After months of community-wide angst over the developers' plans to change the face of Denver's iconic Larimer Square with two tall buildings, the historic area has landed on the list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places."
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has released its 2018 list of "America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places." And in what seems to be a "take that" message to certain real estate developers, downtown Denver's Larimer Square has clinched a spot.
"America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places is an annual list that spotlights important examples of our nation’s architectural and cultural heritage that are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage," the National Trust for Historic Preservation website savingplaces.org states. "The National Trust’s 31st annual list includes a diverse mix of historic places across America facing a range of challenges and threats, from deferred maintenance to inappropriate development proposals to devastation wrought by natural disasters."
The phrase "inappropriate development proposals" specifically refers to Larimer Square and the efforts of the Larimer Associates CEO Jeff Hermanson and Urban Villages' chief development officer Jon Buerge, who recently proposed a multi-million-dollar construction project which would knock down the backs of Larimer Square buildings and bring two tall towers of mixed-use space to the alleyways on either side of Larimer Street. After some public criticism, Hermanson and Buerge have since backed off that plan and formed an advisory committee to "identify a workable, collaborative solution" in planning the future of the historic district, BusinessDen reported.
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Now, the news that Larimer Square is officially being considered "endangered" is sure to make a difference in any committee discussions. In fact, since the National Trust for Historic Preservation began releasing their yearly list 31 years ago, fewer than five percent of the 300 named endangered sites have actually been lost to history.
Larimer Square was “Denver’s first block” — dating all the way back to the 1860s. Though it's hard to imagine the thriving, bustling trendy district of shops and restaurants falling to ruin anytime soon, its new classification will definitely make developers think twice before making any serious structural changes.
Naming historic sites to the list is meant to inspire passion and action within the community to do what it takes to preserve their original integrity and character. It calls "attention to threatened one-of-a-kind treasures throughout the nation and galvanize(s) Americans to help local communities save them," said Stephanie K. Meeks, the president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
In Larimer Square's case, there's actually a petition you can sign to show your "support for a preservation solution for Denver's beloved Larimer Square."
The other 10 sites to make the list are as follows: Annapolis’ City Dock Area (Annapolis, MD), Ashley River Historic District (Charleston, SC), Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital (Omaha Indian Reservation, NE), Hurricane-Damaged Historic Resources (Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands), Isaiah T. Montgomery House (Mound Bayou, MS), Mary and Eliza Freeman Houses (Bridgeport, CT), Mount Vernon and Piscataway National Park (Mount Vernon, VA, and Accokeek, MD), Route 66 (multiple states), Ship on the Desert (Salt Flat, TX), and Walkout Schools of Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA). You can read about each of them here.
What are your thoughts? Did Larimer Square deserve its place on the list? Do you think its endangered? Do you have any ideas for how developers could make sure the area is preserved without destroying its historical integrity? Please leave a comment below!
