Peel House Renovation on the Old North End
CRP’s very own Bruce Smith has been working with First Lutheran Church on a $3.6 million dollar renovation of the 1905 Colorado Springs mansion. This project will greatly benefit the larger community and leave a lasting impact.
“Background: The mansion was built in 1906 by William Kennon Jewett who was the early 1900’s owner of the Patty Stuart Jewett Memorial Field/Golf Course, named in honor of his wife after her death. The yellow brick of the 15-room Italian Renaissance mansion was brought to Colorado Springs from Philadelphia and the red roof tiles from Chicago. The Jewett’s named the property “Mira de Flowers.”
In 1927, the Jewett property was sold to the Giddings family, proprietors of the Tejon Street Giddings Department store. The property stood empty for about 10 years when First Lutheran Church purchased it in 1958. The mansion was renamed the Parish House in 1966 and underwent several modifications over the years. In 1996 it was struck by lightning causing extensive damage.
In 2016 First Lutheran Church hired local CRP Architects to assess the condition of the building, cost for renovations and begin design. The capital fundraising campaign titled “Rekindle the Gift,” launched in 2019. More than $3.6 million has been committed by the First Lutheran Church Colorado Springs congregation in a three-year capital campaign, making the renovation project debt-free.
Groundbreaking for construction of the renovations took place in October 2020 led by contractor Nunn Construction. Work included an updated mechanical/electrical system, addition of an elevator and stairs for accessibility, modernized restrooms, kitchen/catering facilities, new environmental windows, and extensive interior space renovations. The project was completed in early August 2021 with a ribbon cutting and rededication event planned for 1 p.m., Sunday, August 22.”
(Snippet from the First Lutheran Church Press Release)