Nederland, landlord eye rebuild while working to help businesses recover from fire
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Caribou Village Shopping Center in Nederland on Oct. 10. Photo: Matthew Jonas/MediaNews Group/Boulder Daily Camera via Getty Images
The landlord of the building destroyed in Nederland's downtown fire earlier this month is working to temporarily relocate businesses before ski season and says tenants will get first dibs on any rebuilt space.
Why it matters: The blaze wiped out a central strip mall that housed about 20 local businesses in the heart of the mountain town.
Catch up quick: The fire started in the south stretch of the Caribou Village Shopping Center early on the morning of Oct. 9.
- The fire remains under investigation, but officials said there is so far no evidence of arson.
The latest: Nederland town administrator Jonathan Cain told Axios Boulder the town has extended its emergency declaration, allowing him to expedite certain review and approval processes to get tenants back on their feet.
- "We've been helping folks trying to find spaces and connecting the dots so people can start rebuilding their livelihoods," Cain told us.
Driving the news: Tebo Properties, which owns the building, has refunded tenants' security deposits and prepaid rent so they have flexibility to relocate temporarily, CEO James Dixon told Axios Boulder.
- Tebo plans to relocate some tenants to the former Black Forest restaurant building at 24 Big Springs Drive, which the company is currently renovating for multiple tenants.
- Cain told Axios Boulder some businesses are also looking at temporarily relocating to the Eldora ski area.
Where they're going: Claudia Schauffler, owner of clothing store The Shop, said tenants would love to reopen in time for ski season, but noted that some businesses are more adaptable.
- Schauffler told us she's received donations and can start selling if she is able to reopen in the Black Forest spot as planned.
- Tadasana Yoga lost its studio space, but has already held classes at Eldora and the Nederland community center.
- Meanwhile, Very Nice Brewing Company has a second site in Gilpin, while Wild Bear Nature Center was in the thick of moving to a new facility off Peak to Peak Highway.
What they're saying: But while the interim plan is to relocate, Dixon told us the long-term vision is to rebuild and keep as many of the local businesses as possible.
- "I have committed to all the tenants that if they want a spot in a new building, they will have one," Dixon said.
- Schauffler said that reassurance has helped provide hope for owners: "They told us right up front, 'We're going to rebuild, we want your input.' There was something to look forward to."
What's next: Cain said the town is in discussions with Tebo Properties about demolition, but first needs to allow business owners and insurance investigators to enter the burn site.
- Cain said the site remains unsafe but that the town is trying to move quickly so business owners can retrieve belongings.
The big picture: Schauffler, who at age 75 has operated The Shop in Caribou Village for a decade, said she hopes the new building will be complete in time for her to reopen and pass the business on.
- But while Cain said Tebo's promise to rebuild is "a great thing for Nederland," the town administrator urged patience: "I am looking forward to that process, but we are still in the healing process right now, and were not quite to that part yet."