Zuni Power Steam Plant - Historic Denver

CURRENT ISSUES

Zuni Steam Power Plant

Time is Running Out for the Zuni Steam Plant

Update: Landmark Designation Application Submitted

In March 2025, Historic Denver and community members formally submitted a landmark designation application for the Zuni Steam Plant, located at 13th and Zuni Street, to protect it from potential demolition. The move comes after Xcel Energy announced plans to place the plant on the market for just 30 days—a timeline that leaves little opportunity for a preservation-minded buyer to step forward.

For over a century, the Zuni Steam Plant has stood as a defining landmark along the South Platte River, in the Sun Valley neighborhood, representing Denver’s industrial growth and technological progress. Designed with cutting–edge innovations–including the pioneering use of alternating current shortly after Nikola Tesla’s invention–the plant powered the city for decades.

Despite strong community advocacy and efforts to secure a viable path for its reuse, Xcel Energy has now placed the Zuni Steam Plant on the market for just 30 days–a timeline that makes a thoughtful preservation-minded redevelopment nearly impossible This move signals a likely push toward demolition rather than a serious effort to explore reuse options.

Historic Denver, alongside many community partners, had hoped for a structured agreement between Xcel and the City and County of Denver that would allow time to identify a private-sector partner for adaptive reuse. Instead, the clock is running out on one of Denver’s most unique industrial landmarks.

We are deeply disappointed that, after years of discussions, no common ground has been reached to prioritize the plant’s significance and the voices of those who believe in its future. We remain committed to advocating for its preservation and urge Xcel and the city to reconsider before its too late.

Sign a change.org petition created by Sun Valley Coalition to save the building.

Why It Matters

In early 2024, the Zuni Steam Plant was named one of Colorado’s Most Endangered Places by Colorado Preservation, Inc., underscoring the growing threat to its future. While the plant played a pivotal role in Denver’s development, it’s legacy is complex–communities int eh Sun Valley, La Alma Lincoln Park, and surrounding neighborhoods bore the brunt of its environmental impact for decades.

However, these same communities strongly support the building’s preservation and transformation into a cultural and community-serving hub rather than allowing another historic structure to be lost to demolition. If Zuni is demolished, Denver doesn’t just lose a piece of its industrial past–it loses an opportunity to create something meaningful for the future.

This isn’t unprecedented–industrial sites across the country have been successfully repurposed into vibrant community spaces, proving that large-scale adaptive reuse is not only possible, but beneficial.

Lacombe Station in 1919, AKA Zuni Steam Plant (Denver Public Library Special Collections)

Historic Denver’s Role

Historic Denver has been a leading advocate for preserving the Zuni Steam Plant:

March 2025 – Time is Running Out for the Zuni Steam Plant – In response to Xcel Energy’s announcement that the Zuni Steam Plant would be placed on the market for just 30 days, Historic Denver alerted the public in hopes of identifying a preservation-minded buyer. The timeline remains extremely short, but we continue working with community partners to advocate for reuse and protect this irreplaceable historic resource.
November 2023–Alongside more than 30 community and city-wide organizations, we sent a letter to Mayor Mike Johnston urging the city to explore ownership options for the plant.
We have actively engaged with private developers and investment partners who recognize the site’s potential for an adaptive reuse project that respects its history while benefiting the community.
We’ve identified successful case studies of similar industrial redevelopments to demonstrate what’s possible at Zuni.

With time and collaboration, a preservation solution is possible–but that opportunity is slipping away fast.

Your Support:

Spread the word: Share this story on social media and with your networks to raise awareness about the urgency of this issue.
Sign the petition: Support the change.org petition created by Sun Valley Coalition to save the Zuni Steam Plant.
Contact local leaders: Reach out to city officials and urge them to take action before it’s too late.

Together, we can show that Denver values its historic places–not just for their past, but for their future.