Scoop: Owners, historic group strike deal to partially preserve El Chapultepec building

Owners of the former El Chapultepec building and a local preservation nonprofit have come to an agreement to partially preserve the historic building in LoDo , Axios Denver has learned.

Why it matters: The decision means a piece of an iconic local building from a bygone era of Denver may stay intact while still allowing for a new amenity.

Driving the news: The agreement between local developer Monfort Companies, which owns the building at 1962 Market St., and Historic Denver, which led preservation efforts, saves a section of the building's facade.

• It would be incorporated into a new bar and restaurant concept in one of the city's most popular entertainment districts. The preserved section includes the famous neon cactus sign, awnings and a door.

The latest: Historic Denver on Tuesday will withdraw its application for landmark designation, its president and CEO John Deffenbaugh tells us.

• Kenneth Monfort, executive vice president at Monfort Companies, says his company has pulled a design review application for its initial plans.

What they're saying: "Our intent was to design something that is functional that serves the needs of the development, but honors the legacy in a way that's not confusing," Monfort tells us.

• Deffenbaugh says he doesn't call the decision a compromise, but rather a win-win he hopes will serve as an example for future preservation efforts.

Catch up quick: Monfort originally planned to demolish the building to create a new bar and restaurant, which prompted a group led by Historic Denver to file a landmark designation application in March.

• The landmark tag would have made demolition nearly impossible.

After the landmark application was filed, Kenneth Monfort, says his company met with the preservation group and a mediator on multiple occasions.

• Monfort says he also had meetings with architects to find ways to potentially keep the building, which had significant structural issues, intact.
• It led to a design incorporating a piece of the existing brick wall with a modern glass facade.

Flashback: El Chapultepec closed in 2020 after 87 years and was known for attracting locally and nationally prominent jazz musicians.

What's next: Monfort plans on submitting the new plan to the Lower Downtown Design Review Commission on Tuesday.

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