Comment Thread on Englewood / Arapahoe Acres / Mid-Century Modern -- Photo Tour (Denver: houses, corporate)

[denverian]

[ MOD EDIT: Note that this thread is only for comments about the Englewood / Arapahoe Acres / Mid-Century Modern -- Photo Tour, which is a VERY long download for anyone on a modem or even for some with higher speeds. So we've split the comments into a separate thread for easier loading/viewing. If anyone wants to add more pix, put them in a new thread and the moderator will merge new photo posts into the photo tour thread. Thank you. ]


Thanks for the awesome pics! It's funny how mid-century homes like this have come back into style. This neighborhood reminds me of an Eichler neighborhood near where I lived in California. And the landscaping around many of them is amazing. People are probably shocked to see that big yucca in the second or third pic growing in Denver. They're native to higher elevations in northern Mexico, but do well here. Very slow growing too - one that size is probably worth over $1000!

I've

[denverian]

Thanks for the cool pics! It's interesting how mid-century architecture has come back into style. These houses remind me of Eichlers near where I lived in California. And the landscaping is amzing aound some of these homes too. I bet people are surprised to see that giant yucca in the 2nd and 3rd pics. They're native to high elevations in northern Mexico, but do well here. That one is probably worth well over $1000 at that size.

I've seen that crazy black hearse before and wondered what the deal was.

[livecontent]

Gee, I just had to look at these pictures again--wow, these are the best pictures (no, I just did not look at that, that, that, woman....ah) what was I saying, yea, the pictures of those houses in Arapahoe Acres--some are real small--nice and efficient; that is my type of house.

The bank building on old Hampden and Broadway--I am glad it is still there. It looks like it has been fixed up nicely. Yep, this is a nice neighborhood for a stroll.

Thanks,

Livecontent

[denverian]

Sorry about the double post. Something happened and I thought I lost the first one, so I tried to re-create it.

[MobyLL]

Hey denverian -- thanks for the comments -- yeah i had to get a shot of that yucca plant; reminds me of my home state of New Mexico.

Livecontent -- I like that bank building a lot too.
Next time I run into Morgan I'll put in a good word for ya. And btw -- congrats on the recognition from the admin/owner -- well deserved.

[dj32]

I love this area. Thanks for posting!

[DenverAztec]

Wonderful thread and great pictures MobyLL! There are a few more neighborhoods like this in South Denver (at about Florida and Cherry area). They do a home tour each year to raise funds for the arts and music programs at the local elementaries in the area. I will try to get some information for you as I read about the area in Atomic Magazine. It is neat to see the inside of these homes as the owners try to collect items from the year that the home was built and furnish their homes with their finds. It is odd to see these homes in Denver and not in California as they incorporate huge windows and high narrow windows along the walls and ceilings, hence less ability to store heat during Denver winters. Glad you captured this area as it is not the typical historic vitorians that Denver has so many of! Thanks for the tour!

There is a whole magazine dedicated to them:

http://www.atomic-ranch.com/

The Denver neighborhoods are featured in here periodically.

In addition, a lifestyle:

http://www.atomicmag.com/



Some of the newer owners really try to go back in time with their decors, clothing, cars and general lifestyles. It is fun on the tours but kid of odd at times when you meet the owners, funky rock-a-billy types. Strange to alter your life so much based on the architectural design of your home.

[suzco]

Originally Posted by denverian

Thanks for the cool pics! . . . I bet people are surprised to see that giant yucca in the 2nd and 3rd pics. They're native to high elevations in northern Mexico, but do well here. That one is probably worth well over $1000 at that size.

Yes, great pictures, Moby.

As an aside, people should not be surprised to see yucca. It is not only native to high elevations in northern Mexico, yucca is also native to Colorado. (not all yucca, of course) PLANTS Profile for Yucca | USDA PLANTS

[denverian]

Originally Posted by suzco

Yes, great pictures, Moby.

As an aside, people should not be surprised to see yucca. It is not only native to high elevations in northern Mexico, yucca is also native to Colorado. (not all yucca, of course) PLANTS Profile for Yucca | USDA PLANTS

You find yucca growing wild all around Denver. I have 3 varieties in my yard, but not like the one show above with a trunk. They had one for sale about that size at Paulinos last year, but they wanted around $1000 for it!

I think it's rather unexpected to see the kind with the trunk here, but in the summer, I bet that house looks like it could be in Phoenix rather than Denver.

I was wondering about the heating issues with these houses. I had a friend in Orange County who lived in an Eichler (famous architect for building these types of houses) and even there where the temps rarely got below 45 in the winter, it was kind of a cold house. I wonder if they used double pane windows for these houses in Denver? Also, do most of these houses have central courtyards? All the Eichlers had them - you go through the front door inot an open air courtyard, then another door into the actual house. Many people had created elaborate tropical gardens in these courtyards that you could see from various rooms in the house. And like someone else mentioned above, it was common to see greasers/rockabilly types living in them with old cars from the '50s.

[Luke9686]

Great pics! They look similar to Eichlers. I think the developer got the idea from Eichler and went with it. It's a very popular style now a days.