The Westside may be the best side. But that will get you an argument.

There are few neighborhoods in Colorado Springs, however, as well-documented for historic value than the Westside, otherwise known as Old Colorado City.

True, the Old North End is right up there, along with the Weber-Wahsatch historic area.

But imagine this: Westsiders spent $4,000 to photograph all 3,600 homes. Then dozens of volunteers spent years studying the photos, cataloguing each house, its architectural style, unique characteristics, its El Paso County Assessor’s property number and more to create a database.

Now, based on that research, the city has issued a 127-page document, the Historic Westside Design Guidelines.

 It is part history book, part architectural text and a how-to manual for anyone remodeling a house built before about 1955.

 There is page after page of photos showing how to enlarge a house and stay true to the historic nature of the neighborhood. It shows tips on reroofing historic houses. Or adding gables. Or porches. You get the idea.

Dave Hughes in a 2007 file photo.

 Kudos for the document go to Dave Hughes and Old Colorado City Historical Society .

Also, Kristine Van Wert and the Organization of Westside Neighbors.

I’ve written several Side Streets columns about the effort. Here’s a link to my first column on the subject in 2004.

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