By Shannon Lukens.
Pictured, James Hanley with HPM Development, Andy Weynand is the Director of Finance and Operations for the Steamboat Mountain School. , and Andrew Balvanz is with Design Build Steamboat. They have followed the reconstruction and rebuilding of the Selbe House since the beginning.
The historic Selbe House is ready to be a happy home again.
The house was built in 1938, and it was in downtown Steamboat Springs, at 6th and Oak. But it had to be moved to make way for the new Routt County Health and Human Services building. The county had a contest to see who wanted it and the Steamboat Mountain School won.
That was back in March of 2021.
Then on July 13, 2021, the big move happened. The Selbe house was loaded on a trailer very early in the morning, and driven up to the Steamboat Mountain School property, to become employee housing. Routt County donated the house and paid $25,000 for the move.
Historic Routt County was also involved in the process, and advocating for the preservation of the Selbe House.
There it sat until James Hanley with HPM Development and Andrew Balvanz with Design Build Steamboat took on the project to make the very old log cabin house livable again. They’ve been working hard to redo and remodel it.
Chancie Keenan with Mountain Architecture help drew the new house plans.
Hanley grew up in Steamboat Springs. He helped oversee all of the details of the big project for the Selbe House.
“When Steamboat Mountain School approached me with it, it was something that I felt very passionate about in being able to preserve a legacy that he left in downtown as well as a legacy he left for a world-renowned private school.”
Hanley said the details include the same hardware and door knobs from the original house.
The front door is the same, just repainted red and it will get a new front screen.
The hardwood floors are original and have been refinished.
There is a full basement now with two more bedrooms and a bathroom.
The backyard has room for garden plots.
The windows are in the same place, but they are all now double paned for efficiency.
Original insulation was removed and replaced with foam insulation sprayed in all of the walls and attic to provide maximum energy retention. LED lighting is installed throughout. There is all new wiring, new plumbing, a new roof, and new roof structure. There is a full chef’s kitchen.
The original rock chimney was unable to be saved, but the new one is in the same location as the original stone fireplace, and it was rebuilt to maintain its historical value. It is in the same spot on the outside, but the fireplace has been replaced with a modern gas stove.
Andy Weynand is the Director of Finance and Operations for the Steamboat Mountain School.
“We looked at it as an opportunity to create additional housing for our faculty. So being able to create a four-bedroom, two-bath house for one of our faculty out of an historic house was just an opportunity we couldn’t pass up.”
Now the Selbe House is ready for the Director of Culinary Services and her family to move in this weekend. It leaves another house on campus vacant which the school nurse will take.
July 13, 2021 — HISTORIC SELBE HOUSE MAKES THE MOVE FROM DOWNTOWN STEAMBOAT
July 6, 2021 — SELBE HOUSE IS ON THE MOVE TUESDAY, JULY 13
March 30, 2021 — SELBE HOUSE TO MOVE TO STEAMBOAT MOUNTAIN SCHOOL CAMPUS
Press release from Steamboat Mountain School; Oct. 17, 2023.
Steamboat Mountain School Selbe House, Move-in Ready
Steamboat Springs, Colo. – In 2020, the Selbe House, a historical home that was once situated on Oak Street was awarded to Steamboat Mountain School. In 1938, Local master builder Art Gumprecht erected the cabin. Routt County purchased the property in 1996 with plans to develop it in 2020. Historic Routt County (HRC) stepped in to advocate for its preservation, leading to the decision to relocate it it to Steamboat Mountain School for the purpose of employee housing. As part of the relocation process to
their Mountain Campus, Steamboat Mountain School took the initiative to enhance the cabin. The entire project reached completion this year and is move in ready as of October 16th, 2023. A few facts regarding the renovation and preservation of this historic Steamboat home:
● All original insulation was removed and corbond spray foamed insulation was sprayed in all walls and attic to provide maximum energy retention. All single pane windows had to be removed as many were broken in the move and replaced by modern double pane windows for efficiency. The school kept with the double hung style to maintain historic accuracy. LED lighting throughout with LP hot water and stove for efficiency. All new wiring, new plumbing, a new roof and roof structure were installed.
● The original structure was lifted off the semi basement at 6th street and placed on a new full basement. The original stairs to the basement were replaced to allow for a full chef’s kitchen to be installed. An addition was added to the back of the house for a sun/breakfast nook and second exit to the outside. This is now one of the largest houses on campus and fills the need for faculty housing.
● The upstairs original house layout was maintained. Historic Routt County donated $10,000 to rebuild the original river rock chimney. This was expanded to become the architectural centerpiece of the house and now runs the full 2 1/2 stories. The original fireplace was replaced with a modern gas stove.
● James Hanley, HPM Development and Andrew Balvanz, Design Build Steamboat, both lifelong Steamboat residents, were selected as the contractors and are to be commended for their courage and willingness to tackle such a complex project. Hanley toured the original house at 6th street and advised on the feasibility of the move. Both were involved from the beginning and they managed the crane move to the new foundation and the full finish of the house.
● Chancie Keenan with Mountain Architecture drew the new house plans and advised throughout construction.
● Routt County donated the house as well as $25,000 to move the house to campus. They also funded the asbestos and lead paint mitigation.
● The Steamboat Mountain School Board of Trustees have supported the idea since the beginning, specifically, Johnny Spillane and Sue Cpariola who have been involved throughout the entire process.