colorado convention center, wazee street, denver, colorado

Looking N.E. on California Street between 12th Street and Speer Blvd.   1988

The location of the new Colorado Convention Center was to be from Welton Street on the east, Speer Boulevard on the south, Stout Street on the west and 14th Street on the north.

The area consisted of large parking lots, some small hotels, and even smaller retail businesses.   The West Hotel and the Athens Hotel were home for low income residents.

Looking S.W. on California Street from near 14th Street      1988

The Athens had the Odyssey Bar, a nearby lodge for the VFW was in the Eagles Club Building, and Pete's Coney Island was on 14th Street.  Most of the remaining small buildings were vacant and gathering dust and tumble weeds.

Stout Street looking S.E. at the Athens Hotel (1320 Stout Street)     1988

I must admit, not much was happening in this entire area. The saddest part was to see the hotels be demolished, they were not in the best shape; it's residents were not either.  But a person needs dignity, a home is part of that dignity.  No person wants to see their home not needed, torn apart, showing memories in splinters and rumble.

This area had deteriorated so much, now dominated by large swaths of parking lots.  It's role had faded, being close to more vibrant buildings downtown, the small smattering of buildings were doomed to make way for the new Colorado Convention Center.

Odyssey Bar and Restaurant 1320 Stout:  "The Last Hurrah"      1988

The Colorado Convention Center was recently expanded.  Far larger, it's design far-far superior and extremely impressive.

A city goes though cycles, it is very-very complex, our past is usually fleeting in some manner or another, just like us.

From the inside of the Acme Building, 1616 14th Street.
Looking Northeast  onto Wazee Street     1991

Wazee Street in Lower Downtown maintains a prominent location and contains many important historic buildings over its six block length. Some of these buildings were built as early as the 1870's, and others were built up until the early 1920's.

We will focus more on the 1400 block of Wazee Street in this story. The image looking out the window is from the inside of the Acme Building, 1616 14th Street, built in 1909. The small white building in the center is the Fireman's Grain Elevator, built in 1909, and is located at 20th Street. These buildings are bookends of the 6 block distance of Wazee Street, and built one year apart. Slightly lower, the 15th Street Viaduct, built in 1911, spans Wazee Street.

Under the 15th Street Viaduct looking Southwest on Wazee Street
at the Acme Building     1989

The 15th Street Viaduct casts a wonderful seductive shadow onto the intersection as we look down the 1400 Block of Wazee Street. The John Deere Building built in 1871 is far left and the Elephant Coral Building past it, down the block. The prominent Acme Building anchors the end of the block with its commanding stature of strength. The Fabric Outlet store on right and to the far right is a small part of the Wazee Supper Club. What an outstanding block, a gift from the past for us to appreciate today.

Under the 15th Street Viaduct looking Southwest on Wazee Street
at the Acme Building     1987

- Kim Allen