Historic Colfax Buildings Demolished After Years of Debate

1600-1618 East Colfax Avenue

After years of legal battles, preservation debates, and neighborhood concern, the long vacant buildings at 1600 and 1618 East Colfax Avenue were demolished this week, ending a prolonged and contentious chapter along one of Denver’s most visible corridors.

The buildings, located at the corner of East Colfax Avenue and Franklin Street across from Park Avenue, were part of the Wyman Historic District and dated back to the late 1920s. Historic photographs from 1928 to 1930 and 1989 show the structures during earlier eras of East Colfax, when the corridor transitioned from residential homes to commercial storefronts. More recent photos from 2024 captured their severe deterioration after years of vacancy.

Designed in the Art Moderne style, the buildings were considered contributing historic structures. Originally built as large residences before storefronts were added, they later fell into disrepair and became widely regarded as unsafe. Neighbors raised repeated concerns about vandalism, break ins, squatting, and public safety, while preservation advocates argued the buildings still retained architectural and cultural significance.

Pando Holdings purchased the property in 2017 with redevelopment in mind. Early plans included demolition, but landmark protections forced a shift toward rehabilitation. At one point, the developer proposed restoring the buildings while constructing a new 7 story apartment building on the rear portion of the lot. Renderings from that period illustrated an attempt to integrate old and new, but rising construction costs stalled the project.

A fire in March 2024 significantly damaged one of the buildings, further complicating rehabilitation efforts. Later that year, Denver’s Landmark Preservation Commission approved demolition under an economic hardship provision, reversing an earlier denial and highlighting the tension between preservation goals and redevelopment feasibility.

With the structures now removed, the developer can build across the entire site. Final redevelopment plans have not yet been announced, but new visuals, including AI generated concepts we created, suggest a dramatically different future for the corner.

The demolition closes a long running dispute and opens a new phase for East Colfax, where questions about growth, safety, and historic preservation continue to shape the street’s evolution.