Boom to bust and back again
Opinions of ventures such as Litinsky's changed dramatically as Denver's prosperity grew. But drastic change is nothing new for a city that had its
beginnings in the Wild West.
Prospectors hit the banks of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River in 1858. The gold they expected wasn't there, but Denver quickly took on a new identity as way station for points west. Colorado was admitted to the union in 1876 -- with Denver its new capital -- and cattle, steel and the railroad ventures brought more people and economic development.
During the first 20 years of the 20th century, Denver earned the title "Queen City of the Plains" under Mayor Robert Speer, who used his time in office to direct Denver's transformation from its humble start to a clean and sparkling city of parks, mansions and tree-lined boulevards.
Most of the city's warehouses were built to store and sell agricultural products. One of the best-preserved is the Rocky Mountain Seed Company, which opened for business in 1920.
World War II brought military industry to the Denver area (considered safer from attack than coastal areas), and oil sparked a later boom. Oil also brought Denver's most recent crash -- low prices in the 1980s sunk the city into recession while much of the rest of the country flourished.
Modern amenities, historic atmosphere
In 1988, the warehouse district was named an historic area, and Denver was again on the upswing.
"Many of the warehouses, when they were empty 10 years ago, had been sold for $10 or $20 a
foot," says Brad Segal of Progressive Urban Management Association. "Today, Lower Downtown loft condominiums sell anywhere from $150-200 a foot."
Joyce Meskis is one of those modern pioneers who came into Lower Downtown when few thought the area was viable. The owner of the Tattered Cover -- the country's largest independent bookstore -- moved into the area in 1990.
"We had a very gritty environment," she explains. "A lot has changed over that time. I think it's maintained its unique grit, but the restoration has been nothing short of amazing."
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