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When the Beaux-Arts-style mansion at 910 Gaylord Street was built in 1923, its price tag was $30,000. Nearly a century later, the price has increased a bit—to $5.675 million—for good reason: The 8,315-square-foot house now has one of the best locations in town. The rare half-acre lot sits in the coveted Morgan’s Historic District near Cheesman Park—and includes private access to the adjacent Denver Botanic Gardens. It also has a host of modern amenities and stylish finishes, thanks to a thoughtful renovation by Patrick Cashen Architect, Boa Construction, and interior designer Susan Weiss. But most importantly, it retains the hallmarks of its beautiful Beaux-Arts style.
Before it became affectionately known as the “green house” (yes, that’s the original exterior paint color), the mansion was known as the Waring House. It was designed in 1922 by architect Jacques Benedict, the first graduate of the École des Beaux-Arts to work in the Mile High City, who became famous for his grand homes and local landmarks, including the Washington Park Boathouse and the Chief Hosa Lodge. Benedict designed the house for prominent Denverites Dr. James R. Waring—chairman of the department of medicine at the University of Colorado—and his wife Ruth, whose father, Henry M. Porter, founded Porter Hospital.
The current owners have updated the home’s master suite, trading an extra bedroom for an enviable walk-in closet; the modernized bathroom maintains historical details in tile and trim. The kitchen is also updated, and approvals are already in place to extend the space by an additional 9 feet should the new owners desire. Plans for an outdoor pool are also pre-approved.
That potential may be exciting, but our favorite elements are the original details that have been preserved for almost 100 years: arched windows and doorways, a hand-painted living room ceiling, and intricate stone railings that define spacious stone patios. And of course, there’s the private gate and personal security code to the Denver Botanic Gardens, a perk only a handful of Denver homeowners enjoy.
According to listing agent Jeff Hendley of LIV Sotheby’s International Realty, on summer nights one can even take in the Gardens’ concert series from the third-floor rec room. “It really is a one-of-a-kind property,” he says.
910 Gaylord Street by the numbers:
Built: 1923
Original architect: Jacques Benedict
Square footage: 8,315
Bedrooms: 5
Bathrooms: 5 full, one half
Property: .49 acres
Price: $5,675,000