Progress & Preservation...Together

Overview of Reconnaissance Survey Results

As presented at the Wash Park East N.A. meeting 11/15/00

Washington Park East Neighborhood Association held a membership meeting, November 15. The program included a presentation by Historic Denver, Inc. of the results of the State Historical Fund mini-grant. The grant surveyed the structures in our neighborhood for historical significance. We have an enormous area that is considered our neighborhood: from 1st Avenue south to I-25 and from Downing Street east to University Boulevard. This area contains several architectural periods, so an initial reconnaissance survey was done to determine the predominant architectural period that was most likely to be significant. Given the reconnaissance results, the survey was conducted from Virginia on the north to Louisiana on the south; from Downing on the west to the alley between University and York on the east.

The outcome of the survey found that there is an area of the neighborhood that warrants historic designation. Remember, a prospective historic district must meet at least two of the three Landmark Designation Criteria:
· Historical. To have historical significance , the district must be more than 30 years old. Most of our homes are more than 50 years old.
· Architectural. To have architectural significance, the district must have design quality and integrity. East Washington Park is considered "one of the best bungalow neighborhoods in the Front Range".
· Geographical. To have geographical significance, the district must have a prominent location or be an established, familiar, and orienting visual feature of the City. We are considered "one of Denver's earliest street car suburbs".
The study found the area with the most "historical integrity" to be L shaped. The long leg of the L goes along the Park on Downing from Virginia to Louisiana. This includes all of the Park. Although there are Landmarked structures within the Park, the Park itself is not protected. Our proximity to the Park gives the prospective district its geographical significance. Designation of the Park itself will be determined by the Denver Parks and Recreation Department.

The short leg of the L goes from the alley between York and University to the Park. The north - south boundaries go from Virginia to Tennessee. The study found this area of "a large collection of solid, mostly brick, mostly one-story, Bungalow style homes" to have the highest level of architectural integrity. Our historical significance? We are the "best example of an early twentieth century, middle class streetcar suburb within the City, experiencing its greatest growth during the 1920s". The study recommended that "the process of making Landmark district application should be pursued as rapidly as practicable before further alterations make further inroads into the area's historic integrity".

Neighbors at the meeting asked many questions and received answers. They also asked Historic Denver to re-evaluate the possible inclusion of the west side of University and inclusion of such resources as the area that encompasses the old Myrtle Hill church and school as well as the present day Denver Academy and the United Methodist Church. Historic Denver agreed to do so.