With Broadway traffic whizzing by and the downtown skyline looming like a sentinel, residents of the Baker neighborhood go about their business as if the world of commerce were miles – instead of blocks – away.
They tend their postage-stamp-size yards, chat with passers-by and sit on old-fashioned porches in the central Denver enclave, roughly bounded by Lincoln Street, West Mississippi Avenue, the South Platte River and West Sixth Avenue.
Streets of brightly colored Queen Annes, Victorians, Denver Squares and even a few oddly placed 1950s and ’60s apartment houses sit in this urban oasis. They have become increasingly popular with a professional crowd that embraces historical charm and real estate prices that are still considered by many to be a bargain.
Engineer Adrian Brown is raising his second family in an 1890s Victorian in the heart of Baker’s historic district, a far cry from Ken Caryl, where he raised his first family.
“I moved to this neighborhood in 1995 because it has so much character and the price of housing was a great value,” said Brown, president of the Baker Historic Neighborhood Association. He paid $675,000 three years ago for the 4,660-square-foot home, which he guesses is worth close to a million now. He and his wife also love the idea of raising two toddlers in such a diverse neighborhood.
Originally part of the 160-acre tract homesteaded by William and Elizabeth Byers, Baker grew to include the largest number of middle-class Queen Annes in Denver, as well as stately mansions and simple, one-story Mission-style homes. After World War II, many of the homes were converted into apartments.
By the 1960s, the neighborhood had become a shadow of its former glorious self. A large gay and lesbian crowd arrived in the 1970s and is credited with doing much of the work to bring dilapidated houses back to life.
Today, the neighborhood exudes authentic charm. An extremely active neighborhood association works toward protecting the integrity of the architecture and encouraging the individuality of the owners. The area has a healthy mix of professionals, young families, single women and Hispanics, especially west of Delaware Street.
“Property values may not increase like other parts of the city, but buying here is a safe investment,” said Ed Shackelford, a real estate agent with Cherry Creek GMAC.
Two imminent changes may add to that security. First, the Denver Center for International Studies, a 20-year-old magnet program housed at West High School, will soon move into the old Baker Middle School, serving grades 6-12. Principal Dan Lutz said the school intends to work hand-in-hand with the neighbors using school property to host a variety of events.
Second, a new luxury development is going up at West Fourth Avenue and Acoma Street, developed by Watermark LLC and designed by Fentress Bradburn Architects LTD. Ninety units in both street-facing brownstones and a seven-story high-rise will be built around the Chittenden Mansion, slated to become a bed- and-breakfast. Units will range from 900 to 3,700 square feet and will sell for $300,000 to $1.9 million each.
Why did developer Agatha Kessler choose this location?
“It’s no cheaper here than other places in the city,” she said. “I chose it for its charming environment, its fabulous proximity to downtown, its tree-lined streets. There is simply no other neighborhood like this in Denver.”
All about Baker
Who lives here: Young families, professionals such as doctors, lawyers and engineers, and single women.
Main attractions: Within walking distance of the Mayan Theatre, the Hornet restaurant and funky Broadway shops; tree-lined streets; homes with small yards, original woodwork and high ceilings.
Common complaints: Loud traffic at times; limited street parking and few garages; homes with small closets and no basements.
Schools: Denver Public Schools, including Fairmont and Lincoln elementaries; Grant, Rishel and Kepner middle schools; and West High School. Denver Center for International Studies, serving grades 6-12, will open this fall.
Architectural gems: Victorians, Italianates, Denver Squares and Queen Annes, including 30 William Lange houses – he designed Molly Brown’s house – with details such as turrets and “eyebrow” gables.
Price per square foot today: Up to $210 for 1 1/2-, two- and three-story houses.
– Sally Stich
