‘Discover Denver’ Surveys Park Hill
By Jessica Ugarte
Director of Discover Denver, Historic Denver
Discover Denver – a survey to identify historic and architecturally significant structures citywide – has chosen the focus areas for pilot area #2, including a portion of the Park Hill neighborhood. The survey will gather information about buildings using public records, neighborhood canvassing, academic research and tips from the public. Findings from the survey will later be accessible online so that everyone can learn about Denver’s past – building by building.
On September 7, 2013, the Discover Denver survey kicked-off with pilot area #1 in the mid-century modern Harvey Park neighborhood, found in southwest Denver. Survey in this neighborhood is progressing rapidly with the help of graduate-level classes and individuals from our “Volunteer Corps” who have completed a survey training program. Survey work in Harvey Park will continue throughout the fall, with additional research happening during the winter months of 2013/2014.
Pilot area #2, which will focus on 1920s Small Homes, will include portions of three distinct, older Denver neighborhoods: Park Hill, Harkness Heights and Grandview. While pilot area #2 will be focusing on “small” residential structures, all buildings in the identified survey area will be comprehensively documented. All survey activities will be done from the public right-of-way, and only exterior architectural features will be noted. Survey for pilot area #2 is expected to begin in late fall 2013, and will likely continue through spring 2014. A third pilot area, scheduled to begin in spring 2014, will focus on commercial corridors found along the historic streetcar lines.
Other major cities including Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Tulsa are currently conducting citywide building surveys. Other cities that have done comprehensive building surveys have noticed benefits which include:
• Identifying buildings of historic and architectural significance;
• Providing property owners and real estate agents up-front information about buildings to inform reinvestment and sale decisions;
• Equipping city planners with information about historic resources when proposing changes to an area; and
• Bolstering civic pride and heritage tourism.
After the pilot of Discover Denver, anticipated to be completed by summer 2014, the full citywide survey will begin. Over the next several years Discover Denver will continue to make progress in surveying the entire city – all 160,000 homes, businesses and buildings. Historic Denver, Inc. leads this collaborative project in partnership with the City and County of Denver, with support from History Colorado and the State Historic Fund.
Community input is key to the survey’s success. Citizens are urged to share their stories about Denver buildings on the project’s website. To learn more about the project, share a tip or story, or contact the program director, visit www.discoverdenver.co.