Developer eyes sale of City Park West home landmarked against his will

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A view of the home at 1741 Gaylord St. in Denver’s City Park West. (Courtesy Historic Denver)

A City Park West home that was named a Denver landmark last year against its owner’s wishes could soon be sold.

Denver developer Mike Mathieson — who sued the city over the matter last year — is negotiating a purchase contract with a real estate firm called Re-viv.

“If the contract is signed, our goal is to work with the City and other stakeholders on a land use submittal that would preserve the landmarked building while allowing for some additional development at the site,” the company said in a statement last week provided by its lawyer, Caitlin Quander of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Mathieson deferred comment to Re-viv.

The company said on its website that it “believes in acquiring and developing housing in up-and-coming neighborhoods that are attractive to young professionals and working families that classify as ‘the renter by necessity’ class.” It lists two Denver properties on its website, both in the 1400 block of Stuart Street in the West Colfax neighborhood.

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Michael Mathieson at a property he owns in RiNo in March 2023. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

The brick house at 1741 Gaylord dates to 1902. It was constructed for Edward Holmes Hurlbut, a local grocer, and was later owned by James and Edith Burger. James was a banker and state senator for four years, while Edith helped start Children’s Hospital Colorado, according to the applicants.

Mathieson purchased the home on 0.36 acres in 2021 and planned to demolish it and construct an apartment building. But when he initiated that process, several Denver residents asked the City Council to name the structure a landmark, a status that effectively prevents demolition. They argued that additional housing could be added to the site without demolishing the existing structure.

The council voted unanimously in April 2023 to name the home a city landmark. It was only the second time the body awarded landmark status to an individual structure against the wishes of its owner.

Mathieson sued the city over the decision the following month. In late October, the case was paused for six months to allow for “a potential and plausible out of court resolution,” per court filings.

That pause was set to expire in late April, but it was recently extended to late August at the request of Mathieson, citing the potential sale.

The home at 1741 Gaylord has been vacant since its previous owner — Judi’s House, a nonprofit that used it as office space — moved out prior to selling the property.

Mathieson also owns 1795 Gaylord St., the adjacent property to the north. He broke ground last year on a Sonder hotel there, but construction has stalled.

Mathieson recently sold a site in RiNo to two firms involved in the development of the adjacent and high-profile One River North apartment project. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, a former salvage yard property he owns is being marketed for sale by JLL.

IMG 0542

A view of the home at 1741 Gaylord St. in Denver’s City Park West. (Courtesy Historic Denver)

A City Park West home that was named a Denver landmark last year against its owner’s wishes could soon be sold.

Denver developer Mike Mathieson — who sued the city over the matter last year — is negotiating a purchase contract with a real estate firm called Re-viv.

“If the contract is signed, our goal is to work with the City and other stakeholders on a land use submittal that would preserve the landmarked building while allowing for some additional development at the site,” the company said in a statement last week provided by its lawyer, Caitlin Quander of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

Mathieson deferred comment to Re-viv.

The company said on its website that it “believes in acquiring and developing housing in up-and-coming neighborhoods that are attractive to young professionals and working families that classify as ‘the renter by necessity’ class.” It lists two Denver properties on its website, both in the 1400 block of Stuart Street in the West Colfax neighborhood.

TDP L yotayard033123 cha 555

Michael Mathieson at a property he owns in RiNo in March 2023. (Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

The brick house at 1741 Gaylord dates to 1902. It was constructed for Edward Holmes Hurlbut, a local grocer, and was later owned by James and Edith Burger. James was a banker and state senator for four years, while Edith helped start Children’s Hospital Colorado, according to the applicants.

Mathieson purchased the home on 0.36 acres in 2021 and planned to demolish it and construct an apartment building. But when he initiated that process, several Denver residents asked the City Council to name the structure a landmark, a status that effectively prevents demolition. They argued that additional housing could be added to the site without demolishing the existing structure.

The council voted unanimously in April 2023 to name the home a city landmark. It was only the second time the body awarded landmark status to an individual structure against the wishes of its owner.

Mathieson sued the city over the decision the following month. In late October, the case was paused for six months to allow for “a potential and plausible out of court resolution,” per court filings.

That pause was set to expire in late April, but it was recently extended to late August at the request of Mathieson, citing the potential sale.

The home at 1741 Gaylord has been vacant since its previous owner — Judi’s House, a nonprofit that used it as office space — moved out prior to selling the property.

Mathieson also owns 1795 Gaylord St., the adjacent property to the north. He broke ground last year on a Sonder hotel there, but construction has stalled.

Mathieson recently sold a site in RiNo to two firms involved in the development of the adjacent and high-profile One River North apartment project. Elsewhere in the neighborhood, a former salvage yard property he owns is being marketed for sale by JLL.

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