HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE Historic Context Statement of Context
Pearl Street Mall is a four block pedestrian mall in downtown Boulder that developed at the height of the national mall movement during the 1970s. It extends from 11th Street to 15th Street and includes the public space from building facade to building facade. It is significant for its association for the works of prominent Boston landscape architecture firm Sasaki Associates, its role in the city for the vision of Carl Worthington and the Boulder Planning Board, and for Commerce and Entertainment/Recreation. The recommended period of significance for Pearl Street Mall of 1966 to 1977 coincides with its master plan development and concludes with the completion of construction in 1977. Pearl Street Mall is within the Downtown Boulder Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 and Downtown Historic District designated by the City of Boulder Landmarks Board and City of Boulder City Council in 1999. Pearl Street Mall is significant as a rare example of the modification of a street designed for vehicular traffic into a linear urban park for public use and enjoyment. It is significant for its association with the works of masters and its importance as a civic space within Boulder. It is one of four pedestrian malls in Colorado and one of seventy-five across the country. 8 Background History Boulder City Town Company was established in 1859 as a supply town after gold was discovered in the mountains outside Nederland, Colorado. The gold discovery led to a boom of miners lining Pearl Street with horse and mule drawn supply wagons as the primary access route to mining operations. Shops and saloons were built along Pearl Street, which created one of the first commerce centers in the area. Streetcars became a popular means of transportation in the early 1900s, first by horses and eventually rail. The automobile quickly replaced the streetcars when Pearl Street became the first paved street in Boulder in 1917. The population of Boulder grew immensely after WWII and the desire of suburban shopping centers became central. In 1963 the first major indoor shopping center was built on the outskirts of east Boulder and became a threat to the shops on Pearl Street. Downtown Boulder, like many urban centers across the country, struggled to maintain economic stability and became associated with crime and decline. In 1963 Pearl Street was temporarily closed to traffic between 11th and 14th Streets to test an outdoor pedestrian mall, which was disassembled after a brief period. The installation made the idea of a pedestrian mall a possibility in downtown Boulder. Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall was envisioned by Carl Worthington and the planning board of Boulder as early as 1966. It was designed by nationally renowned landscape architects Sasaki Associates between 1973 and 1977, with construction beginning in 1976. Pearl Street Mall is a rare example of the mid-century modern style and one of only two pedestrian malls designed during this period within the state of Colorado. The mall is an exemplary example of a mid-century pedestrian mall and is one of a few remaining within the country. Four blocks of Pearl Street, between 11th and 15th Streets were selected for construction as a pedestrian mall by city planners and civic leaders in 1966. Sasaki Associates designed the mall with the ideals of providing a space for pedestrians separate from vehicles and social engagement. After public approval in 1964, Phase 1 commenced construction in June 1976 and was completed and designated a new city park in August 1977. In 1999 Communication Arts was hired by the City of Boulder to design improvements to Pearl Street Mall to accommodate current and future uses. Modifications included widened sidewalks, removal of lawn spaces, updated lighting and signage, and removal of tree planters at Boulder Courthouse to create space for updated infrastructure and gathering spaces. Art sculptures along the mall have changed but have remained a consistent presence for decades.
8 “Pedestrian malls in the United States,” Wikipedia, accessed March 30, 2023, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedestrian_malls_in_the_United_States.
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