LAKEWOOD —A pair of local historians is telling the history of West Colfax through its architecture.
Or what little remains, said Robert Autobee, who is a project lead along with his wife, Kris.
“We’ve lost almost all of it at this point,” Autobee said. “Growing up in Lakewood, I remember West Colfax had a lot of neon, a lot of motels — there’s really only a few spots here and there left standing.”
but also the loss of many of the older buildings.
Funded by a $50,000 grant from the State Historical Fund and the Lakewood-West Colfax Business Improvement District, the team is wrapping up 18 months of work conducting a historic resource survey of the 5-mile corridor stretching from Sheridan Boulevard west to Youngfield Street.
While one team was scouring Jefferson County archives, another was out on the streets, photographing buildings, knocking on doors to conduct interviews and documenting historical data about architecture in an effort to catalog every house, building and structure older than 50 years.
Kris Autobee said the work documented the story of West Colfax from a turn-of-the-century agricultural community through the corridor’s 1960s heydey as a booming suburb and neon-filled waypoint packed with motels, restaurants and businesses.
“It’s all part of that grit and glitter that comes with being part of the Colfax lore, said . “This helps celebrate, embrace and build on that.”
Of the 1,100 buildings along the stretch, 600 were found to be over 50 years old. About 60 of those have been whittled down as possible candidates for submission to the National Historic Register. Of those, 10 will be sent for final consideration.
Even everyday structures can tell a story, Kris Autobee said.
Robert Autobee points out a squat, weathered, red-brick duplex at 475 Ames St. built in 1919.
“This is unusual, because as a farming community, you wouldn’t see duplexes,” he said, adding that it’s an example of the area’s transition from farming to suburban community.
Kris Autobee said as far as they could tell, it’s the first duplex ever built in Lakewood.
“They built duplexes for density, so it puts a whole new spin on homes because now you can fit families closer together,” she added.
Further west stands what the Autobees believe is a top contender to land on the National Historic Register. The 1960s building at 10395 W. Colfax was designed by famed Denver architect Raymond Ervin and now houses a musical instrument business.
Ervin buildings in Denver include the Western Federal Bank, the Denver Club Tower and George Washington High School, Bob Autobee said.
“This was Ervin’s only suburban commission,” he added. “He was known as a real trendsetter during a time when architects were a lot more adventurous than they are today.”
said the building is filled with high-quality touches.
“The stonework, the marble flooring — we’ve been surprised at how amazing the acoustics are in here. I can hear a normal conversation from one corner of the building to the other,” Brainerd said.
Holly Boehm, a city planner and staff liaison with Lakewood’s Historic Preservation Commission, said revitalization doesn’t have to come at the expense of historic architecture.
She added: “Research has shown historic preservation can be a good tool for economic development and revitalization.”
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
Symposium
What: The Autobees will display some of their findings
Where: 40 West Arts building, 1575 Teller St., Lakewood
When: 9 a.m.-noon May 30
