Letter to the Editor
Love it the way it is
I would like to express my concern for the proposed historic designation for Park Hill. I feel that adding another layer of review for exterior architectural change is too much restriction. I am not certain what makes this neighborhood architecturally worth preserving. I love Park Hill the way it is, but I don’t think that the homes in Park Hill should be forced to remain locked in place, limited to the fashion and technology of a particular era. I don’t think it is the architecture that makes Park Hill such a great place to live.
We bought our home feeling very comfortable that there were no building restrictions other than the usual zoning, permitting, etc. and we feel like it is unfair to foist additional regulations on our property because of someone else’s idea of what the neighborhood should look like. Our house is fairly small by comparison to many in the area in question. It is on a corner lot where we would be hampered by the regulations on two sides of the street, not just the front.
That said, I like my house the way it is. It is just right for the two of us as empty nesters and we don’t intend to do anything much to the exterior. But we want to know that when we need a new roof or a new front door that we don’t have to wait on another committee to approve it. We want to know that someday, when we sell our house, (and we will someday-that is life), we are not limited to that small number of buyers who would fit well in this particular home, as is.
We bought in Park Hill because we like the location, not necessarily for the style of house. I enjoy the eclectic nature of Park Hill; the juxtaposition of the bungalows next to the Denver Square next to the mid-mod, to me is vibrant and interesting and I would hate to see that variety stifled. I wouldn’t likely purchase a home within a historic district if I were shopping today, just like I wouldn’t have when we purchased our current home.
Julie Reusser, Park Hill
(within the historic designation area)
Editor’s Note: We love your letters, and give preference to those that address an issue that has been covered in the newspaper, or a topic that is Park Hill or Denver-specific. Join the conversation and make your voices heard. Send letters to editor@greaterparkhill.org, and include your full name, and the neighborhood in which you live. Deadlines are the 15th of each month, for the following month’s issue. All past issues can be read at greaterparkhill.org.