Preservation’s Role in
Changing Economy
Along with our shifting demographics, Colorado’s economic profile is also changing. This section looks at the role that historic preservation plays in supporting two important changing economic trends— the rise of creative communities and the increasing popularity of coworking.
Creative Communities One major economic trend over the past thirty years has been the movement away from an economy based on manufacturing toward one based on creating ideas, new concepts, and innovation. Often referred to as the “creative” economy, the growth of knowledgebased industries will likely continue. With its high quality of life, Colorado is well-positioned to attract creative professionals, who are highly skilled and educated and typically have choices in where to live. Most cities and towns are looking for ways to attract “creatives,” who bring good incomes and energy both of which help strengthen communities, as well as a wealth of ideas for adapting historic buildings, such as the Loveland Feed and Grain (pictured on page 11). Other examples in Colorado include Trinidad’s Space to Create and the Carbondale Creative District. Programs that provide funding and technical assistance to seed and foster creative industries have sprung up statewide, often in areas with a high concentration of historic buildings, prized for their ability to create a unique community identity. National and state programs are helping communities achieve the intersection of goals combining historic preservation and economic development. While the term “creative” is often used broadly to refer to this new knowledge-based economy, it is also used to refer more directly to arts and culture. The state helps communities develop this segment of the creative economy through the Colorado Creative District Program, administered by Colorado Creative Industries (CCI), a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development. Partnered with the Boettcher Foundation, CCI offers select districts technical assistance tailored to their community, networking and training program opportunities, as well as access to grant funding and advocacy tools. A creative district is defined by several key elements: a concentration of arts and cultural organizations and creative enterprises; complementary non-arts businesses, such as restaurants, offices, retail, housing and lodging; and a contiguous area that includes a mix of uses within its boundaries. Studies show that creative industry workers do not follow the traditional model of moving to a place for employment opportunities; instead, these often self-employed professionals are more likely to 39
TRINIDAD CORAZON DE TRINIDAD CREATIVE DISTRICT “Space to Create, Colorado” is the first state-driven initiative in the country focused on creating affordable housing, commercial space, and work space for arts organizations and artists—especially in rural, small town, and mountain communities. The project is the result of an innovative partnership led by Colorado Creative Industries (a division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development). This effort aims to position Colorado as one of the premier leaders in artist-led community transformation specifically targeting rural communities. Space to Create’s selection criteria for new communities look specifically for availability of historic buildings for adaptive use.
