Alta Vista and Allendale, Arvada Historic Building Reconaissance Survey

Historic Survey Update: Downtown Arvada

Recon Survey: Alta Vista and Allendale Neighborhoods

Reconnaissance Survey

• A less intensive, and more cost effective means of recording neighborhoods and capture an understanding of the types of resources present, their general condition, and identify parameters for future studies or district nominations.

• Intended to identify basic characteristics of buildings and neighborhoods

Reconnaissance Survey • Developed a preliminary

historic context for evaluating mid-century architecture in Allen

• Reconnaissance level recording of 857 buildings in Alta Vista and Allendale

• Identified the level of alterations and changes to buildings to estimate the number of resources that could potentially contribute to a future historic district.

Reconnaissance Survey of Mid-century homes in Allendale and Alta Vista

Postwar Arvada and Suburban Development

Allendale

Alta Vista

The Alta Vista

Swiss Chalet

The Metropolitan

The Columbine

Hipped Roof Ranch with Attached Garage

Alta Vista Neighborhood • 603 residential

Buildings • Minimal alterations -

80 percent retain excellent or good integrity

• No clear pattern of redevelopment or remodeling

• Eight remaining cottage schools

Alta Vista Neighborhood

Poor Integrity 2%

Limited Integrity 18%

Good Integrity 61%

Exellent Integrity 19%

Alta Vista Cottage Schools

Former Cottage School at 9125 Cole Street

Allendale

• 254 Residential Buildings • Minimal alterations with 86 percent retaining excellent or good integrity • Few teardowns, or redevelopments • One pre-suburb bungalow dating to the 1920s

Allendale Neighborhood Poor Integrity

5%

Limited Integrity 9%

Good Integrity 75%

Exellent Integrity 11%

6113 Lewis Court

1921 Bungalow

Bungalow at 10050 Allendale Avenue

Recommendations

• Create a fully developed but relatively brief historic context for Mid-Century Modern Housing in Arvada.

• Identify additional designs present in the two neighborhoods along with their associated home builders

• Consider intensive surveys for the two neighborhoods with the purpose of nominating them as districts for the National Register of Historic Places.

At the End of the Road

• Final report including the historic background and summary of survey findings.

• A full set of Colorado reconnaissance forms. • Database of all field data from the intensive

and reconnaissance surveys.

What does all this mean?

• Assist Arvada in future planning so that preservation of significant historic architecture is considered.

• Determine whether neighborhoods retained sufficient historic integrity to consider for National Register District Nomination.

• Help promote Arvada’s rich history to both local residents and visitors.

Impacts of historical designation on local residents

• State and Federal tax credits available for renovations to designated historic buildings. – Criteria vary based on the type of designation

(state, local, or federal), and the type of work being completed.

• Affects how federal government can impact the property.

• Designation itself places no requirements on property owners.

Thank You