Judul : Couple bought historic $2.6m house to demolish for dream family pad left outraged
link : Couple bought historic $2.6m house to demolish for dream family pad left outraged
Couple bought historic $2.6m house to demolish for dream family pad left outraged
A Colorado couple who bought a historic $2.6 million home with plans to turn it into their dream family oasis are now locked in a battle with residents fighting to stop them from tearing it to the ground.
In February, Tony and Robin Kohake bought a 135-year-old home at 800 S. Franklin St., paying top dollar for the two-story historic property perched directly across from Denver’s iconic Washington Park, as reported by The Denver Post.
Just three months later, the couple applied for a demolition permit, aiming to replace the vintage structure with a custom dream home for their four children on the 11,600-square-foot lot.
Now, residents are battling to save the home as it faces the wrecking ball for the second time in four years - citing its rare construction, role in early development and status as the former residence of a notorious judge from the 1950s to 70s.
And if the locals succeed in having the home designated as a city landmark, the structure will be preserved - and the family admits they could lose ‘well over a million dollars.'
'We are still a bit shocked individuals can landmark designate someone else's property against their consent with almost no skin in the game,' Tony told The Denver Post.
'We are all for preservation when/where it makes sense, but this process seems incredibly broken,' he added.
In 2021, a man named Aaron Grant - the home's then-owner and founder of a real estate company - applied for permission to bulldoze the 1,350-square-foot house, according to the outlet.
However, a group of local residents rallied against erasing the piece of history, urging the city to designate the home as a landmark - a move that would effectively block any demolition plans in its tracks.
A city-appointed mediator stepped in to broker peace, bringing the protesters and Grant face-to-face and guiding them to a neutral compromise.
Under the agreement, Grant withdrew his demolition application for the 1890 home, while residents agreed not to formally pursue landmark status.
The home remained standing - and empty - for years, untouched, until Grant sold the historic property for a staggering $2.6 million to the Kohake family.
But the family of six wasn’t interested in the home itself, but rather the property it sat on and the potential it offered.
Tony, an engineering manager in the oil and gas industry, and Robin, a stay-at-home mom, described the home as being in poor condition - ultimately not suitable for their plans.
'There is dry rot, the chimney is in bad condition and there is cracking around the foundation,' Tony told the outlet.
'The flooring was removed before we bought it and there were holes in the walls.'
The couple believed the property would be far better suited to a transformation into their dream house - an England-inspired architectural design.
'We were looking to build out dream home for our family and have a bigger backyard for the kids,' Tony added.
Their vision, Tony explained, is 'a Tudor-style home that complements many of the homes in the neighborhood already.' They applied for a demolition permit in May.
But just a month after submitting the request, two community groups, totaling 24 individuals, contacted the city once again - submitting letters to revive efforts to landmark the property for a second time.
In the letters, three key reasons were cited for landmarking the home - the first being its architectural significance as 'a rare example of Queen Anne Free Classic-style' design,' according to the outlet.
The second reason was straightforward: the home is over a century old, linking it directly to the early development of the Colorado neighborhood.
The letters also highlighted its ties to the community by noting a former owner, William Burnett - a Denver County and District Court judge who served from the 1950s through the 1970s.
As for the third reason, the group emphasized the home’s prominent location - directly across from one of Denver’s largest and most visited parks, which draws millions each year.
According to Tony, the family is willing to temporarily put the property on the market in hopes that someone will step forward to purchase and restore it, preserving the structure.
However, the property's current value lies in the land - not the aging house - so if the structure must remain, the family could see millions of dollars slip away.
Now juggling plans to build a new home while still paying for both the historic property and their current residence has been stressful, Robin shared - and the ongoing landmark debate is only adding to the pressure.
'Now this is delaying it by months and months,' she told The Denver Post.
The Kohakes and preservationists are currently in mediation - a process mandated by Denver for disputes like this.
A compromise could see them offer the house for sale to anyone willing to preserve and restore it.
If no-one bites, that will make it easier for them to continue with their original demolition plans.
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