DANA CRAWFORD
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BIO
Award-winning preservationist Dana Crawford initiated a concept
of urban renewal that was one of the first of its kind in the United
States. She pioneered the redevelopment of Denver’s historic
Larimer Square in the mid 1960s, creating a festival shopping area
from the neglected and abandoned buildings of Denver’s original
main street. Today, Larimer Square serves as a prototype for the
revitalization of forgotten main streets and architectural landmarks
throughout the country.
Since the 1960s, Mrs. Crawford has redeveloped more than 800,000
square feet of historic property in the city of Denver including the
Oxford Hotel, the Acme Lofts, the Edbrooke Lofts and Cooper Flats Condominiums. She
completed Phase One of the Flour Mill Lofts project, converting an abandoned flour mill
into unique loft spaces designed for the sophisticated urbanite. Mrs. Crawford has been
steadfast in her belief that core cities can be made livable again. Today, in partnership
with her son Jack Crawford, she is developing Prospect Park, a mixed-use, master
planned village in Denver’s Central Platte Valley.
In addition to her many business accomplishments, Mrs. Crawford has given much of her
time to both local and national concerns. She served nine years on the board of directors
of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, six of those years on its executive
committee. In 1995 the National Trust awarded her their highest honor, the distinguished
Louise duPont Crowninshield Award. For fifteen years she worked with Preservation
Action, serving as president for two years. She presently serves on the national board of
Project for Public Spaces.
Mrs. Crawford’s contributions to the Denver community are many. She has been on the
board of the Downtown Denver Partnership for more than thirty years and has been
active with the Platte River Greenway Foundation, the Denver Art Museum, Historic
Denver, Inc., the Colorado Historical Society and Foundation, and the Denver Center for
the Performing Arts. She is an honorary member of the Colorado Chapter of A.I.A., and
has been awarded a Doctorate of Humanities by the University of Colorado.
In recognition of her civic contributions, business successes, and the positive influence
she has had on the architectural character of Denver, she was inducted into the Colorado
Business Hall of Fame in 1997. That same year, in honor of her many years of
community service, she was presented with the prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation
Award, also known as the “Colorado Nobel Prize.” In 1998, the Denver Business Journal
recognized Mrs. Crawford as one of twenty people who have made a difference to
Denver’s business success in the twentieth century.
Dana Crawford’s energy and commitment continue to be the spark for the ongoing
revitalization of Denver’s Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo). She is often called
upon to assist others in their own revitalization efforts and has served as a consultant for
over fifty communities to help preserve the historic character of neglected main streets
and neighborhoods nationwide.
lifetime member of Downtown Denver Partnership Board
25 year board member of Project for Public Spaces (PPS)
9 year board member of National Trust for Historic Preservation
A founding member of Historic Denver
Founding group for Friends of Union Station
A founder of Platte River Greenway Foundation
Originator of Larimer Square and Developer of lofts
A board member with national launch of Main Street Program
Speaker/Consultant in some 60 American communities
Active public sector/private sector developer
Doctorate of Humanities, University of Colorado
Memberships ULI, IDA, and ICSC
Recent Work
Downtown Denver new 20 year Master Plan Steering Committee
Mayor’s 2007Bond Issue task Force
Consulting for Commerce City, Brighton, and Broomfield Civic Center Master Plans
Colorado Preservation Inc.
Colorado Business Hall of Fame
Historic Preservation Fund Committee since 1991. $200 million in gifts to all Colorado counties
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1988-Present: Chairman, Urban Neighborhoods, Inc., Denver, Colorado
1980-Present: General Partner, Oxford Hotel, Ltd., Denver, Colorado
1991-1998 General Partner, Market Center Associates., Denver, Colorado
1965-1986 General Partner, Larimer Square Associates, Denver, Colorado
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY (Project Start Dates)
2006: Tomboy Lofts, Red Cliff Lofts, Smuggler Lofts
2003: Jack Kerouac Lofts
2000: Ajax Lofts
1999: Flour Mill Lofts Phase II, Prospect Square
1998: Flour Mill Lofts Phase I, Cooper Flats Condominiums
1992: Acme Lofts
1990: Edbrooke Lofts
1980: Oxford Hotel
1974: Federal Fiber Mills, New Orleans, Louisiana
1965: Larimer Square
BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED
The Market at Larimer Square
Antonia Tsai Chinese restaurant
Victoriana Jewelry Store
Crawford Department Store
The Cabaret
The Criterion
The Oxford Club Spa and Salon
Urban Neighborhoods, Inc.
Urban Neighborhoods Real Estate Co.
CIVIC WORK
NATIONAL
Board, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1972-1981
Board, Project for Public Spaces, 1985-Present
Board, Preservation Action, President 1985-1987
Full Member, Urban Land Institute, 1981-Present
Honorary Member, American Institute of Architects
COLORADO
Colorado Historical Society, 1983-2006, Vice President ten years
Colorado Historic Preservation Fund Committee – Ten years
DENVER
Board, Denver Art Museum, 1976-1982
Board, Platte Valley Greenway Foundation, 1973-1980, still active
Board, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1994-1997
Founding Member, Historic Denver, Inc., 1970-1980
Founding Member, Lower Downtown District, Inc., 1984-1992
Chairman, Downtown is the City Program, 1990-1991
Advisory, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1984-1990
Member, Mayor’s Housing Task Force, 1991
Founding Member, Friends of Union Station
Founder, Evil Companions Literary Award
Union Station Advisory Committee (USAC)
Conservancy – Civic Center
EDUCATION
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Monticello College, Alton, Illinois
Harvard-Radcliffe, Cambridge, Massachusetts – Business Administration Program
URBAN NEIGHBORHOODS PROJECTS
2003 - Present:
Jack Kerouac Lofts, 3100 Huron Street. 60 new lofts are complete with 80% sold. The project follows Urban Neighborhoods 21st Century concentration in the Central Platte Valley and transit oriented design.
1999 – 2004:
Ajax Lofts, 2955 Inca Street. The Ajax Lofts is the first mixed/use loft building to be developed in the new urban village, Prospect Place located in the Central Platte Valley. Ajax Lofts consists of 49 units with floor plans ranging in size from 650 to 2600 square feet. This four-story building represents a contemporary style of architecture, called “Industrial Chic.”
Prospect Place Village, Central Platte Valley. A new urban village, located just west of Coors Field in the historic district of the Central Platte Valley. The Village encompasses 5.5 acres of land zoned to create a mixed-use residential/commercial neighborhood with special emphasis on the landscaping as well as the European designed pedestrian plaza.
1998-2001:
Flour Mill Lofts–Phase I and Phase II, 2000 Little Raven Street. The Flour Mill was the first new housing in Denver’s Central Platte Valley. The former “Pride of the Rockies” mill, designed by prominent Denver architect Frank Edbrooke, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The renovation of the mill resulted in fourteen loft units ranging in size from 1,190 to 5,300 square feet. The three original silos on the north side are incorporated into unique round rooms. The 9-by-16 foot windows on the south side afford panoramic views of the Rocky Mountains and the downtown Denver skyline. The Flour Mill is conveniently located near Coors Field, Six Flags/Elitch’s, the Pepsi Center and the Denver Bronco’s new stadium.
Flour Mill II, completed and sold out, is new construction with 27 loft units north of Flour Mill I.
1998
Cooper Flats Condominiums, 325 E. 18th Avenue. This Capitol Hill Building had been derelict for over 15 years. It was converted to 24 small condo flats to help start the revival of another historic neighborhood. Cooper is within walking of the Central Business District, shopping, transit and the Civic Center. The building was gutted to the studs and flooring. It has a new roof and all new systems and finishes. The project included an affordable housing component, and was completed in October of 1998.
1991:
Market Center, Market Street between 16th and 17th Avenues.
Purchased by Market Center Associates, Ltd., a Colorado limited partnership, in 1991, Market Center is a 121,000 square foot office complex located in the heart of Lower Downtown Denver. The property is composed of five buildings which were connected in 1980 to create 103,482 square feet of office space and 17,211 square feet of restaurant space. The space within the building is imaginatively designed with an emphasis on natural brick surfaces and exposed wooden beams. Antique doors, light fixtures and bathroom fixtures have been used throughout the building. Market Center was sold in 1998.
Acme Lofts.
Also completed is the Acme Upholstery Supply Company Building located at 1333 Wazee Street in the Lower Downtown historic district on Cherry Creek. The project consists of thirty loft-style condominium housing units of approximately 1,200 square feet each. The design includes exposed brick walls and post and beam members, high ceilings, wood floors and large six foot tall windows.
The original owner of this building was Gustavius A. Brecht who used the property as a warehouse for the Brecht Candy Company beginning in 1909. By 1923 the company’s output was three million pounds of candy per year with a staff of 225 people.
Edbrooke Lofts
Located at 1450 Wynkoop Street, the Edbrooke Lofts was the first condominium loft warehouse conversion to be located in Metropolitan Denver.
The Edbrooke consisted of 44 loft residences in the historic (1880) Edbrooke Building. Each loft features high ceilings, brick walls, large windows and timbered construction. Condos range from 1,485 to 3,500 square feet and were originally sold for up to $750,000.
1965-1990
The Oxford Hotel
Lower Downtown’s futures took an upward trend in June of 1983, when the landmark Oxford Hotel, cornerstone building in the historic district, reopened. It was renovated elegantly to reflect western hospitality of yesterday and today.
The 80 room hotel (circa 1891) was painstakingly renovated according to early photographs and the original architectural plans of Frank Edbrooke. Antique furnishings for each guest room were selected in England and France.
The public areas include McCormick’s Fish House and Oyster Bar, as well as the famous Cruise Room, which opened in 1933 and is listed on the National Register as an outstanding example of art deco design.
Connected to the hotel on four upper levels is the Oxford Annex (circa 1912), which has been converted to executive offices. It is the home of the Denver Oxford Club Spa and Salon. The spa has been recognized as one of the top city spas in the nation.
Today the Oxford Hotel has been selected as the best local hotel in Denver and one of the top 50 hotels in the world. The Oxford Spa has been recognized as one of the top three day spas in the nation.
Larimer Square
Introduced to Denver in May 1965. Larimer Square in the 1400 block of downtown’s historic Larimer Street grew gradually as financing became available. Retail shops, galleries, restaurants and fashionable offices emerged to create a destination landmark recognized nationally for its innovative redevelopment of downtown property. The original ownership group sold the Square in 1986.
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