Lodo

Lower Downtown Denver – Lodo

The locals refer to it as LoDo, short for Lower Downtown, and it is actually the birthplace of Denver. Gold was discovered in 1858 at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the Platte River, an area inhabited by Native Americans. The still disputed Treaty of Fort Wise provided that the area which is now Denver would become part of the United States in 1861. The first settlements were Auraria, now a college and university center, and St. Charles. The single log cabin that was St. Charles soon vanished as William Larimer, a town founder jumped the St. Charles claim and renamed the town Denver, after the governor of Kansas Territory.

Auraria merged with Denver in 1862, and a typical frontier town grew along the banks of Cherry Creek. The areas sparse trees yielded little wood for building however, so early settlers turned to making bricks from the rich clay deposits found around Denver. After a devastating fire in 1862, the commercial district rebuilt with brick and stone. After the arrival of the railroad in 1870, new construction materials became available, and the local architecture improved considerably. Denver’s fast rail link with the East brought also brought a booming economy, and Denver grew in all directions.

The repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893 sent Denver’s economy into a severe depression, and few structures were built in the LoDo area after that time. The area remained viable until the period following WWII, with the postwar economic boom changing the face of Denver. By 1960, the area had become Denver’s “Skid Row”
Destruction of many of the area’s oldest structures prompted a citizen’s movement to establish Denver’s first Historic District in 1973, saving at least some of Denver’s heritage In 1988, The City of Denver, recognizing the area’s value, declared the area an historic District.

The LoDo District encompasses over 23 square blocks, and today is the heart of trendy Denver. With the conversion of many of the old warehouse buildings into residential lofts, and the arrival of over 90 restaurants and 30 art galleries, the area has become “THE” place to live and play for people wanting an urban lifestyle. Condo residences are priced from the low $200’s and up, with lofts starting in the $250k range. New construction and new loft conversions now extend into the Platte River Valley (long since flood controlled) and Northeast of Coors Field. Like the economic boom of the late 1800’s which made Denver a true city, the re4newal of LoDo is making today’s Denver an even greater city.

Lodo is home to Denver’s Loft movement. 100 year old warehouses have been fertile ground for the loft redeveloper, with most of the possible convertible buildings converted in the 1990’s. Available space has made it possible to build a few new loft buildings from scratch, with more on the drawing board. LODO is an ideal place for the dedicated urban dweller to call home.

Driving Time to Major Destinations from Lodo

Denver International Airport (DIA): 35 minutes
Downtown Denver: 5 minutes
Denver Technological Center (DTC): 25 minutes
Inverness/Meridian: 35 minutes
Boulder: 40 minutes
Castle Rock: 45 minutes