Denver City Council approved a four-year, $2.5 million contract with DHM Design on March 23, 2026, to lead citywide planning and landscape projects that will heavily impact historic neighborhoods.
This funding fuels a broader trend in La Alma Lincoln Park, where the city is prioritizing preservation over demolition as the district navigates its first years as a designated Historic Cultural District.
Specific filings from April 2026 illustrate this shift. On April 20, site development plans surfaced for the historic corner of Champa Street and Park Avenue West, a location anchored by the 1880s-era Curtis-Champa Historic District. Just days prior, on April 14, the Historic Elitch Gardens Theatre Foundation applied for a special event liquor license to facilitate community gatherings at the landmark venue.
Parallel activity occurred downtown, where the Denver Housing Authority secured a new residential rental license for the 80202 ZIP code on April 10. This move follows a filing on April 12 regarding a historic nurses dormitory near South Colorado Boulevard entering a new phase of transition. These records contrast sharply with recent demolition trends in the city that have seen older structures like historic motels cleared for redevelopment.
The La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood holds the distinction of being Denver's first Historic Cultural District, a status granted in August 2021 to recognize its significance to the Chicano movement. The recent contract with Anderson Hallas Architects, which added nearly $1.5 million to a deal totaling $6.5 million for citywide preservation services through 2028, suggests the city is committing significant resources to protect these assets.
Residents should watch for the upcoming public hearings on the site plans for the Champa and Park Avenue corner. The filings indicate that while other parts of Denver face rapid demolition cycles, the city is investing in design-led preservation to maintain the character of its oldest neighborhoods.