by Osman Parvez
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On August 3rd, the city of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) began taking bids for 131-year-old Woodley Farmstead off 75th and Arapahoe. In 2005, the city bought the thirteen-acre property for $1.26 million. Sealed, public bids will be taken through September 3oth, starting at $750,000 for a six-acre portion of the farm.

It was recently written up in the Daily Camera:

City officials want to put just under half the original parcel it bought back into private hands to better ensure the historic farm house and outbuildings there are maintained and preserved…

The farmstead includes a 2,000-square-foot farmhouse, constructed with thick limestone walls, a two-car garage, milk house, chicken coop, two barns, silo and fenced pastures. A portion of one of the barns was built using old bench seats from Gamble Field, the original home of the University of Colorado’s football team. Old seat numbers are still visible on some of the barn’s walls.

Before purchased by OSMP, the property was owned by 85-year-old Celeste Woodley.

…in 2005, while Woodley was applying for a historic landmark status with Boulder County, she learned the city’s open space program was interested in her farm because of it proximity to already protected open space along nearby Dry Creek.

The city leased the home back to Woodley until 2007, when she moved to a retirement home. The landmark guidelines allow for a 2,500-square-foot addition to the farmhouse. However, the farm is protected from being significantly altered or demolished.

More information, as well as pictures, can be found at the city of Boulder website.

image: City of Boulder
research: Evan

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