I replied in the Denver forum so I'll post here as well. Easy call really. The developer thought it was worth a gamble. They hoped no one would notice and because of the church's fire sale they would make a killing - that's all. They can back out of the contract just like the previous developer did when their financing didn't come through (their plan had intended to restore the building).
Quote:
Originally Posted by wong21fr
I've got faith that the institutions will ultimately work and will look at all the information to determine whether or not this structure is historic. Personally, I think it will end up going the way of the old Duffy's; old, but not special enough that the cost-benefit of razing it is forever tilted towards preservation.
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I don't know wong - I think the structure meets the criterion for preservation under the Landmark Ordinance.
1 - History - The site is associated with the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as the churchs original rectory was located there as well as the schools. Therefore it has an association with the historical development of Catholicism in Denver. The building is associated with many influential persons - Oscar and Edith Malo, John K. Mullen, Helen Bonfils, Mrs. J.J. (Molly) Brown.
2 - Architecture - It is a significant example of Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture and according to historian Thomas J. Noel it was prize-winning. So somehow, somewhere it was recognized for its design. It was designed in 1921 by Harry J. Manning - a celebrated Denver architect with buildings on the National Historic Register as well as locally. Manning was responsible for many schools in the area - Byers, Fairmont, the Margery Reed Hall and Mary Reed Library at DU. He did the Moffat Mansion, the Capitol Life Building, the Reed Mansion (the city's finest example of Tudor Revival), St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Montview Presbyterian Church, Grant Ave. Methodist, and was involved with the City and County Building.
Some examples of his work -
3 - Geography - It is a prominent, orienting, visual feature - It has distinctive physical characteristics and is rare - And definitely contributes to what little character is left in that neighborhood.