CREJ

/ BUILDING DIALOGUE / MARCH 2017

willing to meet with Historic Denver and the neighborhood organization for the area,

Capitol Hill United Neighborhoods.

The first meeting in August 2015 provided both Historic Denver, the neighbors and

Southern Land the opportunity to share hopes and goals for the site, and to brainstorm

potential solutions. In advance of the meeting Historic Denver carefully studied the zon-

ing on the site and the zoning of the surrounding land, as well as the height of adjacent

buildings. Given the density and urban nature of the area, Historic Denver proposed a pos-

sible path forward: shift the intensity of the development back off 17th, but accommodate

the same number of units by allowing changes in the permitted building envelope. This

would save the beloved corner building, provide Southern Landwith the ability to develop

a project with the same number of units as originally conceived, and ensure that histor-

ic 17th Avenue retained its heritage and identity. Southern Land took this idea one step

further, creatively determining that it could maintain the same height as first proposed,

but accommodate more units through a zoning change that altered the number of floor

plates allowed from eight to 10. With a conceptual solution in-hand, Southern Land Co.

andHistoric Denver were able to join forces to achieve this outcome, working together and

with the Department of Community Planning & Development to draft a zoning amend-

ment. The rezoning was formally approved by a unanimous vote of Denver City Council in

October 2016, and construction on the project is set to begin early this year. An agreement

between Southern Land and Historic Denver ensures that the 117-year-old building, which

was first used as a neighborhood grocery, will continue to serve the community, symbolize

the Uptown neighborhood and honor the streetcar identity of 17th Avenue.

This win-win, which benefits the community, the developer and preservationists, de-

veloped over the course of a year would not have been possible without the patience and

persistence of all the parties, including Southern Land Co., which delayed the project while

the rezoning process moved along. It also would not have been possible without an ex-

perienced, knowledgeable and progressive preservation organization willing to speak for

the importance of the city’s heritage, and committed to finding forward-looking solutions

that support both the preservation of that heritage and the evolution of the city.

Often, media stories about historic preservation focus on the controversies, on the black

and white, “save it or scrape it” paradigm, but the true preservation success stories often

happen quietly, creatively and collaboratively. Historic Denver is committed to this vision

of preservation and development, and will continue to serve as a resource, collaborator

and advocate to ensure that Denver thrives as a vibrant community with a unique identi-

ty, an identity rooted in our heritage and our strong sense of place.

PHOTOS:

Historic Denver

OPENING ART:

Denver City Railway

Company Building

ABOVE:

The C.S. Morey Mercantile

Building currently houses

Tattered Cover Bookstore.

Right: Barteldes Seed

Company Building