The City of Boulder has slapped a closure notice on the Ash House, a private student housing complex at 891 12th St., citing unauthorized modifications that have resulted in the building failing to satisfy safety and code requirements. Approximately 60 students are facing temporary displacement, with 13 needing to seek new permanent accommodation following the discovery that the property owner, 891 12th St LLC, added bedrooms without obtaining necessary city permits.
Students were alarmingly notified this afternoon about the closure. Legal assistance is being mobilized by the University of Colorado Boulder’s Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations Office and Student Legal Services, ensuring those affected have resources at their disposal.
As detailed by the City of Boulder, Brad Mueller, Boulder's director of Planning & Development Services, expressed that "this is an incredibly unfortunate situation, and we truly regret the inconvenience and disruption for renters." He emphasized the paramount importance of safety, stating, "The conditions discovered represent an immediate risk."
The controversial housing unit, once known as Marpa House, was only authorized last year to operate as a facility offering market-rate student rentals consisting of 16 three-bedroom apartments. The city had only approved accommodations for 48 students, with a specially designed parking program enacted to support this number. Despite this, violations including unapproved bedroom additions and non-permitted electrical work came to light, triggering the current closure.
According to the City of Boulder, the owners now face the arduous task of significant "de-construction" to revert the units to their originally permitted condition. Mueller noted, "We recognize the upheaval this causes and will be working with the owner to address the dangerous situation as expeditiously as possible." He also mentioned that the city is exploring further legal action to hold the property owners accountable for the apparent violations.
