Historic Denver and Colorado Preservation, Inc., have announced their strong support for retaining and reusing Denver’s historic Zuni Steam Plant at 13th and Zuni Street.
Xcel Energy has written to the City and County of Denver offering it the first right of refusal to take ownership of the property. Xcel writes: “Should the City and County of Denver decide to not exercise their right to purchase, the Company plans to offer the north parcel for sale for a period of 30 calendar days. Should the property not sell after the 30 days, the Company will move forward with the PUC mandate to demolish.”
The Zuni steam power plant has been a continuous presence on the banks of the South Platte River for more than 122 years. Conceived with state-of-the-art equipment and electricity production techniques in 1901, it provided Denver with the energy capacity necessary for the city to expand throughout the 20th century. Its smokestacks towered over the communities of La Alma Lincoln Park, Sun Valley, and other west side neighborhoods long before the Colfax viaduct or I-25 established it as a more recognizable Denver feature.
In November 2023 and February 2024, Historic Denver, on behalf of over 30 community and city-wide advocate sent a letter to Mayor Mike Johnston advocating for a dialogue about the future of the steam plant and championing its adaptive reuse. The letter encouraged the City and County of Denver to excercise its first right of refusal to take ownership of the building.
In February 2024, Colorado Preservation, Inc. recognized the significance of this building by adding the steam plant to its Endangered Places Program, alongside some of the most at-risk historically significant sites across the state. Colorado Preservation, Inc.’s Executive Director Jennifer Orrigo Charles stated, “The Zuni Steam Plant is a vital piece of Denver’s industrial heritage and a testament to the city’s growth and innovation over the past century. Preserving and repurposing this historic site not only honors our past but also provides an opportunity for sustainable development and community engagement. We urge the City and County of Denver to exercise their right to purchase and save this irreplaceable landmark, ensuring it continues to serve as a beacon of history and progress for future generations.”
Further information about the historical importance and opportunities for the building can be viewed in this video clip created by CBS Colorado for Colorado Preservation, Inc’s Endangered Places Program listing.
Historic Denver has cited examples of similar structures in cities such as Toledo, Columbus, Savannah, Austin, Beloit, and London where historic industrial and power generating facilities have been successully convered to modern uses in partnership with the private sector.
Historic Denver President & CEO John Deffenbaugh said, “There are examples of historic industrial and power generating facilities across the country, and indeed the world, that have been repurposed for the twenty-first century. The incredible scale of these spaces lend themselves to cultural and community serving uses and we call upon the Xcel Energy and the City and County of Denver to create the time and space for a meaningful dialogue with private sector partners about the future of this unique building. We appreciate the scale of this challenge but believe the outcome could be breathtaking. It is time for us to give back to the building that powered the growth of our city for over a century.”
