Good Monday morning, Boulder.
Leading the news today: The Boulder City Council is gearing up to vote this Thursday, Jan. 9, on zoning changes designed to address the city’s housing shortage. The proposal would ease restrictions on converting single-family homes into duplexes or triplexes in areas like downtown and near bus routes, all while preserving current size and height limits. Officials estimate the changes could pave the way for thousands of new homes and speed up affordable housing projects by reducing bureaucratic hurdles.
Below the fold: A Boulder structure fire displaces seven residents, driver fatigue is blamed for a tragic New Year’s crash, a controlled slash burn is planned near Nederland, Diagonal Highway construction brings changes to the Monarch Road median, and Boulder begins work on the Valmont Road multi-use path to improve biking and walking connections.
Finally, we’re looking for a contributor to cover Boulder’s dynamic food and drink scene. Interested? Click here to learn more, and reach out to Stacy Feldman at stacy@boulderreportinglab.org to apply.
Have a lovely week,
The BRL team
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Boulder City Council to vote on zoning reforms to boost housing density and affordability
A proposed ordinance could add thousands of housing units across the city by making it easier for property owners to convert single-family homes into duplexes. Restrictions on building footprint would still apply. Continue reading…
Remembering Dan Liston, beloved CU Boulder educator known for grace and kindness
Read obituaries on Boulder Reporting Lab, or submit one for publishing here. Continue reading…
Snowy skies and fresh powder: Chill hits tomorrow
Wrap up your last-minute errands today, because tomorrow will be another great day to stay cozy indoors — or hit the slopes if you’re a skier — as light snow blankets the area and colder weather sets in. Expect partly cloudy skies today with highs near 38. Snow is likely to begin this evening, continue through the night and taper off by late morning, leaving 2-4 inches by dawn and possibly another 1-2 inches early Tuesday. Tomorrow will be even chillier, with highs only reaching the mid-20s. Stay warm!
Structure Fire at 1215 13th Street displaces seven, no injuries reported
An overnight fire at 1215 13th Street in Boulder early Sunday displaced seven CU students and closed the sub shop Half Fast Subs. Boulder Fire-Rescue responded to the structure fire around 3 a.m. on Jan. 5. Crews extinguished the flames by 4:55 a.m.
The building, which houses 17 units primarily for CU students, had only three units occupied at the time, according to Denver 7. No one was inside during the fire, and no injuries were reported. The extent of the damage is still being assessed, and the cause remains under investigation. The Red Cross is assisting displaced students with temporary housing and resources.
Half Fast Subs, located on the building’s first floor, suffered significant water damage and announced on social media that it would be closed indefinitely. The business is working to support its 18 employees. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help cover lost wages.
“Our team will do everything possible to support our staff, but replacing their pay while closed will be challenging,” the business said. Boulder Fire-Rescue also expressed support, writing in a post: “We will be excited to return for sandwiches once you’re open – we love it there!”
Driver fatigue cause of New Year’s Day crash that killed couple
On the morning of Jan. 1, 43-year-old Joshua Gilson and his wife, also 43, died after Gilson reportedly fell asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to roll on Highway 36 at Lefthand Canyon Drive. The Gilsons’ two children, ages 11 and 16, survived the crash with injuries and were transported to the hospital. The family dog, also in the car, was later euthanized at a veterinary clinic due to the severity of its injuries.
“The devastating crash on New Year’s Day is a horrible but poignant example of how lack of sleep can lead to tragic consequences,” Col. Matthew C. Packard, chief of the Colorado State Patrol, said in a statement. “Fatigue physically and mentally impacts the abilities of a driver — it has effects on a driver’s attention span, judgment, coordination and reaction time.”
State troopers report a significant increase in crashes caused by driver fatigue since 2020. Colorado State Patrol crash data shows a 43% increase in fatigue-related crashes between 2023 and 2024, with 56 such crashes reported during that period, KDVR reported.
Reminder: Controlled slash pile burn planned near Nederland today
Boulder County’s Fire Management Program plans to conduct a slash pile burn today, Jan. 6, near Mud Lake and Sherwood Gulch, north of Nederland, as part of ongoing efforts to reduce forest fuel from forestry operations. The burn will proceed only if sufficient snow cover ensures safety, with flames and heavy smoke potentially visible for up to 72 hours. Residents are urged not to call 911, as this is a controlled burn and not an emergency.
Boulder to start work on Valmont Road multi-use path
Boulder is kicking off construction on a new multi-use path near Valmont Road starting today, Jan. 6. The path will connect 61st Street to the South Boulder Creek pedestrian bridge, making it easier for people to walk, bike, and roll between Boulder and Gunbarrel. Expected to wrap up this summer, the project includes a 10-foot-wide path, new signage, signals, a crosswalk at Valmont Road and Butte Mill, and crossings over a ditch and railroad tracks. Check out the project map.
The Valmont Road multi-use path addresses one of several key missing links for non-vehicle travel between Gunbarrel and Boulder. Other projects include new paths on 61st Street and between Andrus Road and Airport Road.
Watch for construction on Diagonal Highway this week; Monarch Road median permanently closes
Friday, Jan. 3, crews began work to permanently close the median where Monarch Road crosses Highway 119/Diagonal Highway. This Friday and Saturday, Jan. 10-11, there will be overnight single-lane closures on the southbound portion of Diagonal Highway between 63rd Street and Monarch Road to shift traffic around construction.
Additionally, from today, Jan. 6, through Friday, Jan. 10, shoulder closures will be in place on CO 119/Diagonal Highway between 157/Foothills Parkway and South Pratt Parkway from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to install construction signs.
The Monarch Road median is being replaced with a right-in/right-out intersection, allowing only right turns, to improve safety and efficiency. In the meantime, drivers can use Niwot Road to access Monarch Road on either side of the highway.
The changes are part of the larger CO 119/Diagonal Highway Safety, Mobility and Bikeway Project. By 2040, vehicle traffic on Diagonal Highway is projected to increase by 25%. The project, a collaboration between state and local agencies, aims to ease traffic and promote alternatives to driving.
In addition to improving intersection safety, the project will:
- Reconfigure the CO 52 intersection to accommodate new bus stations.
- Add a bikeway that will run between the northbound and southbound highways.
- Install new signage to improve pedestrian crossings.
Tad Kline Photography Studio Opening on Pearl Street
Boulder’s Tad Kline Photography is celebrating its move to a new studio on Pearl Street with an opening event on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 4–7 p.m. Located above Japango at 1136 Broadway, Suite 3, the event will feature new works, favorite pieces and art in progress. Guests can enjoy live music, refreshments and a chance to connect with the community. Tad Kline’s portfolio, including his Rolling Steel Canvases series inspired by pop art and historic photography, is available at tadkline.com.
☀️ Explore other events in Boulder and use the self-submission form on our events page to reach thousands in our community — for free! To have your event featured on this list, make sure to submit it to our events calendar.
BLDG 61: Wood Shop Beyond the Basics: Table Saw: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 10:00 a.m., Boulder Public Library, 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Additional dates: Tuesday, Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m., and Saturday, April 19, 9:30 a.m. Read More.
North 30th St Preliminary Design Project – Business Luncheon: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1:00 p.m., Zeal, 3101 Pearl Parkway, Boulder, CO. Attendance limited to 40. Lunch provided. RSVP required. Read More.
Sober Night Live! 105.5 The Colorado Sound Presents: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6:00 p.m.–8:30 p.m., Roots Music Project, 4747 Pearl Suite V3A. Read More.
Kate Fagan – “The Three Lives of Cate Kay,” with Kara Goucher: Tuesday, Jan. 7, 6:30 p.m., Boulder Book Store, 1107 Pearl St. Read More.
Survival Guide to the Ouray Ice Fest: Thursday, Jan. 9, 5:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m., Neptune Mountaineering, 633 South Broadway. Read More.
Boulder Conversations with Extraordinary People: Thursday, Jan. 9, 6:00–8:00 p.m., Museum of Boulder, 2205 Broadway. Additional dates: Thursday, Feb. 13, March 13, and April 10, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Read More.
Riverside Rumba: Afro Latin Cultural Fusion Night: Thursday, Jan. 9, 7:30–10:00 p.m., The Riverside, 1724 Broadway. Read More.
Dario Fo’s A Tale of a Tiger, an adaptation by Ami Dayan: Friday, Jan. 10, 7:30–9:30 p.m., Dairy Arts Center, 2590 Walnut St. Read More.
FREE Community Music Panel & Bluegrass Pick: Saturday, Jan. 11, 6:30 p.m., Macky Auditorium, 1595 Pleasant St. Read More.