A Denver commission voted to allow the demolition of two dilapidated 130-year-old mansions, despite concerns from preservationists. The decision was fueled by arguments that the buildings posed safety and economic risks to the neighborhood.
A biker passes by the dilapidated vacant buildings as a woman waits at the bus stop in front of 1600 and 1618 East Colfax Avenue in Denver on July 17, 2024. (Photo by Zachary Spindler-Krage/The Denver Post)on East Colfax Avenue, with all but one board member agreeing the multimillion-dollar restorations would be an economic hardship to the owner.“I’m going to feel bad about this one way or the other at the end of this,” commission member Rusty Brown said before the vote.
Most of the neighbors living near the 130-year-old former mansions at 1600 and 1618 E. Colfax Ave. who spoke at Tuesday’s public hearing urged the commission to approve demolition, describing the properties as harmful, dangerous nuisances that brought down property values. Pando Holdings officials have spent years working through Denver’s permitting process to build a seven-story apartment building that would preserve the buildings, which are part of theThe firm now estimates it would cost $12 million to restore the properties but only bring their resale value to $4 million. “I almost thought it was a blessing when they caught fire,” Denver resident Ryan Glister told the commission during the public hearing. “These properties have been a blight on the city,” resident Brad Gassman told commission members later in the hearing. “…They’re unsafe, there are crimes being committed day in and day out, and I think it’s having an economic impact on the city. It’s a black hole. Nobody wants to build or do anything there because of those properties.”“We believe that this will be a precedent and will create a viable pathway toward demolition that results in the loss of many more legally protected buildings across our city and country,” Historic Denver CEO John Deffenbaugh said. Commission member George Dennis, the sole vote against demolition, said the owners knew what they were getting into when they bought the historic building
DEMOLITION HISTORIC BUILDINGS PRESERVATION DENVER PROPERTY VALUES
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Denver City Council approves shorter contract for Caring for Denver Foundation with eye toward more transparencyThe Denver City Council on Monday awarded the Caring For Denver Foundation a one-year contract to continue administering grants funded through a dedicated city sales tax stream amid questions about…
Read more »
Denver City Council shoots down proposal that would have brought pricey private pool to northwest DenverCouncil voted 11-1 to reject a rezoning proposal that would have opened the door for a private pool to be constructed.
Read more »
Denver Public Library Resurrects One Book, One DenverEleven years after the city closed the book on the program, the DPL is opening a new chapter.
Read more »
Denver mayor suggests using Denver police to block mass deportations under TrumpBrandon Richard is a reporter for Denver7 in Denver, Colorado.
Read more »
Civic Center Park Construction Plans Hit Snag at Denver Landmark CommissionNot enough commissioners were present to approve plans to majorly change the Greek Theater, and some members of the public weren't happy about the redesign.
Read more »
Denver City Council approves contract extension to lease hotel shelter through Feb. 2025Kristian Lopez joined the Denver7 team in Jan. 2022. She was born and raised in Northern California.
Read more »