Report No. CDOT-2011- 6 Final Report DENVER AREA POST-WORLD WAR II SUBURBS Bunyak Research Associates Front Range Research Associates, Inc. April 2011 COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION APPLIED RESEARCH AND INNOVATION BRANCH The contents of this report reflect the views of the author(s), who is(are) responsible for the facts and accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Colorado Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. CDOT-2011-6 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date DENVER AREA POST-WORLD WAR II SUBURBS February 2011 6. Performing Organization Code 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. Dawn Bunyak, Thomas H. and R. Laurie Simmons CDOT-2011-6 9. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Bunyak Research Associates 10628 W. Roxbury Ave. 11. Contract or Grant No. 34.72 Littleton, CO 80127 Front Range Research Associates, Inc. 3635 W. 46th Ave. Denver, CO 80211 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Colorado Department of Transportation - Research Final 4201 E. Arkansas Ave. Denver, CO 80222 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Also funded in part by a grant from the Colorado Historical Society 15. Supplementary Notes Prepared in cooperation with the US Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration 16. Abstract Historic Residential Subdivisions of Metropolitan Denver, 1940-1965, documents the development of mid-century suburbs in CDOT Region 6. The report follows the National Register of Historic Places format for multiple property documentation, and is intended as a tool for researchers who need to determine the National Register eligibility for neighborhoods with the potential to be impacted by transportation projects. 17. Keywords 18. Distribution Statement Multiple Property Documentation Form No restrictions. This document is available to the public (MPDF), National Register of Historic Places, through the National Technical Information Service metropolitan Denver suburbs www.ntis.gov or CDOT’s Research Report website http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/research/pdfs 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 288 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized DENVER AREA POST-WORLD WAR II SUBURBS Report No. CDOT-2011-6 Prepared by: Bunyak Research Associates 10628 W. Roxbury Avenue Littleton, CO 80127 Dawn Bunyak, Historian and Front Range Research Associates, Inc. 3635 W. 46th Avenue Denver, CO 80211 Thomas H. and R. Laurie Simmins Sponsored by: Colorado Department of Transportation In Cooperation with the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration Colorado Department of Transportation Research Branch 4201 E. Arkansas Avenue Denver, CO 80222 April 2011 NPS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (Revised March 1992) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer, to complete all items. X New Submission Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing Historic Residential Subdivisions of Metropolitan Denver, 1940-1965 B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Metropolitan Denver Suburban Residential Development, 1940-1965 C. Form Prepared by name/title Thomas H. Simmons and R. Laurie Simmons, historians date 22 October 2010 (revised) organization Front Range Research Associates, Inc. street & number 3635 West 46th Avenue (www.frhistory.com) telephone 303-477-7597 city or town Denver state Colorado zip code 80211 and name/title Dawn Bunyak, historian organization Bunyak Research Associates street & number 10628 W. Roxbury Avenue (www.bunyakresearch.com telephone 303-932-7725 city or town Littleton state Colorado zip code 80127 D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation. (See continuation sheet for additional comments [ ].) Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Signature and title of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Office, Colorado Historical Society State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper Date of Action Historic Residential Subdivisions of Metropolitan Denver, 1940-1965 Colorado Name of Multiple Property Listing State Table of Contents for Written Narrative Provide the following information on continuation sheets. Cite the letter and the title before each section of the narrative. Assign page numbers according to the instructions for continuation sheet in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 16B). Fill in page numbers for each section in the space below. Page Numbers E. Statement of Historic Contexts 3 (If more than one historic context is documented, present them in sequential order.) 1. Metropolitan Denver on the Eve of World War II 3 2. World War II Era Developments, 1940-45 21 3. Growth of the Metropolitan Area and Post World War II Subdivision Development, 1946-65 41 4. House Construction and Design Trends, 1940-65 94 5. Builders and Developers in the Denver Region 109 6. Patterns of Subdivision Development, 1940-65 125 F. Associated Property Types 188 (Provide description, significance, and registration requirements.) G. Geographical Data 196 H. Summary of Identification and Evaluation Methods 197 (Discuss the methods used in developing the multiple property listing.) I. Major Bibliographical References 200 (List major written works and primary location of additional documentation: State Historic Preservation Office, other State agency, Federal agency, local government, university, or other, specifying repository.) J. Tables 213 K. Figures 247 Primary location of additional data: [ X ] State Historic Preservation Office [ ] Other State Agency [ ] Federal Agency [ X ] Local Government [ ] University [ X ] Other Name of repository: Denver Public Library Paperwork Reduction Act Statement: This information is being collected for applications to the National Register of Historic Places to nominate properties for listing or determine eligibility for listing, to list properties, and to amend existing listings. Response to this request is required to obtain a benefit in accordance with the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Estimated Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 120 hours per response including time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining data, and completing and reviewing the form. Direct comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this form to the Chief, Administrative Services Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127; and the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reductions Projects (1024-0018), Washington, DC 20503. NPS Form 10-900a (Rev. 8/86) OMB No. 1024-0018 United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, Continuation Sheet Section number E Page 3 Historic Residential Subdivisions of Metropolitan Denver, 1940-1965 E. Statement of Historic Contexts 1. Metropolitan Denver on the Eve of World War II Introduction The five-county Denver region experienced a 146 percent increase in its population between 1940 and the end of 1965, growing from 407,962 inhabitants to just over a million. The built-up area of the region pushed outward from the City and County of Denver as more land was absorbed for residential, commercial, and industrial uses. The mechanism that permitted the region to accommodate nearly 600,000 new residents was the creation of newly-platted residential subdivisions in open areas of Denver and in lands previously used for orchards, truck farms, and grazing in the suburban periphery. For many agriculturists in the Denver region their “last harvest” (that is, the sale of their land for development) came in the two decades following the end of World War II (1939-1945).1 The creation of a subdivision is a legal process controlled at the local level, requiring the approval of the county or municipality within which the land is located. Subdividing entails the division of a larger parcel of land by its owner (or owners) into smaller units