Niwot Mural - June 2011

BY KIM GLASSCOCK

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The blank canvas of the west side of the Excel Electric building on Murray Avenue may soon be covered with the vibrant colors of a mural reflecting Niwot’s spirit and heritage – and draw the attention of thousands of passing motorists on the Diagonal Highway.

Informal discussions between Niwot Revitalization Committee members and the current owners of the Excel Electric building have resulted in an agreement to allow a permanent mural to be painted on the building, according to committee member Cotton Burden.

“The owners see this as a benefit for marketing their building,” Burden said at the May 3 Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee meeting. “The building is for sale, and they believe this will help that process.”

Burden said the owners have agreed to a minimum 10-year easement for the mural, with the option to renew it. The easement will be held by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association and the Niwot Business Association.

The mural will be 160 feet long on the southwest side of the Excel Electric building, facing the Diagonal Highway, and wrapping around half of the northeast side of the building.

At the May 3 meeting, LID members recommended funding the mural project. The NCAA and NBA will also raise funds through donations and fundraising projects.

LID member Euvaldo Valdez expressed concerns about using capital improvement funds for the mural project.

“Our downtown streets will need repaving in a year,” he pointed out. “We need to keep that in mind. We may need that money. I can’t support using those funds.”

Burden pointed out that the mural project will help market Niwot, enhance the community and potentially garner media attention. “It will benefit the community,” he said.

LID member Laura Skaggs suggested that reproductions of the mural image could be sold as fundraisers for maintaining the mural. “And it’s art in our town,” she said.

Bids must be solicited for designing and painting the mural, said Pete Salas, Niwot LID liaison from the Boulder County Commissioners. “You have to have at least three proposals,” he said.

Selection of the final artwork and proposal will be based on cost and how the mural artwork would best reflect the heritage and spirit of Niwot, according to the LID funding request from the Niwot Revitalization Committee. Committee members Tony Santelli, Carrie Wise, Dan Hawk, Harris Faberman, Bruce Warren and Burden, along with the building owner, will select the final artwork proposal.

“This mural needs to be eye-catching, and able to be appreciated by drivers going 65 miles per hour,” LID member Carrie Wise said. “I hope to see heads turn as they drive by.”

A request for mural proposals is now being circulated and is available from Burden at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Deadline for submission of bids is June 3, 2011, with the hope that the mural work can be finished this summer.