Denver City Council OKS CBD Historic District; Measure Brings Property Tax Rebate

DENVER-City council has designated 43 CBD buildings as a historical district.

The idea is to make it more difficult to raze the structures, all deemed to have historic and architectural significance. The bill has widespread support from planners, politicians and most landowners, Kathleen Brooker, president of Historic Denver Inc., told GlobeSt.com. Only one property owner has protested the bill.

Mayor Wellington Webb has lent his support to the bill that keeps city taxes at 1999 levels. As taxes increase, landowners will receive a refund of the difference between the hike and the 1999 rate. The rebate is expected to start at $24,000 annually and steadily increase to $640,000 over a 20-year period.

Building with historic designations can’t be demolished without first being reviewed by the city’s Landmarks Commission. And, the bill allows other buildings to receive the historic designation. Buildings with the historic designation include the Brown Palace Hotel, D&F Tower, the Equitable, Masonic, Kittredge, Tramway buildings and the Trinity United Methodist Church.