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DENVER – As new development changes the landscape of our Colorado, one man is trying to save a Park Hill home that’s over a century old.
When Walter Ware saw the demolition sign on a 113-year-old farm house on 36th Avenue, he wanted to do something.
He started a social media campaign and raised well over the $875 landmark application fee.
“I don’t want to see it demolished," Ware said. "It’s a piece of our heritage. It’s a piece of our history."
The home was once a large dairy farm that the city says could be eligible for landmark status. A Community Planning and Development report found the farm house fits a type of architecture called Denver Squares and that it “promotes an understanding of the early agricultural history and resources in Denver.” It is also far older than the other buildings on the block.
“This all supplied milk, cheese, butter, for all the residents who lived in Denver," Ware said. "The significance is now that most of this has been developed. This is the very last piece of that history that's left."
The owners of the property feel it is their right to determine the future of the farm house. They sent the following statement:
The subject Property is owned by Dr. Lawrence E. Lewis, who passed away in August 2018, and his spouse Mrs. Palecia Lewis, who survives him. In the short time since his passing, the family already has substantially improved the properties owned by the family and plans are in place to improve the subject property as well. The Owners were contacted just yesterday by and agreed to meet with Historic Denver for an informational discussion regarding this property. Today, having been contacted by a News channel seeking a statement, we are concerned and disappointed that efforts are now underway to adjudicate this matter in the press. The Owner affirms its legal and moral right and autonomy to determine the future of this property, in the neighborhood in which the owner still resides and loves.
Now it is up to Community Planning and Development to determine if the home should be demolished or given landmark status.