The Denver Landmark Preservation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to reject an application by a University of Colorado student requesting historic status for the old Gates Rubber Co. property.

The commission approved a study by its staff — which did not recommend landmark designation because of “low preservation potential,” including high levels of contaminants — and forwarded the matter to the City Council.

Eugene Elliott, a senior at CU, paid a $250 fee in June, seeking landmark designation for three surviving buildings at the Gates complex, even though he doesn’t own the property and did not consult with Gates Corp., neighborhood associations or City Council before the filing.

Asked his reaction to the vote at Tuesday’s public hearing, Elliott rushed from the room, saying: “I think it’s clear. I don’t wish to talk.”

After a failed redevelopment of the site by Cherokee Denver, Gates took back the long-abandoned property at Interstate 25 and Broadway in 2009. It hopes to demolish the crumbling, graffiti-marred buildings, conduct an environmental cleanup, and build offices and residential units.

Elliott’s action temporarily derailed those plans, angering neighborhood associations and Councilman Chris Nevitt, within whose district the property lies.

The commission had found Elliott’s application acceptable and scheduled the public hearing, although applications by non-owners rarely succeed.

Elliott spoke at the hearing, as did Gates executive vice president Tom Reeve and more than a dozen citizens. Some residents spoke of Gates’ long history in the community and ties to their families, and their hopes of saving the buildings. Others called the site an eyesore with dangerous levels of contamination after decades of manufacturing of tires, hoses, belts and other automotive products.

Commission chairman Dennis Humphries said the non-historic designation “does allow for options to come forward in the future that may save or allow reuse of some of these buildings.”

Annie Levinsky, executive director of Historic Denver, said her group doesn’t support historic designation of the site because of environmental concerns but is working with Gates on some preservation ideas, including possible reassembly of the water tower.

“If council agrees with the non-historic status,” she said, “there will be a five-year window in which demolition could occur without further review. But there’s no reason to rush demolition, and the owner could still get a legitimate offer from a developer who has a solution that would allow keeping some of the structures.”

John Mossman: 303-954-1479, jmossman@denverpost.com