The Derelict Building Dilemma

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Historic buildings listed on the city’s Neglected and Derelict Building list.
The Derelict Building Dilemma
Annie Levinsky, Executive Director
Almost every neighborhood has one, the building or home you walk by and wonderwhy is no one caring for that structure? In some cases the neglect is benign, an absent owner
or lack of funds cause deferred maintenance to pile up. In other cases, an owner intentionally allows a property to fall into disrepair in order to develop the site in some other way.
Fortunately, in some cases while these properties appear rough around the edges a new
owner or new investment quickly recovers them. Unfortunately for others, chronic vacancy,
foreclosure, or critical lack of resources goes on for years and even decades. Continued
deterioration and vacancy then become serious threats to the structure, and many begin to
think demolition is the only answer. What are the tools and resources in these situations?
Currently, the city has 134 properties on the Neglected & Derelict Building List, which
is maintained and published by Neighborhood Inspection Services. Approximately 12% of
the properties on the list are historic properties, designated either as contributing to a historic district or as individual landmarks. Specifically, there are two properties in the WitterCofield Historic District, two in Clements Historic District, five in the combined Curtis Park
Districts, two in the Baker Historic District, two in Alamo Placita Historic District, and one
in the Driving Park Historic District. Two individually designated landmarks are also currently on the list.
In an educational pamphlet on the issue the National Trust for Historic Preservation
recommends cities include, in local ordinance, provisions for preventing both passive and
intentional neglect of historic properties. The Trust notes it is important for local laws to
allow the local government to take action to make repairs and then charge those costs back
to the owner by placing a lien on the property. Conversations among preservationists over
the last several years have sought to understand whether Denver has the necessary tools to
prevent demolition by neglect and remedy historic properties that fall into disrepair.
The primary regulatory tool that can be applied in the City of Denver resides in Chapter
10 of the Revised Municipal Code. The purpose of Chapter 10 “is to prevent any building or property in the City of Denver from becoming or remaining neglected or derelict.”
Situations that can lead to action by the city include past or present code violations, unsafe
structural conditions, vacancy for a period of more than three consecutive months with no
apparent signs or permits for construction, unpaid taxes for a period of one year, or property
that has become a nuisance to the neighborhood, and most significant for Historic Denver’s
purposes, a historic property that is not being preserved in accordance with Chapter 30, the
Landmark Ordinance.
As outlined in Chapter 10, an owner is provided notice of a violation of Chapter 10, and
their property can be placed on the Neglected and Derelict Building list. The owner must
then provide a remedial plan within ten days of the notice. The remedial plan must include
all work necessary to make the building compliant with the building code, and include deadlines for performing the work. A remedial plan for a historic property may not include the
demolition of the structure unless approved by the Landmark Commission, or in the case of
LoDo, the Lower Downtown Design Review Board. Over the last few years the Landmark
Commission has denied more than one demolition application for buildings cited as derelict
and required the owners to provide a different remedy.
If no remedial plan is submitted, or the remedial plan is not adequate, the city requires
the owner to show cause as to why enforcement action should not be taken. A show cause
hearing is scheduled, and notice again provided to the owner. The owner can elect to attend
or not attend, and at the hearing the Manager of Community Planning & Development, or
their designee, determines whether the violation occurred, identifies any mitigating circumstances, and sets the amount of any civil penalties. Penalties can range up to $999.00 for
each day the property is found to be in violation of Chapter 10. In setting the amount of the
penalties the Manager considers the history of violations, whether the owner was deliberate
or negligent, whether the structure is a historic property, the gravity of the violation, and
any good faith efforts by the owner to achieve compliance. If the assigned penalties are not
remitted by the owner with 30 days, the City has the authority to send them to collections,
file for injunctive relief in district court, and file and foreclose on liens.
At this point, court actions that can be taken include an injunction ordering the owner
to take action to correct the condition, or the appointment of a receiver to take possession
and control of the property and perform the work required to abate the violation. The costs,
continued on page 5
Denver, CO
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Historic Denver, Inc.
1420 Ogden Street
Denver, CO 80218
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Historic Denver News
from the
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Photo: Havey Productions
Historic Denver’s Board of Trustees
provides the organization with invaluable
service, from committed volunteer support,
thoughtful advice and guidance, professional
services and connections, a non-profit organization cannot achieve its goals without
this group of individuals. Each year our
Annual Dinner in October brings with it
the bittersweet activity of saying goodbye
to board members who have completed
their term, and welcoming others about
to begin. This year is particularly bittersweet as we are saying farewell to a
large and committed class of trustees who
have completed two three-year terms each.
Beginning their service in 2007, this group
of ten has seen the organization through
the Great Recession, leadership changes,
our 40th Anniversary, the creation of
Denver Story Trek, the ground work for
Discover Denver, the impact of the 100th
Anniversary of the Titanic on the museum,
and many significant advocacy efforts,
from negotiations over the University of
Colorado Health Sciences Campus, to
ordinance revisions, from several historic district designations to saving Seton
House and Cathedral High School.
Among this group are citizen advocates who have helped make the preservation voice heard, architects and engineers
who have advised on key design issues on
historic structures across the city, museum
experts, and historians. Each of these
board members personally demonstrated
that Historic Denver is made of people
who love Denver, and their countless
hours of service have strengthened and
sustained the organization. I want to personally thank Margy Anderson, Katrina
Benes, Anne Bond, Fabby Hillyard, Jim
Kroll, David Pfeifer, Mark Sheldon, Peggy
Toal, Rosemary Stoffel, and Elizabeth
Walker.
Filling the seats of this venerable class
are five new board members with a passion for Denver, and an understanding of
the way our historic resources contribute
to our community. First up alphabetically is Elaine Asarch. Elaine is an interior
designer by training, a painter by passion,
and founder of Asarch Center Derrmaspa
at Asarch Center for Dermatology. Elaine
earned her BA at the University of Iowa
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Historic Denver Inc.
and studied Anthropology and public spaces at the University of Colorado
Denver campus. She has been active
with the Riverfront Foundation, the
Rose Foundation, the Colorado Steering
Committee for Harvard’s Women’s Studies
in Religion Program and is a member of
the Art Students League of Denver. Elaine
became actively involved in Denver’s
Parks & Recreation program after serving
on then Mayor Hickenlooper’s transition team, where she promoted and ultimately led the creation of the Civic Center
Conservancy. Through her work with the
Conservancy she has learned the value of
preservation first-hand, and her interest
and dedication to continuing this work
citywide has only increased.
Continuing the organization’s longtime relationship with the Holland &
Hart law firm, Bob Bassett is a mining and
natural resources lawyer who also teaches
law at the University of Denver, College of
Law Masters Degree program in international mining law and policy. He relocated
to his native Denver after spending much
of his career in Greeley, where he served
as the board chair of Community Radio of
Northern Colorado. He has a deep interest in history and music, and earned his
undergraduate degree in music. As a student he also helped list Denver’s FlowerVaile Mansion on the National Register of
Historic Places. He lives in Congress Park
with his wife.
Georgi Contiguglia is no stranger to
Historic Denver, having served as the
Curator of the Molly Brown House
Museum in the 1980s. She subsequently worked in several leadership roles at
History Colorado (formerly the Colorado
Historical Society), ultimately serving as
President and CEO from 1997 to 2007.
In that role she oversaw the operations
and programs of History Colorado’s
twelve museums statewide, the Office of
Archaeology and Historic Preservation,
and the State Historical Fund. She also
served as Colorado’s State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO), from 1998
to 2008. She is well versed in museum
operations, and twice served as a member
of the Board of the American Alliance
of Museums. Since her retirement from
History Colorado, she has been teaching Art History in the state’s community
college system and at the Academy for
Lifelong Learning. She serves as co-chair
of the State Capitol Advisory Committee
and is a member of Colorado’s State and
National Historic Preservation Review
Boards and the Colorado Scenic and
Historic Byways Commission.
Our popular One Past 5 Happy Hour
program has also produced several active
board members, including Kaydee Myers,
who has volunteered for the organization for the past two years. Kaydee is a
real estate and land use attorney at Otten
Johnson Robinson Neff + Ragonetti PC.
She represents commercial, residential,
industrial and mixed-use real estate owners and developers in all stages of development, including acquisitions, land use
entitlements, property management and
dispositions. Kaydee stays up-to-date on
infill development in Denver, and she seeks
out opportunities to work with developers
that are finding innovative ways to blend
development with the historic character of Denver’s neighborhoods. Kaydee
graduated from the University of Kansas
with degrees in Journalism and Spanish.
She earned her Juris Doctorate from the
University of Colorado. Kaydee is an
active member of the Junior League of
Denver and CREW: Commercial Real
Estate Women. She lives in a 1911
Congress Park Denver Square with her
husband and dog.
Having grown up just down the street
from the Richtofen Castle, Judi Tointon
has always had an interest and passion for
historic places. Judi is a Colorado native
with deep roots in the community. She is
a current board member of the Country
Club Historic Neighborhood, where she
has lived in a 1907 home for fifteen years.
She graduated from the University of
Colorado with degrees in business finance
and Spanish and has worked in residential
real estate for 23 years. She is particularly
excited to help Historic Denver find ways
to share the impact of its work and mission.
After their induction at the Annual
Dinner this new class will join twenty-two remaining board members for a
full board of twenty-eight individuals.
Also at the dinner, current chair Mike
Coughlin will pass the reigns to incoming chair Karen Brody. An attorney with
Lowe, Fell, Skogg, Karen has been on
the board since 2009 and has served on
the Executive Committee for two years.
Architect Dennis Humphries will serve as
Vice-Chair and treasurer Mira Fine will
continue in that role for another year.
I hope all our supporters will have
the opportunity to meet our Trustees and
share your passion for Denver’s historic
places during the coming year.
Annie Levinsky
Executive Director
Historic Denver, Inc.
Historic Denver, Inc.
1420 Ogden Street
Denver, CO 80218
303.534.5288
www.historicdenver.org
Board of Trustees
Michael Coughlin
Karen Brody
Mark Sheldon
Mira Finé
Chair
Chair-Elect
Vice-Chair
Treasurer
Margy Anderson
Katrina Benes
Anne Wainstein Bond
Paul Books
Mark Davidson
Stephen Ekman
Jim Hatfield
Dennis Humphries
James Kroll
Tom Lorz
Carla McConnell
Casey Miller
Chris Murata
Richard Murray
Robert Musgraves
Larry Nelson
Jackie Noble
Jonathan Pray
Robert Sarlo
Rosemary Stoffel
Kendra Sandoval
Taylor Swallow
Margaret Toal
Elizabeth Walker
William Wenk
Ian Wolfe
HD Central Office
Executive Director Annie Levinsky x1
Outreach Coordinator
Sophie Bieluczyk x5
Director of Preservation Program
John Olson x4
Manager of Discover Denver
Jessica Ugarte x3
Preservation Programs Assistant
Becca Dierschow x6
Preservation Advice
and Referrals
A Program of Historic Denver 303.534.5288 x 6
Molly Brown
House Museum
1340 Pennsylvania St.
Denver, CO 80203
303.832.4092
www.mollybrown.org
Director of Operations Andrea Malcomb x15
Director of Education Jamie Melissa Wilms x17
Curator of Collections Nicole Roush x12
Volunteer and Event Coordinator
Katie Anderson x16
Historic Denver News
Managing Editor
Sophie Bieluczyk
Graphic Design
Printing
Mailhouse
303.534.5288 x5
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Southeast Denver Graphics
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Historic Denver News welcomes your letters,
contents of which may be edited for length and
clarity. Please include your name, address and
telephone number in correspondence to:
Editor, Historic Denver News,
1420 Ogden Street, Denver, CO 80218
fall
2013
Preservation
Briefs
to utilize the earlier 2011 Historic Structure Assessment as a guide to address the most
urgent issues affecting the DWPC/Burr House. These urgent issues are focused on sealing
the building envelope to stop water infiltration, increase energy efficiency and prevent
material deterioration. The scope of work in this project focuses on the exterior masonry
and windows.
In order to ensure on-going stewardship of the clubhouse and provide clear instructions for its volunteer owners, the DWPC has also included the development of a maintenance plan. By hiring a professional architect to identify annual maintenance tasks and
key observation checklists, the club’s volunteers will be better prepared to understand and
care for the historic structure in the future.
With all of this in mind, next time you are driving north on Logan look a little to your
left and hopefully you will see some activity, which will mark further progress at one of
the many historic jewels we have here in Denver.
Denver Woman’s Press Club
By John Olson, Director of Preservation Programs
Have you ever noticed that picturesque little building on the west side of Logan,
just north of 13th, and in the middle of a sea of parking? Well, if you were driving too
fast to catch the name over its front door, it is the Denver Woman’s Press Club (DWPC).
Founded in 1898, DWPC has provided literary and educational programming to Denver
and Colorado for 115 years. As a small non-profit organization, the Club has been governed entirely by volunteers for much of its existence. Early members included Helen
Ring Robinson, the nation’s first woman state senator, and Alberta Pike, the founder of
Vogue magazine. The club was originally hosted in the homes of its members, but in 1924
DWPC became the steward of its current clubhouse, a 1910 structure originally built for
artist George Elbert Burr.
The members of the DWPC held a ball to raise the $3,000 for a down payment on
the $9,000 purchase of the structure at 1325 Logan. George Elbert Burr had worked with
the architectural firm Varian and Varian to design the 1910 house for his particular use
as both a residence and art studio, complete with a printing press in the basement. Varian
and Varian are known for several other prominent Denver structures, including the Byers
Branch Library and five houses in Morgan’s Subdivision Historic District.
At the time of the home’s design Burr was a well-known artist famous for his etchings, many of which he produced at 1325 Logan Street. Burr lived and worked in the
house until his declining health led him to relocate to Arizona. When he sold the home
to the DWPC he included fifteen of his black and white etchings and watercolors, which
the DWPC has carefully preserved, framed, and displayed.
The DWPC/Burr House became an individually designated landmark in the City &
County of Denver in 1969 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on
September 13, 1995. It is one of only two historic structures on the 1300 block of Logan
and is the sole structure on the west side, sandwiched between two large parking lots.
The brick exterior is a mix of English and Dutch building traditions. The Dutch influence is demonstrated in the urban-style parapet roof with paired end blocks resembling
chimneys. The interior exhibits craftsman detail evidenced by the beamed ceilings, dark
wood wainscoting and molding, built-in cabinets, and an open floor plan with exposed
rafters. A distinctive feature is the north facing skylight that brought natural light into
the space used as Burr’s studio.
In the nearly nine decades since the DWPC acquired the clubhouse, the group has
been a good steward of the structure, conducting fundraising events that have included
fashion shows, teas, balls, and luncheons. Proceeds from these events support the maintenance of the property and also the club’s many community projects. More recently the
DWPC created the “Century Club,” a group of donors dedicated to supporting building
improvements. While not a preservation organization by mission, the DWPC has clearly
made the care of their historic home a priority.
Over the decades the DWPC has done significant work to maintain its clubhouse,
successfully completing four State Historical Fund (SHF) grants, including a 1995 architecture master plan that proposed four phases of work. With much of the work recommended in the original master plan complete, the Denver Women’s Press Club undertook
a historic structure assessment (HSA) in 2011, also funded by the SHF, to outline the
necessary next steps and to help identify the source of some developing moisture issues.
This comprehensive document provided significant detail on the building’s condition
and a list of critical, serious, and minor deficiencies. The DWPC took immediate action
to address the most significant issue identified in the assessment as a source of moisture
concerns; replacement of the roof. Using funds from its own reserves, the DWPC paid
for this repair in full and demonstrated their capacity to conduct necessary maintenance.
The goal of a new project, funded by the SHF and managed by Historic Denver, is
The former Epworth Institutional Church photographed between 1920 and 1930. Copyright Western History
and Genealogy Department, Denver Public Library
Epworth Church
By Becca Dierschow, Preservation Program Assistant
A block from Curtis Park, among historic homes, new condominiums, and warehousesturned-boutiques, stands the Epworth Church, still untouched by the rapid development in
the area. The awning proclaims “Epworth – Welcome,” but the boarded up windows and
overgrown vegetation deter most potential visitors. A church that once was the center of
the Curtis Park community now stands empty, waiting for a new purpose. The building that
remains today serves as a reminder of Curtis Park’s vibrant and evolving community. The
story of Epworth, its remarkable growth and expansion followed by its eventual decline
over 80 years mirrors the shifting roles religion, social charity, and politics have played in
communities across Denver. The building at 31st and Lawrence stands as a testament to the
Five Points community and its long tradition of supporting its neighbors.
In the 1890s, Methodist Deaconess Melissa Briggs opened the Woman’s Home
Missionary Society in Colorado. Within five years, 14 Deaconesses were active in communities across Colorado. Briggs set up a Mission Church at the corner of 31st and Walnut
(then Market) Street around 1890. This was largely industrial part of the town - the many
warehouses and factories situated along the river were served by multiple rail lines that ran
through Denver. The block where the Deaconess set up her tent was occupied by a mixture of homes, boarding houses, and, in true Denver tradition, at least two saloons. The
Epworth Mission Church was poised to serve the residents who lived in the neighborhood
and worked in the nearby factories and smelters.
The end of the 19th century was a study in contrasts. In 1890, Colorado’s economy,
powered by the mining industry, was booming. In 1893 it crashed, leaving thousands of
workers without jobs or savings. Elsewhere, industrial barons solidified their hold on the
economy, while a growing populist movement agitated for workers’ rights. The Populist
Party, established in 1891, was the voice for agricultural workers feeling threatened by
banks, railroads, and the class divisions spurred on by the Gilded Age. Colorado suffered
greatly after the Silver Crash, and in response, elected Governor Davis Hanson Waite in
1893 on a Populist Party platform.
On the local level, people looked outside the government for support. Women began
taking an active role in public life, campaigning for suffrage, prohibition, and other
reforms. Social workers used a fusion of religious motifs and liberal philosophy to reach
out to urban poor, immigrants, and the indigent. The advances of the Industrial Era - the
rise of cities, factories and mechanized labor - also brought the increase of city slums, the
dislocation of families, long hours, dangerous industrial work, and widespread poverty
which forced children to work in the factories alongside their parents. For preachers of the
Social Gospel, these conditions were a breeding ground for sin and an almost insurmountcontinued
Historic Denver Inc.
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Historic Denver News
able obstacle between modern man and the Second Coming. Melissa Briggs’ tent, poised
on the edge of the town, surrounded by factories and saloons, was strategically placed to
reach a large population of the most vulnerable. A history of the congregation notes that
“Miss Briggs and her congregation were constantly tempted by the lure of drink and other
diversions. Much to her dismay, several members of her congregation literally yielded to
temptation…” In the midst of such societal upheaval, Epworth Mission Church became an
institution which provided individuals with help and support, creating a strong community
within a fragmented city.
The Mission Church was a huge success in Five Points. In 1906, a proper building
was constructed at the 31st and Walnut location. When the Burlington Railroad reclaimed
the land under eminent domain, the church moved down to a blacksmith’s shop on
Larimer Street. In 1915, the Epworth Institutional Church was built at 31st and Lawrence,
which the congregation occupied until 1979. This new structure combined Italianate and
Classical Revival styles to create a stately building. Today it still stands out among the rows
of brick bungalows and warehouses. The large pediments on the northeast and northwest
façades are Classical in nature, while the arched stained glass windows with decorative
keystones are decidedly Italianate. The southern end of the building houses the Junius
Brown Titsworth Memorial Gymnasium . Though built in 1925, the gymnasium where
Denver native and boxing champion Corky Gonzalez learned his craft, is not separated
from the main church, nor is it an obvious addition. As an integrated part of the church
building, it is clear that the church was not merely concerned with spiritual well-being, but
aimed to serve the physical, social, and emotional needs of its community, too. Epworth
provided neighborhood children with a place to learn and play. Soon after its opening in
1915, Epworth was giving children lessons on gardening, cooking, and sewing, as well as
providing bathing facilities and two-cent lunches.
During the early 20th century, Epworth was constantly expanding its charitable offerings. In 1918, Melissa Briggs opened the Denver chapter of Goodwill Industries, which had
been founded in Boston in 1902 by Reverend Edgar Helms. Denver’s branch of Goodwill
originally had a very close relationship with the Epworth Church. The charity accepted
donations of clothing and household items which workers repaired and then distributed
to Denver’s poor. Briggs was often seen riding around the town on her bicycle, collecting
donations for the charity. In 1931, Goodwill became a separate entity from the Epworth
Church, and bought the building at 31st and Lawrence. The two organizations continued
to share facilities until the 1960s.
As the Curtis Park community grew, the Epworth Center continued to focus on far
more than just spiritual aid. In June 1946, Dr Franklin Wherry and Mrs. Maxine Rentfro
opened a free medical clinic in the community center. According to the Rocky Mountain
News, it was the only such clinic to operate in a community center in Denver. Members of
the center received free checkups and medical care, while parents who worked for Goodwill
received discounted service. The doctors focused on promoting hygiene and preventative
medicine to catch diseases before they became dangerous. The clinic, along with the myriad
other services the Epworth Center provided, meant that the center played an integral role
in shaping the community in more than a spiritual capacity.
As a pillar of the Curtis Park neighborhood, Epworth was at the center of dramatic
social changes taking place in Denver throughout the early 20th century. In the city’s early
days, Denver’s African-American population lived throughout the city. In the 1890s, however, the community began moving into the Five Points area, and by the 1920s, restrictive
covenants and hostile neighbors had unofficially segregated Denver. Epworth, despite
being in the middle of a black neighborhood, remained a white congregation. The Shorter
AME Church at 23rd and Cleveland was the historically African-American Methodist
church in the area. Congregants recalled the gradual demographic shift at Epworth, which
not everyone accepted. While black children could find lunch or activities at the community center, their parents were not welcome by many older members of the congregation, who “were not ready to share their Christianity with a person of color.” By the late
1950s, however, Wes French, a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, estimated that
60% of Epworth’s congregation was African-American, 30% Hispanic, and the remaining
Japanese, Chinese and Caucasian. In 1957, the Colorado Supreme Court declared restrictive covenants unconstitutional, but the Five Points neighborhood remained the center of
African-American life in Denver for decades to come, and Epworth remained a diverse
congregation.
By the 1960s, the charitable and spiritual divisions of Epworth had diverged. Goodwill
by then was a separate entity, but still maintained a loose connection to the church. In
1966, the shrinking Epworth Community Center integrated with the Denver Christian
Center to become the Curtis Park Community Center, and moved to new premises at 30th
and Downing. The Curtis Park Community Center continued Epworth’s legacy, providing
food, education, and job training for the Curtis Park community until 2012.
The Methodist congregation, though much reduced, remained at the Epworth Center
until 1979, when the parish merged with the High Street Community Center. As a result of
the merger, the congregation left the building it had occupied on Lawrence for 64 years. As
the newly named Epworth United Methodist Church, it has continued its charitable food
and clothing banks, as well as providing weekly services.
While not recently listed on the Neglected and Derelict Building list, the building has
languished for a number of years, and despite the City of Denver taking ownership in 2011,
open windows, vandals and break-ins have threatened the stately and storied individually
designated landmark. Fortunately local developer (and Historic Denver board member)
Larry Nelson of 620 Corp recently purchased the building and is working on solutions for
the reuse and revitalization of the building. Breathing the life back into this building is yet
another step in the Curtis Park renaissance.
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Historic Denver Inc.
Shared working space in the newly completed interior of the Horse Barn
Shared Spaces
Becca Dierschow, Preservation Programs Assistant
As Denver climbs out of the recession, spurred on by new developments breaking
ground every week and new businesses popping up around the city, many smaller organizations are rethinking the way they do business. In an era of digital creation and collaboration, brick and mortar offices can often seem isolating and unsustainable. Many
nonprofits and technology startups are now replicating the opportunities for collaboration made possible online in the real world. By creating shared spaces throughout the city
that bring together businesses from all sectors and providing offices and meeting space,
these organizations can pool their resources to create innovative ‘anchors’ which better
serve the surrounding community.
Shared spaces are part of a nation-wide trend which brings together organizations
and businesses with similar philosophies, objectives, and ideals. While these buildings
are often themed, housing many nonprofits serving one particular field, they can also be
multi-purpose or dedicated to broader public outreach. The benefits of sharing a building
with multiple organizations are both practical and theoretical. When many groups share
a building, they enjoy lower rents, better amenities, and a sense of community. As Denver
Shared Spaces, a joint project between the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships and
the Urban Land Conservancy, notes, such ‘hubs’ are often easier for the public to access,
becoming well known landmarks in the neighborhood. The benefits of shared space go
beyond the tangible — when groups work together, they can collaborate and creatively
approach mutual challenges. Thematically organized hubs can facilitate valuable advice
and assistance, while spearheading wide-reaching projects.
Galvanize and the Horse Barn are two of Historic Denver’s 2013 Community
Preservation Award winners. These new shared spaces are housed in historic buildings
and, along with Historic Denver’s headquarters at the Emerson School, are excellent
examples of how shared hubs can help revitalize a neighborhood while providing businesses and organizations with the space they need develop and grow.
The Emerson School is the quintessential nonprofit hub. The school, built in
1885, was designed by Denver architect
Robert S. Roeschlaub and is the oldest
school of its type in Denver. Today, it is
home to Historic Denver, the National
Trust for Historic Preservation, Colorado
Preservation Inc, and HistoriCorps,
among others. Having such a wide array
of preservation-focused organizations all
The Emerson School at 1420 Ogden Street under one roof allows these groups to
share resources and work together both
formally and informally. A few weeks ago, Historic Denver executive director, Annie
Levinsky, hosted a Preservation Leadership breakfast to discuss long-term preservation goals among Emerson School tenants. Meanwhile, the National Trust for Historic
Preservation is hosting an upcoming neighborhood meeting, bringing together local
residents to discuss community issues and aspirations. Nonprofit hubs like the Emerson
School can be an excellent resource for surrounding neighborhoods by providing meeting space for local groups and easy access to several local and national nonprofits. It
also helps nonprofits increase their visibility in their immediate neighborhood, especially
if those organizations have a broader mission that does not always focus on the local
community.
The businesses that share these spaces are not always thematically linked. Galvanize,
located in the Golden Triangle, is an incubator for local high-tech startups, providing
capital for new tech businesses, mixed-use office space, and coding classes for the Denver
high-tech community. These three elements serve different stages of a startup’s development, from conception to construction and completion. Located in the Golden Triangle,
Galvanize illustrates the Golden Triangle’s new brand of local, small business-driven
development. The 1929 Rocky Mountain Bank Note Company building that Galvanize
calls home, however, is a reminder of Denver’s earlier industries. In the 1920s, the company printed banking forms for Colorado’s expanding banking industry (along 17th Street
alone, at least three banks opened between 1921 and 1929).With Denver at number six
on Bloomberg’s list of “Metro Areas for High-Tech Startup Density” in 2013, Galvanize
is bridging the gap between old industries and new.
The Horse Barn at Arapahoe and 33rd also recalls Denver’s earliest development. Built
in 1882, the building was originally home to Denver’s early streetcars and the horses that
pulled them across town. Though the Horse Barn was sold by the Denver City Railway
fall
in 1890, streetcars remained a vital part of the Five Points community. At the turn of the
20th century, rapidly advancing technology expanded the streetcar system across Denver,
replacing horse-drawn streetcars with those that ran on electricity. By 1933, six streetcar
lines crisscrossed the Five Points neighborhood, connecting the community to the rest of
Denver and allowing residents to traverse the city for work and leisure.
The Horse Barn now houses the Posner Center for International Development and is
once again a center of infrastructure and technology, but this time with a global focus. It
is a hub for over 30 different organizations focused on international community development, many of whom focus on using new technology to create infrastructure and combat
poverty. iDE, a company that focuses on providing micro-irrigation for subsistence farmers around the globe, has been the catalyst behind the Horse Barn’s renovation, partnering
with Engineers Without Borders and Denver Urban Gardens, among others, to create the
world’s first hub devoted to international development.
There are numerous benefits to adapting historic buildings for communal use by
businesses and organizations that promote development both in Denver and abroad.
These shared spaces revitalize once-vacant buildings and help historic buildings become
the anchors of new development in neighborhoods across the city. Projects like the Horse
Barn and Galvanize will draw in traffic to previously neglected areas of the city and
provide the public with easier access to a large number of organizations. Hopefully, we’ll
continue to see more of this kind of collaborative development as Denver continues to
attract innovative and exciting organizations and startups.
Krisana Park Update
Krisana Park, a four block
Mid-Century Modern enclave
in the Virginia Vale neighborhood is one of Denver’s most
well preserved Mid-Century
Modern neighborhoods. In late
June, Historic Denver had an
informal meeting with Krisana
Park neighbors to learn more
about their preservation needs.
Unsurprisingly, neighbors love
their homes and want to keep
them looking beautiful for
another 60 years. As a result of our discussion, we’ll be having another community meeting in early autumn to discuss technical aspects and options for preserving Mid-Century
Modern homes. If you’re interested in Historic Denver speaking in your neighborhood
about its history or preservation, please let us know. You can reach Sophie Bieluczyk,
Outreach Coordinator, at (303) 534-5288 x 5. 3
2013
N o w On - l i n e
www.historicdenver.org/programs/current-issues
Between your quarterly issues of the Historic Denver News
you can stay up to date on evolving stories on our website!
New this month:
Historic Denver Endorses New Project in
the Downtown Historic District
On September 17th Historic Denver testified at a public hearing
at the Landmark Preservation Commission to endorse a significant
new project in the Downtown Historic District involving the Kistler
Building, located at 1640 Champa Street. The project involves the
construction of a new, high-rise tower straddling the center of the block
above the back portion of the Kistler Building, which will be partially
removed. After several meetings and a tour of the site, Historic Denver’s
Preservation Committee chose to support the project because we believe
it can have a positive impact on an important downtown block and
enhance the overall condition of the Kistler Building.
Additionally, Historic Denver supported the project because it is
consistent with the vision for the innovative, non-contiguous Downtown
Historic District, and because of the unique context and location of the
Kistler Building. As part of our endorsement Historic Denver asked for
certain concessions that will help safeguard the significant front portion
and façade of the Kistler Building and ensure overall project quality.
Each project involving a historic structure is unique and must be evaluated on its own merits, and Historic Denver evaluates major projects
on a case-by-case basis before choosing to take a position. You can
read more detail about the Kistler project, including Historic Denver’s
position, on our website.
The Derelict Building Dilemma
continued from page 1
including the costs associated with receivership, can be assessed against the owner and made
a lien against the property.
In addition to Chapter 10 and the Neglected and Derelict Building list, Chapter 30 of
the code, known as the Landmark Ordinance, also includes a minimum maintenance section, requiring owners of historically designated structures to preserve “against decay and
deterioration” and to ensure buildings are “kept free from structural defects.”
On paper Denver’s ordinances have the “teeth” recommended in the National Trust
pamphlet. However, neighbors and residents continue to find the process slow and frustrating. Buildings often languish on the derelict building list for years due to lack of resources
on the city’s side. To be effective the enforcement provisions require political will and vigilant attention by local officials and community members.
Historic Denver is working to monitor the status of historic properties currently on the
Derelict Building List, and communicates regularly with city staff on the most egregious
situations, but what else can be done? Perhaps as city council reviews improvements made
to Chapter 10 in 2012 they will document whether those changes have shortened the turnaround time between a violation and remediation as intended. If not, we hope they will
consider further amendments. Additionally, while the ordinances give the city the authority
to enact repairs when an owner refuses, budget concerns typically prohibit the city from
taking such action. A dedicated fund for emergency maintenance could make this option
viable. Finally, more frequent checking of properties on the list and timely action is essential,
especially in the case of historic structures, as a slow process only worsens their situation.
There are four steps we encourage you to take if you notice a building in violation of
Chapter 10 or Chapter 30.
• First, call 311 to report the structure and its condition.
• Second, contact the local City Council person in whose district the structure is located. City council contact information can be found at denvergov.org.
• Third, notify the staff of the Denver Landmark Commission at [email protected].
• Finally, please contact the Historic Denver office so we can help monitor the situation.
Our historic structures were built to stand the test of time, but without proper stewardship time becomes the enemy. Although affecting only a small percentage of designated
properties, neglect, benign or intentional, erodes the character of our city and threatens
irreplaceable resources. Finding solutions to combat deterioration and decay is important
and requires on-going diligence by the preservation community. 3
The Kistler Building at 1640 Champa
Application Pending for Denver’s 52nd
Historic District
In early 2013 neighbors from the 200 South block of Lincoln Street
approached Historic Denver to explore the possibility of creating a
small historic district, which is full of Victorian-era homes designed
by well-known architect William Lang. After several neighborhood
meetings, a “nosey-neighbor” tour and additional research by homeowners and Historic Denver, the group submitted an application to
the Landmark Preservation Commission in August. Public hearings
are currently scheduled, and Historic Denver will actively support the
creation of this district at both the Landmark Preservation Commission
and City Council. If you would like to lend your support as well, or
read more about the district, please visit our website. 3
Historic Denver Inc.
5
Historic Denver News
2013
annual dinner & awards
The 2013 Historic Denver Annual Dinner and Awards Program will take place at the Brown Palace Hotel
and Spa on Wednesday, October 23. Preservation is progress, and the 43rd Annual Awards highlight the innovative collaborations, creative solutions and cutting-edge thinking of those who invest in the past as we build for the future.
Former Mayor Federico Peña will be honored with the Keystone Award for lifetime achievement in historic preservation; Jayne
Buck will be honored with the Molly Brown Award, created to honor a woman who demonstrates Margaret Brown’s commitment to community; and Amy Harmon will receive the Ann Love Award, which honors those who embody the spirit of one of
Historic Denver’s founders, Colorado First Lady Ann Love. Community Preservation Awards will be given to the Denver County
Fair, Galvanize, Hangar 2 at Lowry, the Horse Barn and the Patterson Inn.
Keystone Award
Molly Brown Award
The Keystone Award honors people who have made
significant contributions over their lifetime to historic
preservation in Denver. This year’s Keystone Award is
given to Mayor Federico Peña to honor his many preservation accomplishments and the 25th Anniversary of
the creation of the Lower Downtown Historic District in
1988, a pivotal moment for Denver’s renaissance and a
nationally recognized preservation success story. Mayor
Peña advocated for and signed the legislation for the
Lower Downtown Historic District in 1988, which is
celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Before the district was created LoDo was largely forgotten and marginalized. Between 1981 and 1988 more than 20% of the neighborhood’s
buildings, the largest collection of 19th and early 20th century commercial structures in
region, were demolished. Mayor Peña made historic district designation a top priority of
his administration, and underscored the important stabilizing effect demolition prohibition would create, despite the fears of more than 80% of the district owners. Fortunately,
less than five years later the economic success of the district had convinced its one-time
opponents, as property values stabilized, investment increased, and Denver’s most popular
mixed-use neighborhood began to emerge. Peña noted “History is what makes one place
different from another, and I didn’t want our downtown to be developed to look like every
other in America.”
The Molly Brown Award was created to honor
women who live in Margaret “Molly” Brown’s spirit
today by devoting many years to civic life in all its forms,
actively engaging themselves in politics, philanthropy,
arts and cultural endeavors and historic preservation
as Mrs. Brown did. Each year this award will honor a
woman who demonstrates this same level of passion
about the world and who is willing to take the lead,
speak her mind and make Denver a stronger community
for everyone. This year’s Molly Brown Award recipient is
Jayne Buck. Jayne Buck has served as Vice President of Tourism for VISIT DENVER, the
Convention & Visitors Bureau, since 1999. Like Mrs. Brown, she is a great supporter of
the arts and a world traveler. In fact, Ms. Buck started Denver Arts Week. She is involved
in local arts organizations including serving on the Cherry Creek Arts Festival Board of
Directors (serving as Chair in 2010), the Denver Theater District Board and the Mayor’s
Commission on Cultural Affairs.
Ann Love Award
The Ann Love Award was established in 1997 to
honor individuals who may not consider themselves
traditional preservationists but have shown initiative, creativity, and commitment in preserving the history, culture
and architecture of Denver. The award is named for Ann
Love, wife of Colorado Governor John Love. Mrs. Love
was instrumental in saving the Molly Brown House and
establishing Historic Denver but never considered herself
a preservationist. She had remarkable determination and garnered support for projects
she felt were essential to making Colorado and Denver one of the country’s best places.
Amy Harmon, this year’s recipient of the Ann Love Award, is the founder Urban Market
Partners, a full service real estate group building partnerships to implement progressive
development projects. Ms. Harmon recently helped WonderBound secure the Weisco
Motor Company Building, a historic structure which they will rehabilitate and use for
both practice and performance space. It is one of her many efforts in the neighborhood,
where she also founded the Community Coordinating District 1 to find collaboration
solutions to neighborhood challenges. Ms. Harmon is a Trustee of the Denver Museum
of Contemporary Art, Board Member of Metro Denver Executive Club and is involved in
the Denver City Park Alliance and Ballpark Neighborhood Association. Her commitment,
creative energy and can-do attitude are contributing to each of the organizations and supporting the unique character we cherish in Denver.
6
Historic Denver Inc.
Community Preservation Awards
The Community Preservation Awards are given annually to a handful of projects,
institutions and individuals that have made an exceptional contribution to the preservation of Denver’s heritage. These projects exemplify high quality restoration, the careful
consideration of the city’s historic fabric and a commitment to community. The winners
of these awards are essential to Historic Denver’s mission and the organization takes great
pride in recognizing those who assist us in enhancing Denver’s built environment.
This year the five Community Preservation Award winners demonstrate that preservation is progress. Whether a former airplane hangar or horse barn these entities are both a
part of Denver’s past and its future.
Denver County Fair
The Denver County Fair is now in its third year of “mixing up a big batch of tradition with a side of now!” The Denver County Fair makes use of the historic buildings of
the National Western Complex and is a place to share ideas, traditions, creativity, local
culture and intellect. The Denver County Fair is growing each year, and one of this year’s
new attractions is the Denver History Pavilion. The fair’s mission is not so different than
that of Historic Denver, seeking to “identify Denver’s unique character and reflect it back
to the community.” The Denver County Fair was created by Dana Cain and Tracy Weil.
Dana Cain has created and hosted more than 150 events in the Denver area, including
the Denver Modernism Show and the Colorado Chocolate Festival. Tracy Weil is a visual
artist and exhibits his work both regionally and nationally. He has designed countless
creative campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and understands a rigorous pace and
exacting standards.
fall
2013
The Horse Barn
Purchased by the Denver Housing Administration (DHA) in the 1990s, the one-time
Denver City Railway Company Horse Barn had already languished for decades. Either
used for storage or left vacant, it was an eyesore in a neighborhood hoping for revitalization. DHA, with encouragement from the neighborhood, agreed to have the building
included in the Curtis Park G Historic District in 2010. Soon plans were underway for a
reimagined Horse Barn, this time with “stalls” intended to be incubators for non-profits
with global aspirations. Renamed the Posner Center, the building is the nation’s first
collaborative center for international development. The Center houses iDE, a locally
based global non-profit, and Denver Urban Gardens as lead tenants and 27 Colorado-
Hangar 2 at Lowry
The recent rehabilitation and reuse of Hangar 2 in Lowry has brought offices, retail,
storage, and even a Beer Garden to Lowry! Hangar 2 at Lowry is being developed by
Denver-based real estate investment and management firm, Larimer Associates, and by
Hartman Ely Investments, whose prior work includes Lowry’s Steam Plant Lofts, Steam
Plant Row Homes, Grand Lowry Lofts, and Officers Row Loft Homes. The new development restores the historic hangar, while offering spaces with history, charm and style,
and the uniqueness of being located in an actual historic airplane hangar. It required
creative thinking to find a new purpose for a structure this size! Like so many Larimer &
Associates projects, Hangar 2 at Lowry creates a place that excites people and enhances
the neighborhood.
based organizations engaged in agriculture, education, energy, health, infrastructure
and microfinance, among other fields.
The project was led by DHA, which
continues to own the structure. The
renovations were designed by Tres
Birds Architecture.
Galvanize
The Rocky Mountain Bank Note
Building was designed by Denver
architect Frank W. Frewen and built
in 1929. In 1999 the building was
remodeled to house PS 1 Charter
School. Today the building is “an
‘innovation ecosystem’ designed to
give entrepreneurs and innovators the
best chance of success at the start of
their next (or first) big thing.” The
building features Gather, a full service
café, a common area with desks for
startups or individuals just beginning
their growth, and “G Suites” for companies of 6 to 30 people which are
gaining traction and further along in
the growth continuum. The Galvanize
project demonstrates that old and
new create a dynamic combination, marrying a historic setting with great character with
today’s technological resources. 3
Patterson Inn
In late 2012 the Croke-Patterson-Campbell House became the Patterson Inn. The
Manitou Sandstone Chateauesque mansion was built in 1890 by the Denver carpet store
owner Thomas B. Croke, who gained fame as a merchant and experimental plant breeder.
Mr. Croke later served as a state senator and started what is now the United Way. Thomas
M. Patterson, a U.S. Congressman and owner of the Rocky Mountain News, purchased
the home in 1913. Patterson’s daughter, Margaret, married Richard C. Campbell, and the
couple lived with Mr. Patterson until 1916. Richard Campbell became a prominent local
financial leader. The mansion stood empty for a decade and was in need of interior restoration as well as exterior care and maintenance. The team behind the Patterson Inn completely revitalized the building, cleaning out debris, restoring historic woodwork, upgrading mechanical systems and adding handicap access, all in order to bring a viable and
appropriate use to the former mansion. The design work was done by RAW Architecture.
Historic Denver Inc.
7
Historic Denver News
Nicole Roush, Curator of Collections
I first began working for the Molly Brown House Museum in December 2011. I was
thrown in right away to work the many Holiday High Teas that are offered in December.
I was also thrown into the chaos of the 100th anniversary of Titanic shortly after that.
My love of culture and museums began at a very young age when I visited the Ramses
II exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature in Science in 1987. I later went on to study
art history in Europe, travel and study throughout southern Mexico, earn my Bachelors
of Arts in Anthropology from Metropolitan State University of Denver, and my Masters
of Arts in Anthropology and Museum Studies from the George Washington University
in D.C.
I decided to write about one of the busiest weeks I had this past year, a week in
May when I was taking down one exhibit, preparing for another exhibit, and getting the
museum ready for the summer crowds.
Monday, May 20th
This week is a very busy week as our spring exhibit, Biography of a Changing Nation
closed on Sunday and we must de-install it in order to get ready for our summer exhibition. All of the artifacts that were in this exhibit are part of the permanent collection
of the museum, so I will not have to return any loaned items. It is my plan to clear this
exhibit out quickly as the summer exhibition will take a substantial amount of time to
install. While all of this is going on, our fire and security monitoring company will be at
the museum all day conducting our biannual inspection. This means that the fire alarms
will be going off periodically all throughout the day in order to ensure that they are working properly (it’s a hard day to make phone calls).
Tuesday, May 21st
Today is an all-hands-on-deck day as we receive shipment of artifacts for the summer exhibit Framed by Legend, Shaped by Myth: How Margaret Brown Became Molly
Brown. The exhibit will have some great artifacts loaned to us. I have been working
extensively with Todd Fisher (son of Debbie Reynolds) to secure a loan of objects that
were used during the filming of The Unsinkable Molly Brown musical. One of the objects
that will be coming from the Debbie Reynolds collection is the infamous pot-bellied
stove. The stove is coming in a specially made wooden crate that has a total weight of 250
pounds. Staff will be hoisting this up the stairs into the back porch exhibit area where it
will be for the next four months.
Wednesday, May 22nd
Two new collections management interns have started their summer internships this
week and I will be spending time with them to get them trained on their projects for the
semester. One intern will be helping with general house maintenance and environmental
monitoring. Today, I will be showing her how to use a Hobo Data Logger. These are
small devices that are strategically placed all throughout the museum that track the temperature and humidity levels inside the house. I am also working with the other intern,
whose main project is helping to catalog the fashions collection. I am training her on
proper textile handling techniques and proper museum photographing techniques.
Thursday, May 23rd
For the museum’s summer exhibit, we will also be borrowing four items of original
clothing of Margaret Brown’s from History Colorado. I will be driving down there today
to pick these items up and bring back to the museum. Once I have all of the objects here
at the museum I will have a better sense of how all of these objects will work together
to help explain the story that we are trying to convey. As we have many objects on loan,
this means that I have a lot of condition reports to write up. Condition reports are made
when loaned objects first arrive at a borrowing institution to document what the object
looks like and to see if any damage has occurred during shipping. This is done for insurance and legal purposes. Condition reports are created again when the objects are ready
to be shipped back to their owners to document any damages that may have occurred
while they were on loan.
Friday, May 24th
Today I have a grant due for the National Endowment for the Humanities, so I am
working on finalizing that. This grant will help to fund better archival materials for the
fashions collection, so that it can be properly stored. We are hoping to get enough funds
to purchase materials to create padded hangers for all of the hung garments, materials
to create custom mounts for all of the hats, and materials to make individual dust covers
for all hanging garments. In the afternoon I will need to drive down to Tagawa Gardens
to purchase flowers and plants for the front porch area of the museum. This year, Art
of Land, a local landscaping company has generously offered their services to us to help
create a garden look and plant flowers for the museum.
8
Historic Denver Inc.
2013 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter
Work Project Launches in Globeville
President and Mrs. Carter will be coming to Denver in mid-October! Habitat for
Humanity of Metro Denver (HFHMD) has been selected as a host city for the 2013
Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project. The 30th annual Carter Work Project will be
held October 6 to 12, 2013 and will include large-scale building efforts in three locations:
Oakland/San Jose, CA; Denver, CO; and New York City/Ocean Beach, NJ. President and
Mrs. Carter, along with their special guests Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, will be
in Denver on Tuesday, October 8th and Wednesday, October 9th to participate in local
building and celebration efforts.
Every year since 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, dedicate
a week of their time to help build Habitat homes somewhere in the world. Habitat’s first
Carter Work Project took place in New York City in 1984 where the Carters and volunteers helped renovate a six-story apartment building. Previous Carter Work Projects have
been held across the United States and in Mexico, Canada, Hungary, South Africa, South
Korea, India, the Philippines, Thailand, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Laos, Vietnam and
the past two years in Haiti. The Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project engages thousands of supporters to make a tangible difference in communities around the world and
raises awareness for the critical need for simple, decent and affordable housing.
HFHMD’s local Carter Work Project event will include the construction of 11 new
homes and repair work on 15 existing homes in Denver’s Globeville neighborhood.
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has been building in the Globeville neighborhood
for a number of years and in 2012 HFHMD began partnering with families in Globeville
to complete critical home repairs on existing houses as part of the Neighborhood
Revitalization Initiative.
Globeville is a centrally-located neighborhood just 20 blocks north of downtown
Denver and is bounded by the South Platte River on the east and south, Inca Street on
the west (basically the railroad tracks), and city limits (mostly 52nd Avenue) on the north.
Globeville has one Local Landmark, Globeville School, which has housed Laradon School
since 1950. Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Holy Transfiguration/Transfiguration of Christ
Orthodox Cathedral, and St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church are all on the National
Register of Historic Places.
Globeville was established on ranch land purchased by the Globe Smelter Company
and Slavic workers were known to have settled in the area as early as 1885. A large number
of Globeville’s original residents were European immigrants, among them Volga-Deutsche,
Poles, Slovenians, Croatians and Serbs. Each group brought its own separate national and
religious heritage, which was soon reflected in the community. For some years the community developed inwardly: the men walked to work, the women bought from street vendors or
shopped in the neighborhood, and the children went to the local public or parochial school.
A number of events dispersed the old ethnic settlements in Globeville. The first was
World War II, which strongly accelerated the process of integration. The construction of
Interstate Highway 25, which began in 1948 and was dedicated in 1958, as well as the
construction of Interstate Highway 70, completed in 1964, resulted in the destruction of
seven blocks and 31 family homes. The highways had a divisive effect on the area, as their
construction left only Lincoln and Washington Streets open to north-south traffic. But,
Globeville has a greater number of owner-occupied housing units compared to Denver.
The estimated current number of owner-occupied housing units is just over 65 percent for
Globeville, compared to just over 50 percent for Denver. This also corresponds to a lower
number of rental properties. The number of vacant structures in Globeville is just below
the average number for the entire city.
Although Globeville is located just 20 blocks north of downtown Denver, circuitous
transportation links add to actual travel distance. All edges of Globeville are zoned for
and have heavy industrial uses. Consequently, the Globeville neighborhood is a residential
island surrounded by industry. Today, portions of Globeville continue to be physically
isolated from the rest of Denver by the freeways, railroad lines, and the South Platte River.
The 30th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project will bring much-needed home restoration to this historic neighborhood.
Historic Denver, Inc. will have a table at the Community Kick-Off and Opening
Ceremonies event on Sunday, October 6 at Argo Park in Globeville. Join Historic Denver,
continued at right
Historic Denver NewsNovember • December
fall2006
2013
Molly Brown
House museum
It is Time for Museums to Listen!
DEN believes the outcomes of these objectives will lead to:
• increased evaluation knowledge and skills,
• a positive affect towards evaluation,
Jamie Melissa Wilms
• increased understanding of evaluation at an organizational level,
Director of Education, Molly Brown House Museum
• the sustainability of evaluation practice beyond DEN and,
In this fast-paced century where many things compete for our attention and time,
• the creation an evaluation community of practice among museum professionals.
institutions must listen to outside voices so as to not lose potential relevance and worth - it
In August, DEN showcased their successes at the Presidential Strand Luncheon at
is time for museums to listen! Fifteen institutions came together to do just that, to listen,
DMNS. The evaluator from each institution brought their CEO/Director to witness the
and formed the Denver-Area Cultural Evaluation Network (DEN). Led by the Denver
work done by the group. This not only permitted evaluators from each museum to talk
Museum of Nature and Science (DMNS), these institutions are listening to those outside
informally with their colleagues, it allowed the CEO/Director to see what was happenvoices through evaluation at museums.
ing at other museums and how DEN has impacted them as well. As a testament to the
The group emerged in 2010 when DMNS sought out local professionals who were in
importance of DEN, Mayor Hancock was also on hand to speak to the significance of the
charge of evaluation efforts at their museum, but were looking for training and to form
group and the cultural institutions within the city. He stated that Denver has the ability
a network of colleagues. DEN benefits from the already existing evaluation department
to become one of the great cultural cities and that DEN will help Denver move forward
at DMNS and collective experiences of all members. It has become a valuable source for
with that opportunity.
professional development for cultural institutions in the area. The Molly
The Molly Brown House Museum has completed its first institutional
Brown House Museum is among the many participants in the group
study in early 2013. Through this study, the Museum analyzed the outwhich also includes: Buffalo Bill Museum & Grave, Butterfly Pavilion,
reach programming given through the education department and deterChildren’s Museum of Denver, Clyfford Still Museum, History Colorado,
mined which programs are working and which need some updating or
“Evaluating our
Colorado Railroad Museum, Denver Art Museum, Denver Botanic
work to make them relevant to today’s curriculum. Teachers responded
offerings and
Gardens, DMNS, Denver Zoo, Four Mile Historic Park, Golden History
positively to the surveys and gave the Museum valuable feedback. One
Museums, Lakewood Heritage Center, and Longmont Museum and
teacher responded saying “I have never seen our students so focused and
responding to
Cultural Center. In 2012, the Institute of Museum and Library Services
engaged! They have been talking about the experience for days now!”
granted DMNS a $245,000 grant for the two year project to make this
Another stated “Kids love building! The program puts Denver history
community needs
all possible.
into context”.
is important to
“Evaluating our offerings and responding to community needs is
The next study, in September 2013, will focus on the expectations
important to all museums regardless of size or scope,” said Nathan
and experiences of the visitor to each of the participating museums. By
all museums
Richie, the Executive Director of Golden History Museums. “The colleccomparing a visitor’s expectations when they arrive at our institutions
tive, regional impact this grant will have on our capacity as institutions
with their experience when they leave, we hope to understand both what
regardless of
to understand and respond to evaluation will be like the tide that raises
visitors expect, and what they actually encounter. We believe this will
size or scope.”
all ships.”
help our institutions gain a better understanding of current community
The goal of this group is to positively influence evaluate thinkperceptions, and whether we are meeting, exceeding, or falling short of
Nathan Richie
ing, implementation and use. As museums gain knowledge, and skills
those expectations.
needed to conduct evaluations, they will become better prepared to make
Moving forward, the professional development, networking, access
informed decisions to engage and align with the needs of the commuto cross-site and institution-specific data, resources, and support will
nity. Even though the partner museums are various in size and budget,
radiate through the 15 partner institutions providing an informed picture
DEN museums have found a way to work together for mutual benefit. Participants in
of Denver’s cultural landscape. It will demonstrate to the institutions involved that the
DEN saw value in evaluation but many institutions lacked the know-how or confidence
most effective way to achieve museum missions and visions is to listen to community
to implement evaluation in their own museums. The group began to share ideas and
voices to inform decision-making. Do you hear that? Your audience is speaking. It’s time
lessons-learned drawing on this amazing opportunity to collaborate together. In the first
to listen! 3
18 months of the informal network, the group conducted three studies (a demographic
survey, a visitor motivation study, and an institutional value assessment), talking to more
than 2,500 visitors and jumpstarting the evaluation process in Denver. In just the first
10 months of the grant period, DEN has conducted an additional two city-wide studies.
The grant has three main objectives which support the projects overall goal – to positively influence evaluative thinking, implementation, and use in diverse Mountain-Plains
Museums. The objectives include: 1) building evaluation capacity of Mountain-Plains
museum professionals, 2) disseminating the process, outputs, and outcomes of the project,
and 3) developing and disseminating a pilot evaluation toolkit for museum professionals
in the Mountain-Plains region.
Globeville residents, and Habitat partner families in celebration of the build week ahead.
The Community Kick-Off will feature activities for the entire family including games and
prizes, fun activities for kids, information booths about Habitat and Globeville, and classic rock and roll from the Duke Street Kings band. The Opening Ceremony program will
include remarks from local dignitaries, community partners, Habitat for Humanity representatives as well as a future homeowner of one of the Carter Work Project homes.
The
Wolfe Group
History of HFHMD
Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver was established in 1979 by a group of passionate volunteers. These volunteers worked tirelessly to fundraise, acquire land, select families
and manage all of the logistics to build the first Habitat homes in Denver. Since then,
Habitat Metro Denver has become one of the largest affiliates in the U.S., celebrating the
construction of our 500th home in 2012.
About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International’s vision is a world where everyone has a decent
place to live. Anchored by the conviction that safe and affordable housing provides a critical foundation for breaking the cycle of poverty, Habitat has helped more than 3 million
people construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes since 1976. Habitat also advocates for
fair and just housing policies and provides training and access to resources to help more
families improve their shelter conditions. As a nonprofit Christian housing organization,
Habitat works in more than 70 countries and welcomes people of all races, religions and
nationalities to partner in its mission. To get more information, to donate or to volunteer,
please visit habitat.org. 3
It’s not about good luck, it’s about experience, intelligence and relentless attention
to detail. It’s about matching our expertise to your real estate goals. Honored year
after year, both locally and nationally, The Wolfe Group provides RESULTS.
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enver
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. .
9
Historic Denver News
Notable
homes for sale
770 High Street
707 Washington Street
Photo: © Michelle Gardner
The Italian Renaissance
home at 770 High Street
was built in 1925 for
Samuel and Aimee Kohn.
Kohn was a prominent
merchant who founded American Furniture
Company and built it
from a small business to
a leading retail firm. He
served as president of the
National Retail Furniture
Association, as a director
of the Denver Chamber
of Commerce, and as a
founder and president of
the Better Business Bureau.
In civic affairs, Kohn was
chairman of the board of
National Jewish Hospital
and one of the first
members of the Denver
Planning Commission. In
cultural affairs, he was
active in the Denver Art
Museum, the Central City
Opera Association, and
served as president of
Temple Emanuel for more
than twenty years.
The seven bedroom, eight bathroom home was designed by Jules Jacque Benois
Benedict, architect of some of Denver’s grandest Beaux-Arts residence and churches. The
residence is a contributing resource within the East Seventh Avenue Denver Landmark
District and sits south of Cheesman Park. The L-shaped house is constructed with brick
walls clad with heavy stucco, limestone wainscoting along the lower walls, and a green
tile roof with widely overhanging eaves with modillions.
One enters the home through a semicircular arched entrance with cast concrete archivolt trim and a keystone. The large, rectangular east wing Dining Room has a crystal
chandelier hanging from the ceiling, which features stenciled beams. The room has a
painted frieze in colors of gold, green, red, black, and brown and the walls have wood
paneling with fluted pilasters. The Living Room has a ceiling latticed with wood beams
painted with polychromatic designs in primary colors. There are plaster walls, a parquet
floor, and a large limestone fireplace between the French doors.
The home also features a Sunroom with a groin-vaulted ceiling, a fountain with a
curved tile basin and a variegated ceramic tile floor. The Saco DeBoer-designed grounds
contain a rear courtyard featuring a fountain, terraced garden beds, mature evergreen and
deciduous trees, and a row of columnar oaks. This is the first time the property is being
offered for sale in 35 years.
Photo: © Terri Fotheringham
The Wood-Morris-Bonfils Mansion was built between 1909 and 1911 for Guilford
S. Wood. Mr. Wood, who made his wealth from the Cripple Creek gold and silver mines,
paid $25,000 for the 15-room French Mediterranean Revival mansion. The architects of
the home were Maurice Biscoe and Henry H. Hewitt, who were in practice together from
1908 to 1911. Together Biscoe and Hewitt also designed 10 buildings on the campus of
the Clayton School for Boys. Briscoe, an architect known for his knowledge and application of the best elements of the Beaux-Arts school, designed a family home so Old World
in character that it looked out of place in the rough-edged frontier town that was Denver
The mansion’s second owner was Andrew S. Hughes, who made his fortune by building a stagecoach line through Denver that connected Atchison with Salt Lake City. When
Hughes died in 1924 he left the home to his daughter and her husband, Peter Randolph
Morris. After Morris died in 1947, Denver newspaper heiress and philanthropist Helen
Bonfils bought the house. The home was the Mexican Consulate in the 1980s and was
named a Denver Local Landmark in June of 1985.
The white stucco mansion features a broad veranda with substantial columns and
arched lunettes graced by pouting cherubs. The three bedroom, six bathroom home
features a grand entry foyer with the original Terrazzo flooring. The Living Room has a
Carrera marble wetbar, Schonbek crystal sconces (as can be found in the White House
and Buckingham Palace), and a veranda and terraces on three sides, accessible through
six original French doors. The Formal Dining Room has original Terrazzo flooring, exceptional plaster detailing and moldings, and three original French doors to north and east.
The home, which has come to market just five times since 1909, also features a Master
bedroom suite, an elevator, and antique Spanish doors.
List Price: $1,735.000
Contact: Ken Miller, Kentwood City Properties
303-820-2489 or [email protected]
List Price: $4,900,000.00
Contact: Christy Owen, Kentwood City Properties
303-906-9574 or [email protected]
Real Estate Seminar
Understanding & Selling Denver’s Historic Homes
and Neighborhoods
Historic Denver, Inc. will be hosting a continuing education (CE) class for real estate brokers at the Emerson School
on Thursday, December 5. The class is entitled “Understanding & Selling Denver’s Historic Homes and Neighborhoods”
and will explore the unique characteristics, values and strategies for buying and selling historic homes.
The course will provide an overview of major architectural styles seen in the Denver metro area as well as prominent
local architects and their influence on Denver’s history. The course will also cover Denver’s historic neighborhoods, the
rights and responsibilities of living in a historic home or district, and the financial incentives associated with historic
property ownership.
The real estate industry is constantly changing and in order to stay on top of the trends, laws, contract changes
and practice requirements, all active real estate brokers need to complete 24 hours of continuing education during each
three year license cycle. Historic Denver has been approved to offer this three credit class by the Colorado Real Estate
Commission.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in this course please call 303-534-5288 ext. 5. 3
10
Historic Denver Inc.
fall
Thank You
2013
To Historic Denver’s New and
Renewing Supporters
Supporters Mid-June to Mid-September 2013
Gail Anderson
Godden/Sudik Architects
Darrell Arndt
Shirley Barr
Patricia Bernard
Mary Ann Bledsoe
Mary B. Blue
Scott and Bonnie Boyer
Pamela Bradley
Julie Bunsness
David Carlock
Nancy Clanton
Sheila Cleworth
Peg Clover Stipek and
Michael Stipek
George Cole
Denver Agency Company
John and Margie Conway
James and Alisa Moore Copeland
CRL Associates, Inc.
Heather Dahms
Patrick Dolan
Kirk Drabing
EIDOS Architects
Christopher Erskine
Lynne Evans
Martin and Mary Everitt
John and Joan Feek
James Fell
Emma M. Figge
Carla Finch
Peggy Forberg
Ford and Ann Frick
Tish Gance
Ruth Gilfillan
Matt Goebel
Friday Green
Mark Groshek
Marianne Hamilton
Iris A. Hawkins
Michael Henry
Ann Heyler
Pat and Verle Hill
Sandra Hinkle
Jay B. Homstad
Donna and Larry Hoppe
Dennis Humphries
Betty Lynn and Dennis Jackson
Laura Jepsen
R. Edgar and Judy Johnson
Leslie Karnauskas and Vincent
Busmire
Eric Karnes
Martha Kelce
Ken Kirkpatrick
Brenda Lang
Beth Leon
Denver Masonry LLC
Masonry and Concrete
Works LLC
Teena Luehrsen
Martin/Martin
Christopher McGihon
Tom and Lisa McHenry
Colleen McKinley
Mark and Ardis Miller
Sandra Morris
Chris Murata
Katherine McCormick Murphy
Ryan Neville
Jackie Noble
Tom and Violet Noel
Old Greenwich, Inc
Pamala Orr
Elizabeth O’Sullivan
Thomas P. Owen
Daniel and Susan Paulien
Sally Payne
Perry Peine
Edna Pelzmann
Bruce Peterson
Robert Peterson
Ann Pidgeon
Robert Quillin
Jane M. Quinette
Ralph and Ingeborg Ratcliff
Roma and Jerry Rehkow
Kate Reinhardt
Raleigh Roofing and Restoration
Glenda Richter
Rebecca Rogers
Carol A. Roszell
Paul and Carol Ann Rothman
Carl E. Sandberg
Marshall Schecter
Allison Schiltz
Paul and Carolyn Schrader
Jeanne Seydel
Tom and Laurie Simmons
Joseph S. Sinisi
SlaterPaull Architects
Anita C. Spring
Colin Stark
Jim and Barbara Steely
Stuart Steers
Harry and Vicki Sterling
Rosemary Stoffel
Mary Ann Tavery
Kenneth Taylor
Jennifer Wahlers
Laura Waligorski
Barbara Wasko
Lyn W. Wickelgren
Ronald O. Williams
Cassie Wright
Donald Zeller
Michael Zoellner
Become a Supporter of
Historic Denver
S U P P O R T E R I N F O R M AT I O N
New Supporter
Renewal
Business Supporter
Name/Business __________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________________________
City_________________________________ State ___________ Zip ______________
Phone ______________________________ Alternate Phone ____________________
Email __________________________________________________________________
$25
$50
$100
$250
$500
Other $______________________
Please mail this form with payment to:
Historic Denver, Inc., 1420 Ogden St., Suite 202, Denver, CO 80218
or
Call 303-534-5288 ext. 5 with your credit card information.
Historic Denver, Inc. is a 501 c3 and your contribution is tax-deductible.
Musgraves and Prusse
Matching Fund
Historic Denver, Inc. would like to extend a huge thank you to Trustee Chris Murata,
who made a $20,000 donation to the Musgraves and Prusse Fund in honor of her aunt,
Peggy Grisgby Richards. =
SAVE THE DATE
HISTORIC DENVER’S
ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS
PROGRAM
October 23, 2013 • Brown Palace Hotel
www.historicdenver.org
Preservation is progress
Historic Denver Inc.
11
Historic Denver News
Winter 2012
calendar of
EVENTS
To purchase tickets to any Historic Denver or Molly Brown House Museum
Events visit: store.historicdenver.org or call 303-534-5288 x5.
Holiday High Teas
Select Dates in December
October 18th, 19th,
25th and 26th
Victorian Horrors
Performances begin every 15 minutes
from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Our 20th Victorian Horrors will prove to
be our most frightful yet! Dramatic and
chilling, our costumed actors will bring
to life tales of terror from such masters of
Victorian gothic literature as Edgar Allan
Poe, HG Wells and Mary Shelley. Come
for the first time, or come again for a
fresh set of terrifying tales!
$15 for members, seniors and children
$18 for non-member adults
Saturday, November 2
Pipe Organ Tour
For the second year, Historic Denver and
the American Guild of Organists will
host a Saturday stroll to listen to some of
the city’s best organs! In each church an
organ builder will give the history of that
specific organ, a historian will give the
history of the building and an organist
will play a wonderful selection!
11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. most days
Molly Brown House Museum
Mistletoe, twinkling lights, and lush
garlands greet you through the Brown’s
home decorated in true
Victorian holiday splendor.
Then enjoy sumptuous
holiday high tea and treats
in our third floor tea room
with family, friends or
co-workers. This event
is our most popular, so
purchase your tickets early,
and, don’t forget to shop
for one-of-a-kind holiday
gifts in our award-winning
Museum Store. $25/person
A Brown Family
Christmas Tour
Friday, December 13, 6:00 p.m. and 7:00
p.m.
Saturday, December 14, 5:00, 6:00 and
7:00 p.m.
Margaret treasured the holidays
as a time to be family and
remember the joyful moments.
Enjoy her holiday traditions
with a special tour of their
decorated home at night.
$10 for members, seniors &
children
$12 for non-members
When It Matters, Businesses
Rely on FORETHOUGHT.net
Wednesday, October 23
Wednesday, November 6
43rd Annual Dinner and
Awards Program
One Past 5
Brown Palace Hotel and Spa
321 17th Street
5 to 7 p.m. - Cocktails in the Main Lobby
7 p.m. - Dinner and Awards in the Grand
Ballroom
Cost Effective
Secure + Elastic
Cloud–Oriented
Data Center
Livestock Exchange Building
4655 Humboldt St.
5:01 to 7:30 p.m.
Join Historic Denver at the 1916
Livestock Exchange Building for a
western-style happy hour! The Livestock
Exchange Building once housed the
offices of the Denver Union Stock Show
Company, the first force behind the
National Western Stock Show. Take in
the history of the National Western Stock
Show while enjoying an open bar of beer
and wine, along with hors d’oeuvres.
$30/person.
Call 303-534-5288 ext. 5 or visit www.
historicdenver.org for more information.
Wednesday, November 27
Saturday, October 26
Thanksgiving High Tea
Witch’s Brew Full Tea
10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Molly Brown House Museum
As friends and family descend for the
holiday, get them out of the house for a
pre-turkey day treat with a guided tour
of the Museum and enjoy tea sandwiches
and desserts in Mrs. Brown’s tea room.
$25/person
11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
Molly Brown House Museum
Toil and trouble - Halloween was a
favorite Victorian holiday celebrated with
elaborate décor and fun games. Come
explore our traditional decorations, enjoy
special tea treats and show off your
spookiest or wackiest witch costume.
Best costumes win prizes! $20/person
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Historic Denver Inc.
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VOICE AND DATA EXPERTS PROUDLY SERVING COLORADO SINCE 1995
Serving Buyers & Sellers Of Yesteryear
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NOSTALGIC HOMES Loves Vintage Homes &
Neighborhoods Like You Do Our Focus Has
Been Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together For
The Benefit Of Loving, Living & Appreciating
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