BUILDING OWNERS

It’s important to note- easements are not the same thing as historic designation. Easements are an additional tool a property owner may elect to use to protect a building, and each easement is negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Easements are never automatically placed on any property but are given voluntarily by the owner. Easements cannot be placed on entire historic districts.

Historic Denver currently holds 70 easements in the Denver metro area. While Historic Denver is not a regulatory agency and is not involved in design review of local landmarks, we do have an obligation to ensure the general upkeep of these particular easement properties. In order to fulfill the conditions of the easement, Historic Denver conducts bi-annual inspections of our easement properties in order to ensure that they are in good condition and have not been altered. Our experienced staff identifies areas of concern and recommends preservation approaches, materials and contractors for any needed work.

If you would like to train to become an easement inspector, please fill out this application form HERE. Inspections are generally conducted biennially, between May and September.  The next inspections will occur Summer 2022. Applications will be accepted through the end of March 2022.

Historic Denver’s Easement Properties:

430 Years Church of God in Christ, 701 East 23rd Avenue
Althea Center for Engaged Spirituality, 1400 Williams Street
American National Bank, 460 Harrison Avenue, Leadville
Asbury United Methodist Church, 2205 West 30th Avenue
Barth Hotel, 1510 17th Street
Bosler House, 3209 W. Fairview Place
Bethany Swedish Lutheran Church, 205 West 5th Avenue
Central Presbyterian Church, 1660 Sherman Street
Chamber Lofts, 1726 Champa Street
Clock Tower, 2500 Broadway
Courtyard by Marriot (Tritch Building), 934 16th Street
Croke-Paterson-Campbell Mansion, 420 East 11th Avenue
Curtis-Grave Home, 1111 Humboldt Street
Denver Turnverein, 1570 N Clarkson Street
Eisenhower Chapel, 293 Roslyn Street
Elitch’s Theatre, 4600 West 37th Place
El-Jebel Shrine Temple, 1770 Sherman Street
Emerson School, 1420 Ogden Street
Equitable Building, 730 17th Street
First Congregational Church, 1128 Pine Street, Boulder
Fisher Mansion, 1600 & 1620 Logan Street
Flower-Vaille House, 1610 Emerson Street
Foster-McCauley-Symes House, 738 Pearl Street
Gargoyle-Zang House, 1532 Emerson Street
H.H. Thomas House, 2104 Glenarm Place
Hangar 61, 8700 E 21st Avenue
Holy Transfiguration of Christ Cathedral, 349 E. 47th Avenue
Hotel Teatro, 1110 14th Street
Ideal Cement Company, 821 17th Street
John Porter House, 777 Pearl Street
Joshel House, 220 South Dahlia Street
Kistler-Rodriguez House, 700 East 9th Avenue
Loretto Heights Administration Building & Chapel, 3001 South Federal Boulevard
Malo Mansion, 500 East 8th Avenue
Mathews-Gotthelf House, 2601 Champa Street
Mayfair Building, 2543 California Street
McKinley Mansion/ Campbell House, 950 Logan Street
Midwest Iron Works, 25 Larimer Street
Mouat House, 1750 Gilpin Street
Mullen Building, 1895 Franklin Street
Norman Condominiums, 99 South Downing
Ochiltree Block, 2935-2949 Zuni Street
Our Merciful Savior Church, 2222 West 32nd Avenue
Pennborough Condominiums, 1165 Pennsylvania Street
Ray Apartments, 1550 &1560 Ogden Street
Richthofen Castle, 7020 East 12th Avenue
Rockmount Ranch Wear, 1626 Wazee Street
Sanctuary Lofts (historically Scotts Methodist Church), 2201 Ogden Street
Schleier Mansion, 1665 Grant Street
Sculptured House, Golden
Sheedy Mansion, 1115 Grant Street
Sherman School (Art Students League of Denver), 200 Grant Street
Skerrit House, 3560 South Bannock, Englewood
Smith’s Chapel, 910 Galapago Street
South Broadway Christian Church, 23 Lincoln
St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2905 Federal Boulevard
St. John’s Episcopal Church, 1419 Pine Street, Boulder
St. Paul’s UMC (Below Church), 1615 Ogden Street

Sweet-Miller House, 1075 Humboldt Street
Sykes-Nicholson-Moore House, 1410 High Street
Tammen House, 1061 Humboldt Street

Tears-McFarlane House, 1290 Williams Street
Temple Emanuel, 1595 Pearl Street
Ten Winkle Building, 404-410 West 12th Avenue
Thomas Hornsby Ferril House, 2123 Downing Street
Treat Hall, 18th 7150 Montview Boulevard
Voorhees House, 1471 Stuart Street
Weir Building, 2401-2413 32nd Avenue
Wyatt-Edison, 3620 Franklin Street
Zall House, 5401 East 6th Avenue

Tax Credits

Designated historic properties can be eligible for preservation tax credits. These credits can significantly reduce the cost of restoration and rehabilitation. A 20% federal tax credit is available to commercial properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A 20-25% Colorado state tax credit is available to both income-producing and residential property-owners of properties listed on either the National Register of Historic Places, State Register of Historic Places or locally designated through a Certified Local Government, like the City of Denver. Buildings that contribute to a historic district are also eligible.

Colorado Job Creation & Main Street Revitalization Program
On Wednesday, May 14, 2014 Governor John Hickenlooper signed HB-1311, the Colorado Job Creation & Main Street Revitalization Act at a meeting of economic development organizations in Pueblo. Historic Denver advocated for this legislation along with our preservation partners, History Colorado, Colorado Preservation, Inc., the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Downtown Colorado, Inc.

View details on the new COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL credit

Co-sponsored in the House by Representatives Leroy Garcia and Tim Dore and in the Senate by Senators Pat Steadman and Larry Crowder, the bill improves Colorado’s existing state tax credit by increasing the project cap from $50,000 to $1 million for commercial projects and by making the commercial credits transferable. Fewer changes were made to the way the tax credit applies to single-family homes, although it can now be “re-used” more than once per property, which makes long-term stewardship more viable. To be eligible to use the credits, a building must be locally designated or listed on either the State Register or National Register of Historic Places.

State Historical Fund

The State Historical Fund (SHF) is a unique program of the Colorado Historical Society that funds a wide range of preservation projects across the State of Colorado, including restoration construction efforts. SHF grant funds are generated from the state tax revenues produced by gaming in the historic mining towns of Black Hawk, Central City and Cripple Creek.

Since grant applicants to the SHF must be either a non-profit organization or public entity, and the proposed project must be able to demonstrate a public benefit, SHF grants are not a good option for the restoration of a private residence. Private owners of buildings open to the public or otherwise offering a public benefit may apply for a grant with the sponsorship of an eligible non-profit. Historic Denver has successfully applied for and managed dozens of SHF grants on behalf of private and non-profit owners. Please visit the State Historical Fund’s website to learn more about the available grant types, application process and grant regulations.

To learn about how Historic Denver may be able to apply for and/or manage a grant on behalf of your organization, please contact our Manager of Grants and Preservation Services, Shannon Stage by phone at 303-534-5288 ext. 25 or by email at sstage@historicdenver.org.

Other Funding Sources

The National Trust for Historic Preservation has several other ideas for funding a range of project types for different types of owners. Visit their website to learn more.

Historic Denver currently does not offer direct assistance in funding physical preservation projects. Although we do have our Action Fund program that can fund community driven projects such as creation of historic districts, overlays, educational projects (learn more about our Action Fund program here).

The city of Denver’s Preservation Ordinance was created in 1967, just a year after the watershed passage of the National Historic Preservation Act. The ordinance is a framework that supports Denver’s historic districts and individual landmarks, and specifically outlines provisions related to historic designation, design review and demolition review. It is an important to note that these functions are managed by the City & County of Denver, its Landmark Preservation Committee, and the Denver City Council.

There are 52 local historic districts in Denver and over 300 individually landmarked properties. Landmark designation is a great tool for preserving the historic fabric of Denver’s neighborhoods while encouraging thoughtful and sympathetic improvements and additions. Navigating the ins and outs of what designation means for your property, however, can seem like a daunting task. Below we’ve compiled a number of questions we frequently receive about designation to highlight the benefits of landmark designation and to shed light on the many misconceptions surrounding the process. The City of Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission also has a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

Please note: Historic Denver, Inc is a private, non-profit organization that provides ideas and actions for Denver’s historic places. We do not manage the city’s designation programs. The Landmark Preservation Commission is the formal city agency responsible for designation and design review. To contact the Landmark Commission, please visit their website or call them at (720) 865-2709.

1. Overview of Historic Denver, Inc.
2. Architectural Styles in Colorado
3. Denver’s Historic Neighborhoods
4. Living in a Historic District or Home
5. Financial Incentives for Historic Properties
6. General Maintenance for Older Homes
7. Researching Historic Properties

Helpful Publications and Links:

Map of Historic Landmarks in Denver

Western History and Genealogy Department Research Tools

Real Property Search for the City and County of Denver

Designated Historic Landmarks & Historic Districts Map (City and County of Denver)

Owner’s Manual for Historically Designated Homes & Buildings

“The Economic Power of Heritage and Place:  How Historic Preservation is Building a Sustainable Future in Colorado”

FAQ’s about Historic Designation

Through the program, we conduct research to determine the maintenance and renovation/repair costs of the historic sacred building; we strive to strengthen and maintain public education about the importance of sacred places by offering community-centered services; and we provide technical assistance to inner-city congregations and their pastors to help them accurately assess the enormous value of their physical and human resources, as well as identify funding sources and secure grants for restoration and rehabilitation — most often from the Colorado State Historical Fund.

Historic Denver’s Sacred Landmarks team is currently managing grant-funded projects at First Unitarian Church and the Althea Center in Capitol Hill, Trinity United Methodist in downtown, North Highland Presbyterian in West Highlands, and People’s Presbyterian in the North City Park/Skyland neighborhood. Past project include work at the former Temple Emanuel in Uptown, Central Presbyterian in downtown, 430 Years of Church in Christ in Five Points, and Four Winds American Indian Council in Baker.

Does your historic place of worship need help? You’re invited to contact us for help and information.

Built in the 1890s, this property at 1400 N. Lafayette St. in Denver’s Capitol Hill/Cheesman Park neighborhood is a prime and unique example of construction using locally sourced rhyolite in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It was designated a Denver landmark in 2016. This project will rehabilitate the masonry of all four facades of the church, and includes cleaning and re-pointing exterior stone masonry. It is funded, in part, by History Colorado’s State Historical Fund, in partnership with Historic Denver.

Team meeting to review the progress of the masonry restoration. Photo by Shannon Schaefer Stage.

The building houses the oldest Unitarian congregation in Colorado. It was founded in 1871 – five years before Colorado statehood. During its first two and a half years, the congregation used seven different assembly venues, largely due to the controversial social action work undertaken by its members. The Unitarians often made news for bold moves like utilizing female ushers, teaching vocational skills to girls, educating boys who worked during the day and, later, advocating for reform against the imprisonment of children.

In 1958, First Unitarian Society of Denver purchased the building at 1400 N. Lafayette St. from the first owner, Plymouth Congregational Church. First Unitarian has been the proud steward of the building since, and has exhibited significant community and social justice work since its founding.

Photo by Tina Pino.

This important rehabilitation work will propel plans to engage the public, its membership, and numerous partner groups in the powerful story of the church and its building. First Unitarian is committed to maintaining its presence at this location as an “urban sanctuary in the heart of Denver.” Now as in the past, First Unitarian is active and influential in social justice issues of race, gay and lesbian rights, marriage equality, women’s rights, and immigration rights.