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Some of the oldest homes in Congress Park are found in the neighborhoods northwest section. Most are Queen Anne style houses and Foursquare models (known as the “Denver Square”.) This style of home refers to the box like shape with usually 4 windows at each corner. There are also many Craftsman Bungalows, English Tudors and Colonial style homes. Grand brick homes and more modest Four squares were first built in the 1890’s and on until the 1910’s. Mansions were built along Seventh Avenue from the turn of the century until the 1920’s.

From the 1910’s to the early 1930’s, Bungalows were built as the necessity to develop a house for the working class emerged. Cottages and small suburban Apartment buildings were built from the 1930’s-1950’s and often served as infill development.

There has been a recent resurgence in the desire to restore the areas more historic homes and buildings, most notably:

-The old Firehouse on 11th @ Clayton St. which which now houses 2 Town homes.

-The Abbey on Adams at 14th which has been restored and is now several unique Lofts.

-The DazBog Coffee Shop at 12th @ Clayton St. and Peter’s Chinese, were both originally area Gas Stations.

-Our Own Assist-2-Sell Office, which was originally half of a Craftsman Duplex.

and most notably the Lowenstein Theatre Complex which now houses Tattered Cover Book store, a movie theater, Record store and a variety of other shops and eateries. The complex is located on Colfax @ Elizabeth St. The owner of TC is rumored to have sold used books outside the theater long ago.

The Congress Park Neighborhood was originally named Capitol Heights.  The rumor is, the name was later changed to Congress Park, by Realtors who thought having a park in the name made it more desirable to buyers.  The name was also a nod to Congress Park, the actual park, (located at 8th and Josephine) named for the US Congress.  

The area was first platted during the late 1880’s, as Denver’s population rose. Platting occured with the purchase of a complete piece of land. The original owners would survey and map it, dividing the parcel into streets and creating a subdivision, as there was no pre-existing grid or master plan for the city at the time.

The Arapahoe people originally inhabited this land, but in 1872, the united States Congress declared the land Government Property. Capitol Heights did not become a neighborhood, until the population of Denver Boomed in the 1890’s. By 1890 Denver’s population had grown to 106,713, making Denver the third largest western city in the United States. By 1910 the population had nearly doubled again to 213,381.

Development of “Capitol Heights” occured along side the development of tramway lines along east Colfax Avenue, East 12th Avenue and east 6th Avenue. The presence of tramway lines increased the cost of land on each side of Colfax. The commercial districts that remain within Congress Park today, are located along east 12th Avenue at opposite ends of the neighborhood. They were developed to serve commuters traveling to and from downtown via Street Cars which were later removed. The street cars were replaced with an RTD Bus Route; I believe it’s the #10.  The City has recently painted Bike Lanes where the street cars once traveled. This has greatly improved bike and pedestrian safety for area residents, many of whom often commute by bike.   Bikes are not allowed on sidewalks but Denver is a great City for Biking!  (Sources-Rhonda Beck and Diane Gordon of Historic Denver Guides,  Northwest Congress Park Neighborhood).  We are happy to lend this resource to anyone interested.