land-use application filed with the city. “As a result of the addition of the elevator, the encroachment in the public right of way would be reduced by eliminating the current ramps and reducing the walkway. The stair leading to the upper level will be eliminated. The existing awning would be renovated to cover the reconfigured walkway.”

Phelan, however, said the elevator would further encroach into the right of way, and city engineers aren’t on board.

Rich Pavcek of Charles Cunniffe Architects is behind the proposal. He couldn’t be reached for immediately for comment Monday.

The building doesn’t have a historic designation, but it sits in the Commercial Core District and is located at the corner of South Mill Street and East Cooper Avenue. The Golden Horn Building houses such tenants as The Meatball Shack and Ajax Bike & Sport.

The building changed ownership in February when a limited liability company, controlled by California real estate investor Benjamin Nazarian, acquired it for $6.65 million from Iowans David F. & Leticia Gordon.

rcarroll@aspentimes.com