1575 Yates Street

A 138 year old single family home in West Colfax known as the Winter Residence could soon be demolished or preserved as a historical landmark.

The Winter Residence sits on a 9,000 square foot lot at the corner of Yates Street and W 16th Avenue just two blocks South of Sloan Lake.

In January, the property owner Alejandra Roze of Fort Collins submitted an application of demolition eligibility which triggered a review from the Denver Landmark Preservation Committee.

This home was originally owned by Gustave Winter, a German immigrant who founded the Denver Iron Fence Company responsible for manufacturing ornamental iron products known for the original fence around Union Station and the Trinity M.E. Church.

After Gustaves death in 1889, the home was owned by numerous individuals including but not limited to Dr. Harry A. Miller, a dentist and boxing manager, and Montgomery C. Force, a executive director of the Lowry Redevelopment Authority.

Besides being owned by well known Denver professionals, this home is being considered for historical preservation due to its direct association with the historical development of the city and its distinctive visible architectural characteristics.

According to the Denver Preservation Committee, 1575 Yates Street has a direct association with the early development of Denver, particularly the development of the West Colfax neighborhood.

This home was one of the earliest homes built in the western most portion of the city and was one of the first homes built in the West Colfax neighborhood.

The Winter Residence was constructed in the Eclectic style and features elements of Flemish and Romanesque styles. The use of the stepped gable is indicative of Flemish style buildings, and the use of arched windows are characteristics of the Romanesque style.

The use of the Eclectic style, melding it with Flemish and Romanesque details can be found on very few homes in Denver. There are no other examples of this style on the 1500 Block of Yates Street and its unclear if there are any other examples of this style in the West Colfax neighborhood.

Even with the historical design significance, its obvious why someone would want to tear this property down. The property is located on a large corner lot in a neighborhood experiencing vast redevelopment.

The property is zoned U-RH-3A, which means a 3-story multifamily building can be constructed upon the site as of right. Considering the proximity to Sloan Lake, development of an apartment building is definitely more lucrative than the current single family home.

Considering a notice of intent to preserve this property was filed, a meeting with the property owner will occur on March 24, 2023 to determine the fate of the Winter Residence.

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Click here for more information on The Winter House and how you can help preserve this structure.