May is Preservation Month

May is Preservation Month! Celebrated by local preservation groups, state historical societies, business, and civic organizations across the country, Preservation Month began as National Preservation Week in May 1973 and in 2005, the National Trust extended it to the entire month of May.

Preservation Month aims to promote historic places and heritage tourism to demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation.

Follow us on Instagram to see posts celebrating Preservation Month and Denver's rich history.

“El Viaje” mural by David Ocelotl Garcia⁠

Housing Density in Denver

Did you know that housing density in Denver’s historic districts is over twice that of the rest of the city? Citywide, not including land at Denver International Airport, housing density is 4.8 housing units per acre, while Denver’s historic districts have 9.8 housing units per acre. Many of Denver's historic districts are zoned to allow two units or Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), while some districts like the Lower Downtown Historic District allow for even more housing. 

In fact, according to Place Economics, many major American cities have greater housing density in their historic districts.

Three buildings designated as individual Denver landmarks so far in 2023

1618 E. 38th Ave.

This Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church is associated with the development of the city, and more specifically the Cole neighborhood. The church embodies the visible characteristics of vernacular Gothic church architecture and promotes an understanding and appreciation of the urban environment by means of distinctive physical characteristics and rarity. 

Learn more >>

618 S. Monroe Way

The Muchow Residence has a direct association with the postwar pattern of development seen in Denver and cities across the United States. The building embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of the Mid-Century Modern style of architecture and was designed by a notable Denver architect, William Muchow. Muchow lived in the home with his family until 1971.

Learn more >>

1741 N. Gaylord St.

The building at 1741 Gaylord Street has direct and substantial association with both Edward Holmes Hurlbut and James and Edith Burger. The structure embodies the distinctive visible characteristics of the Dutch Colonial Revival style of architecture and is a significant example of the work of Gove & Walsh, a prominent Denver architecture firm at the turn of the century.

Learn more >>

Two landmark designations in process

602 S. Harrison Ln.

The Alan Golin Gass House is significant for its association with the post-World War II residential development of Denver. The house is representative of a collection of architects experimenting with housing innovation and promoting new types of residential development in post-war Denver. It embodies the evolution of Modern architecture in Denver after World War II. The structure is also a significant example of the work of Alan Golin Gass. Glass made substantial contributions to the fields of architecture and urban planning in the state of Colorado. 602 S. Harrison Ln. will go before City Council for a public hearing and vote on May 15.

Learn more >>

La Raza Park Historic District

In 2022, we published a historic context study of Denver’s Latino, Chicano, and Mexican-American communities. The historic context identified La Raza Park as a significant site for these communities, one which should be preserved for future generations. La Raza Park has a direct association with historical events and the historical development of Denver’s Northside, from its earliest days as a playground for Denver’s thriving Italian community, to its time as the heart of the growing Chicano Movement in Denver, to its current role as a place of celebration and ceremony for the diverse Latino and Chicano communities that lives in Denver and the surrounding area. Brought forth by Councilwoman Amanda Sandoval, in partnership with Landmark Preservation and Denver Parks & Rec, the designation application will go before City Council for a public hearing and vote on June 26.⁠

Learn more >>

Response to LPC denial of 1335 Grant St. development proposal

We’ve seen recent news coverage of a proposal for 1335 Grant St. and we wanted to share additional context for why this proposal as initially drafted was denied. On May 2, 2023, the Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) reviewed a proposal for a new building at 1335 Grant St. (adjacent to First Baptist Church). The commission reviewed the proposed building to evaluate how it would fit into the Civic Center Historic District. Upon review, they found the building did not fit the specific context of the block, and was too monolithic in its design.

As a result, the LPC denied the project as proposed. However, denials by the LPC, while rare, are accompanied by clear guidance for how a project may better comply with the Design Guidelines for Denver Landmark Structures and Districts so that the applicant may revise their design for better success. 

The vast majority of projects that receive a denial at the LPC review stage end up revising their proposal, having taken the commission’s feedback into account, which results in strong, compatible new designs in Denver’s historic districts. We look forward to the applicant’s revised design, which we anticipate will return to the commission this summer.

About Landmark Preservation