Lincoln Street in Globeville

Having recently wrapped up work in Jefferson Park, the Discover Denver citywide building survey has begun surveying in Globeville and will move on to Elyria-Swansea next. The recent Globeville and Elyria-Swansea neighborhood plans recommended identifying historic resources and promoting the adaptive use of significant buildings, in order to preserve the neighborhoods' identity and unique character.

 
The area is marked by small residences built between the 1880s and 1930s that served as housing for those working in the nearby stockyards and smelters, as well as small-scale commercial buildings that held local businesses.

Discover Denver is a partnership with the City and County of Denver and Historic Denver, Inc. The survey is gathering information using public records, neighborhood canvassing, academic research, and tips from the public. Findings from the survey will be accessible online so that everyone can learn about Denver's past -- building by building. Learn more at DiscoverDenver.CO.

2857 Stout St.

In October Mayor Michael B. Hancock recognized 16 projects for exterior design, architecture or placemaking. Seven are adaptive reuse or preservation projects, two are city landmarks and four are located in historic districts. See the winners >>

Good Things Come in Small Packages: 2857 Stout St.

2857 Stout St. before

Even though the house at 2857 Stout St. in the Curtis Park Historic District was built in the late 1800s, it is not listed among the district's contributing structures. That's because when the district was created, the clapboard house was in such poor condition that nobody thought it worth preserving. 

Owner Keith Pryor, however, saw beyond the small house's crumbling walls. He declined to sell the property and painstakingly renovated the 600-square-foot home. Now it's a charming and historic reminder of Denver's beginning as a modest mining and railroad town. Mr. Pryor and co-owner John Hayden received the Mayor's Design Award for artfully preserving a piece of Old West history in central Denver. 

Two community-initiated landmark designation applications will come before City Council this month, following nods from the Landmark Preservation Commission. Designation by City Council would protect the buildings from demolition and require design review for major exterior alterations.

Because they are opposed by the property owners, the applications have garnered significant attention. However, these two cases represent a small fraction of the properties reviewed by Landmark Preservation staff this year. 

The city's Landmark Preservation ordinance mandates demolition review to ensure that no undiscovered architectural or historic treasure is destroyed before thoughtful consideration. So far in 2015, Landmark Preservation planners have reviewed more than 600 demolition requests. They identified and posted 34 with designation potential; applications were brought forward for only the two cases detailed below. 

2329 Eliot St.: Council hearing November 16
This 1890s brick, stone and wooden house in Jefferson Park was the home of William W. Anderson, a notorious Denver attorney who shot the publishers of the Denver Post in 1900 over a dispute involving infamous Colorado cannibal Alferd Packer. The LPC found that the property has direct and substantial association with a person who has influence on society (Anderson), and embodies distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style (Queen Anne). Learn more in the staff report (PDF).

5115 W. 29th Ave.: Council hearing November 30
This large, white Denver Square stands on a hill at 29th Avenue and Zenobia Street in West Highland. It was designed by prolific Denver architect Richard Phillips and built in 1918. The LPC found that the property embodies an architectural style (Denver Square), is a significant example of the work of a recognized architect (Phillips), and is distinctive in its relative size and prominent hilltop location, making it an orienting feature in the neighborhood. Learn more in the staff report (PDF).

Larry Nelson in the Epworth Church

On October 28 at its annual dinner, Historic Denver, Inc. honored five rehabilitation projects with its Community Preservation Award. See photos and descriptions of the winners at historicdenver.org.

Each building is protected by virtue of being a city landmark or located in a local historic district. Four of the five buildings were vacant or largely vacant in recent years. They were brought back to life thanks to inspired property owners and design teams, and stand as shining examples of the value of local historic preservation.

The Bosler House at 3209 W. Fairview

When the LPC adopted design guidelines for the city's historic districts in 2014, it pledged to continually evaluate and revise them to ensure they continue to protect historic properties, are user-friendly and are flexible where appropriate. 

The LPC is now proposing revisions to the guidelines, as well as the adoption of character-defining features for four historic districts: Alamo Placita, Morgan's Subdivision, Witter-Cofield and Wyman. (It has already adopted character-defining features for eight other historic districts.) 

 
The LPC uses these character-defining features in combination with the design guidelines to perform design reviews of projects in specific historic districts, and to ensure that new construction is compatible with the unique character of each district. A public hearing on all of the above is slated for December 15. More>> 

On October 20, the Landmark Preservation Commission adopted improvements to the design review process that clarify the process and rules for customers. The updated rules involve pre-application requirements for design review and the two-step process for infill construction. The newly adopted rules (PDF) will go into effect December 1, 2015.

One change formalizes the participation of registered neighborhood organizations (RNOs) for large projects. In areas where RNOs have design review committees, any landmark or historic district project involving infill construction, pop-tops and/or accessory dwelling units will be required to meet with the RNO design review committee. RNOs that wish to participate must have (or must establish) design review committees and must take part in annual training to ensure members are up to speed on the design review process and the applicable design guidelines.

In support of this change, Landmark Preservation staff will create a guide explaining the process for customers as well as RNOs. The guide is slated for review and adoption at the LPC meeting scheduled for December 1.  A draft guide and additional information will be posted here.