Your Old Building Could Save You Money: How to Get a Colorado Historic Building Designation

Built in 1893, by architects Kirchner & Kirchner, for Colonel Charles E. Taylor at a cost of $45,000 (equivalent to $1,700,820 in 2024), the Owen LeFevre House is on the border of the Cheesman Park and Congress Park neighborhoods. Wiki A Tudor Revival-style home, it was renovated with $220,00 in Colorado State Historic Funds and listed for sale in 2019 for $10.5 million.

​Denver's Equitable Building “The building, designed by Andrews, Jaques & Rantoul and built during the Denver building boom of the early 1890s, was highly cutting edge for its time in its utilization of many recent technological advances, and its self-sufficient infrastructure.” Wiki

That old Colorado building you want to fix up? Want to know if you can save money on renovations and updates?Colorado offers both state and local opportunities to formally recognize a property’s significance to our history. While local designations vary by municipality, the statewide process is managed by the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (OAHP), a division of History Colorado.
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The first step in any historic designation is determining if your property meets the core criteria. Generally, a property must be at least 50 years old to be considered historic, but properties of "exceptional importance" can be younger (Brighton, 2024). To qualify for the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties, a building or site must possess a documented level of significance in one of five key areas:

1. Events: The property is associated with events that have significantly contributed to history.
2. Persons: It is connected with individuals who were important in Colorado or US history.
3. Design: The property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a specific type, period, or method of construction.
4. Geography: It is geographically important or an established visual feature of an area.
5. Information Potential: The property has the potential to yield important archaeological or historical discoveries.​

The nomination process begins by contacting the OAHP to discuss the property. They will guide you in completing a preliminary evaluation form to determine eligibility. If the property is deemed eligible, you'll then prepare a formal nomination, which includes extensive historical research and photographs. The nomination is reviewed by the State Review Board, and if recommended for listing, the final decision is made by the History Colorado Board of Directors (History Colorado, 2018).

It’s important to note that a state or national historic designation does not automatically restrict what a private property owner can do with their building, including demolition. These designations primarily provide formal recognition, eligibility for state tax credits, and grant opportunities from the State Historical Fund (History Colorado, 2024). For properties to be protected from demolition or alteration, they must be subject to local regulations, often through a Certified Local Government (CLG) program. These local designations may require a "Certificate of Appropriateness" for exterior changes (City of Brighton, 2024).
Ultimately, historic designation is a voluntary process that honors a building's contribution to the community's past. By understanding and following the state's requirements, you can play a direct role in preserving Colorado's rich history.
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Want to learn more about how tax credits work? Read here
Citations & Bibliography

• Brighton, City of. (2024). Property Designation. Retrieved from https://www.brightonco.gov/1440/Property-Designation
• History Colorado. (2018). How to Nominate a Property to the State Register. Retrieved from https://www.historycolorado.org/sites/default/files/media/document/2018/1414b.pdf

History Colorado. (2024). Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. Retrieved from https://www.historycolorado.org/colorado-state-register-historic-properties

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