Historic Denver, Inc. is working with the City and County of Denver to establish a city-wide survey to identify buildings that have long played an important role in Denver’s history.
The project, Discover Denver, is funded by the State Historical Fund and will document buildings to determine if they are historic and architecturally significant.
As the pilot phase of the survey reaches completion, Discover Denver has begun working toward the next phase of neighborhoods.
On Monday, Historic Denver sent a request for proposal to find a qualified contractor to complete surveys on 6,500 buildings.
“Our goal is to document every single building in Denver, so when you think about it in the grand scheme of things, that number isn’t a lot,” Discover Denver director Beth Glandon said. “The contractor will conduct a cultural resource survey, documenting and taking photos of historic buildings and their features to document how they change over time.”
While Discover Denver is operated primarily on a volunteer basis, Glandon said they need a qualified contractor in the field along with volunteers for the next phase.
The National Park Service requires contractors meet certain criteria, including needing to have performed “one large-scale historic property survey in an urban setting in the last three years.”
Glandon said they’ve earmarked about $90,000 for a qualified contractor.
Alexandra Foster, program manager for Community Planning and Development for the city, said the designated areas of the 6,500 buildings aren’t yet set in stone but will include three or four neighborhoods.
“The purpose is to put information out to the public about these buildings, not with the intention of designating historic landmarks necessarily, but just to learn about their stories and find what historic importance is there,” Foster said. “We’re taking a look at Denver’s building stock and then putting that information out there for the public.”
Natalie Munio: 303-954-1666, nmunio@denverpost.com or @nataliemunio
