HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublic Comment.233 W Bleeker StTo Whom It May Concern, January 11, 2022
Our unusual parents found a true home when they moved to Aspen in 1975. Almost
immediately, Nick and Maggie threw themselves into the local culture, from Nick's invention
animating the Mill Street Fountain, to the Aspen Center for Physics, the future Aspen Art
Museum, the concept of "messy vitality" as the soul of Aspen, the Aspen Science Center,
Pioneer Park, Aspen Journalism and countless other projects. At 45 years, our family may have
owned the property at 233 West Bleeker St. for the longest period in its history. This past
summer, it was time to end the DeWolf chapter in the West Bleeker Street home. How fortunate
for us that John Kao and Katherine Lam are the next family to take up this historic property! We
feel that if Nick and Maggie had lived long enough, they would have hand selected this
wonderful family to be the next valued addition to the Aspen community.
Nick and Maggie were participatory and celebratory. They both firmly believed in preserving
parts of the past but they believed we should always look to the future. The proposed plans we
have seen for the development of the property at 233 West Bleeker Street do just that. The
overall whole is tasteful, interesting and historically relevant. We loved looking at the details of
the restoration of the Victorian and we appreciate how the Victorian is foregrounded visually.
The proposed new structure is carefully harmonious with the historic house. The paint scheme
is classic. We DeWolfs feel John and Katherine are maintaining the true spirit of Aspen with
these plans.
It was quite sad for us to end our time in that home we enjoyed for so long. But Nick and Maggie
themselves would say their time has ended. They would say to be sure to bring in some
interesting people to live in that house; people who have their own statement to make
architecturally; people who will participate in the Aspen community. Katherine Lam has
participated in Aspen off and on for 30 years. John and Katherine have already supported a
variety of philanthropic interests in Aspen. They plan to be part of our community, along with
their children and, one day, perhaps, grandchildren. We DeWolfs are glad to wholeheartedly
support the plans John Kao and Katherine Lam are planning for 233 West Bleeker Street.
Sincerely,
Nicole DeWolf
Ivan DeWolf