Photography starts for historic overlay
4,000 buildings to be digitized

       A project to photograph the Westside's architecture began this week.
       Otis Leroy Woods (who goes by his middle name) began his work in the northeast part of the proposed historic overlay zone - around Uintah and Walnut streets - with hopes of snapping his way past some 4,000 Westside houses and commercial buildings before the leaves get too thick on the trees.
       According to board member Dave Hughes, the digital photos will start being analyzed for historic features this month by volunteers from the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN), which is spearheading the project. OWN members believe that an overlay zone - allowing willing property owners to submit exterior building plans to historic scrutiny - would help preserve classic Westside architecture.
       The proposal still faces public hearings and will eventually need City Council approval.
       For now, the project depends on the strong legs and steady hands of Woods, whose strategy is to park his car and walk up and down streets with his camera, averaging about a minute per shot. Accompanying him is his girlfriend/assistant Krista Kemper, carrying a clipboard and writing down addresses and notes for every house Woods shoots.
       A full-time Atmel maintenance technician for the past nine years, Woods runs his Dragonfly Photos business on the side. Referring to Atmel's seemingly constant layoffs of late, he half-jokingly remarked that photography “is a hobby to keep my sanity.”
       Kemper said she's enjoying the project. “It's a chance to see different homes and styles and everything,” she said.
       Woods came in contact with OWN as a result of meeting board member Kristine Van Wert and her husband, Larry, at a gathering with mutual friends about a year ago. He expressed interest in the project, and was eventually hired after a bidding process (at $1 per building); but Woods wasn't able to start until OWN - with help from the Old Colorado City Historical Society - recently put together the necessary funds to pay him.
       Woods said he has owned a house in Fountain for two years, but lived on the Westside for six years before that, with his son attending Bristol Elementary.
       OWN's proposed overlay area is bounded on the south by Vermijo/Cucharras streets, the west by 30th Street, the north by Uintah Street, and the east by I-25.

Westside Pioneer article