Colfax mansions in Wyman District can be preserved if we work together

On July 29, the Denver Post Editorial board published an opinion piece about the two former mansion homes at 1600 and 1618 East Colfax.

They were referred to as “Frankenstein Mansions.” This came six days after an article by Elizabeth Hernandez labeled them an “eyesore” in the opening headline. This is strong language and, in an era of strong language, it is important to consider the issues at play that have led us to this point. The buildings have undeniably seen better days, but their current situation is a product of context.

That context starts with the buildings’ historical status. Both are designated as “character contributing” structures within the Wyman Historic District. This means that a property owner cannot demolish or dramatically modify the exterior appearance without approval from the city.

Those supportive of retaining historic buildings are often accused of being reactive and of popping up at the last minute. On the contrary, the Wyman district was created by city council in 1993 so the current legal framework and presumption in favor of preservation has been in place for 31 years. The current landowner, Pando Holdings, purchased the site in 2017.

The news article notes that the developer bought the buildings with plans to demolish them, and this is now being thwarted by the city. This is not the full story. It is true that Pando purchased the buildings with a plan to demolish them. However, after making that intention public, local community groups pushed back. As a result, Pando dropped its demolition plan in 2018 and instead sought approval from the city to restore the existing buildings and construct seven stories of new homes in the parking lot to the rear. The city’s online portal shows that the permit for this plan is approved pending payment.

In March 2024, a fire ripped through 1600 Colfax, the former home of the architect who designed East High School. Three months later, Pando sought approval from the city to demolish both buildings. When questioned at the public hearing, it transpired that the buildings were not insured.

Another dimension to the context the historic buildings now find themselves in is the assertion by Pando that the combination of the Covid-19 virus, city permitting timescales, and current economic conditions have created a perfect storm, complicating their development plans.

These factors are well-documented and difficult to disagree with.

What’s more, the patience of the local community is fading as the – now – dilapidated buildings attract antisocial behavior. Would the situation be different had the developers implemented their community-supported plan when it was agreed on six years ago? We shall never know. What is known in the development industry is that time creates uncertainty and uncertainty costs money – and lack of money is why we are all in this predicament.