City of Boulder officials announced on Friday, Oct. 4, that the owner of the Ash House, a student apartment building on University Hill, has removed unpermitted bedrooms added earlier this year. With these changes, the property is now compliant with city building codes, resolving a legal dispute that prompted the displacement of dozens of students last month.
On Sept. 16, the city ordered tenants to vacate the Ash House apartment complex after discovering that the property owner, 891 12th St LLC, had added bedrooms without permits, posing potential safety hazards. The owner subsequently sued the city, and a Boulder District Court judge issued an order allowing the students to return. The owner agreed to remove the unauthorized bedrooms to bring the building into compliance with city permits.
The city and property owner filed a stipulation in Boulder County District Court on Oct. 4 to dismiss the lawsuit, with both parties agreeing to pay their own attorneys’ fees.
“We are pleased at the quick progress the property owners made to remove the life-safety violations at Ash House and restore the building to its originally approved condition,” Brad Mueller, director of Planning & Development Services, said in a news release. “These changes were essential to making the property safe for the students who are living there. While we know this has been a challenging time for the students, our building code exists to help ensure Boulder community members are as safe as possible in their homes.”
Earlier this year, the property owner installed new walls and doors in 13 of the building’s 16 units. Students told Boulder Reporting Lab that three-bedroom units were converted into four, with some renters not listed on the lease. As a result, about a dozen students will not be allowed to return to the apartment building, highlighting the lasting disruption caused by the ordeal.