DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Denver is sending a complaint and a hefty fine to the owners of what used to be Cathedral High School, located off 19th Avenue and Grant Street.
“This still has solid bones and could be something meaningful to the community,” said Jay Homstad, the Senior Director of Preservation Advocacy for Historic Denver.
Homstad said the property has been through a series of owners, but now is owned by RAFMO, LLC, based out of New York City.
“We are in conversation with the owners and we still think this is a win-win and this could become something meaningful for the community,” Homstad said.
According to a document from the city, the fine is for neglect of the building that was built back in the 1920s.
“So it’s $140,000 fine that’s going back to October of last year,” Homstad said. “So they have until Oct. 9, or the fines can go to $999 a day.”
FOX31 reached out to the owners of the property and the city of Denver about the fine and is currently waiting to hear back.
“It was going to become a boutique hotel,” Homstad said.
Homstad said the fine will stay, and the owners need to have a remediation plan in place to secure the building.
“The city has a whole process for derelict and neglected buildings,” Homstad said. “We are just excited the city is paying attention and the community is paying attention. We’re hoping the owners will act.”
He explained that back in 2021, he toured the building, and he said back then the property was in much better condition than it is today.
“In 2021, it wasn’t anything like this,” Homstad said. “So, in a few short years, to see such a rapid decline that raised eyebrows with the city and got people’s attention.”
He said they know all the things the owners have tried to do aren’t working, so they hope this fine gets them to act.
“We have been getting constant calls from the community and alumni themselves worried about the building’s future,” Homstad said.
Back in 2021, there was a rehabilitation announced, but it never moved forward, according to Historic Denver.
“It deserves more than a past; it should have a future here in the neighborhood,” Homstad said.
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