The dilapidated buildings at 1600 and 1618 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, which locals described as a magnet for crime, are coming down.
On Thursday morning, crews were nearly finished demolishing the adjacent structures, one of which was damaged by a fire in March 2024.
The buildings were considered “contributing structures” to Denver’s Wyman Historic District, a status that would generally mean they couldn’t be knocked down. But in the wake of the fire and regular break-ins by vagrants, the city’s Landmark Preservation Commission approved demolition on account of economic hardship in December 2024.
Denver officials give green light to demolish “blighted” historic East Colfax buildings
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The commission heard from numerous neighbors who described the buildings as a magnet for vice.
“I’m a regular caller of 311 and 911,” Van Schoales, who lives across the alley, said at a June 2024 meeting. “The number of crimes taking place because of these properties not being developed is off the charts.”
The buildings and large lot behind them are owned by Denver-based developer Pando Holdings, which bought the site for $3.2 million in 2017.
The company originally hoped to demolish the buildings, but changed course when it appeared unlikely that would be allowed. It hatched a plan to fix up the structures -- basically old mansions with storefronts added in front — and construct a seven-story apartment building on the vacant land to the rear.
That project was put on hold as construction costs rose during the pandemic. Tenants in the building moved out, and visible homelessness in Denver surged.
“There has been a non-stop pattern of unauthorized individuals trespassing, breaking into the buildings and camping,” Pando executive Lance Gutsch said in June 2024.
Gutsch and his business partner Kiely Wilson didn’t respond to requests for comment Thursday. The pair have not submitted new development plans to the city to replace the previous ones that incorporated the buildings.
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