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'What's that?': Tiny "chapel" near Sloan's Lake to be preserved

Posted at 11:01 AM, Aug 02, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-02 13:01:06-04

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DENVER — Our growing Colorado is changing every day and sometimes, the new pushes out the old.

But there’s a tiny historic building near Sloan’s Lake that’s standing its ground despite all of the new developments surrounding it.

The brick building resembles a tiny chapel and sits near the corner of 16th Avenue and Stuart Street between two large apartment buildings.

“Technically it’s not a chapel, it’s a shrine and it was constructed, we believe, back in the 1930s,” said Cameron Bertron, the executive vice president of development for
EnviroFinance Group.

EnviroFinance has been developing the old St. Anthony’s hospital campus where the shrine is located.

“We looked at lots of options including picking it up and moving it,” Bertron said.

But Bertron said they were afraid it would fall apart.

“We landed on keeping it right where it was because it created an opportunity to build a half-acre park around it.”

Now the tiny religious building will be preserved and serve a new purpose.

“Maybe, possibly gallery space, or we may open it up to the community certain times of the week for events,” Bertron said.

The plan is to open the park and historic building by spring or early summer of next year.

Denver7 is committed to exploring the growth we are all experiencing in Our Colorado. We want to know what you're seeing and what questions you have about what's to come in your community. If you notice a new project and you want to know more, email us at OurCO@TheDenverChannel.comand ask, "What's that?" Every week, we'll take your questions and see what we can find out.