Residents of Boulder can breathe a little easier today with the announcement that the Ash House, a property embroiled in building code violations, has been cleared by city inspectors. According to the City of Boulder, the building at 891 12th St. is no longer a safety concern following rapid actions by the property owners to resolve critical issues.
Following a court hearing on September 20, the push for compliance saw a response from the owners that satisfied city officials, including Brad Mueller, director of Planning & Development Services said, as per the City of Boulder, "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," affirming the necessity of these changes for the safety of student residents, Mueller recognized that while the situation was challenging, it underscored the importance of building codes intended to safeguard Boulder residents.
The Ash House came under scrutiny after the city issued a closure notice on September 16, identifying unauthorized modifications by the property owner. Adding extra bedrooms, which lacked proper permits, land use approval, and life-safety inspections, concerned city building inspectors initially investigating previously permitted construction.
In a resolution that tracks back to the steadfast commitment of both the city and the property's stakeholders to avoiding further legal entanglement, a dismissal of the ongoing lawsuit appears forthcoming, as was detailed in the city's update, this development marks a turn toward normalcy for the students who, until recently, were caught amid a potential housing crisis caused by the property's noncompliance, they now return to a dwelling confirmed fit for habitation.
