The 1960 Howard Berkeley Park Chapel in northwest Denver became the city's 349th individual Landmark following a unanimous vote of City Council last night. Front Range prepared the application for new owner Wamserville West LLC. Designed by prominent Denver architect J. Roger Musick, the mid-century mortuary was built by Howard Mortuary Company, a business established in the city in 1917. Contrasting with earlier funeral homes, the building featured a larger footprint and included specialized spaces for funeral services, reposing rooms, casket display areas, reception areas, and a garage for funeral vehicles. Redemption Church Denver began services in the chapel in March and a school may soon occupy the remainder of the building. Denver Community Planning and Development commented on the designation process:
"This designation caps an ongoing community dialogue that began in spring 2019 when previous owners applied to demolish the building. A group of neighbors submitted an application for landmark designation that led to a series of conversations about the future of the site. A compromise was eventually reached that made way for a sale of the property to its current owners, who have pledged to preserve and adapt the building for re-use."
“This outcome is the perfect example of how promoting community dialogue can lead to mutually beneficial solutions for property owners and neighbors eager to save places important to the community,” said Laura E. Aldrete, executive director of Community Planning and Development. “When we updated our demolition review process last year to provide more time for community discussion, this is exactly the kind of compromise we had in mind.”
"This designation caps an ongoing community dialogue that began in spring 2019 when previous owners applied to demolish the building. A group of neighbors submitted an application for landmark designation that led to a series of conversations about the future of the site. A compromise was eventually reached that made way for a sale of the property to its current owners, who have pledged to preserve and adapt the building for re-use."
“This outcome is the perfect example of how promoting community dialogue can lead to mutually beneficial solutions for property owners and neighbors eager to save places important to the community,” said Laura E. Aldrete, executive director of Community Planning and Development. “When we updated our demolition review process last year to provide more time for community discussion, this is exactly the kind of compromise we had in mind.”
Meeting photo courtesy of Pat Defa
RSS Feed
