North Park Hill at a glance
- Housing
- Bungalows and cottages in southern parts; many 1940s and 1950s brick ranches farther north
- Basements
- Common, often finished in later decades
- Heat
- A mix of boilers and forced-air furnaces
- Local government
- City and County of Denver
Why the housing mix matters
North Park Hill developed over a longer span than the southern part of the neighborhood. Closer to its southern edge, older bungalows and cottages resemble what is found farther south. Moving north, more of the housing dates from the years after World War II: one-story brick ranches and modest cottages, often with full basements and forced-air heat.
Postwar houses bring their own materials. Plaster may give way to gypsum lath or early drywall. Floors may be oak strip or covered by nine-inch tiles that later owners added. Basements may have been finished with paneling, drop ceilings and carpet in the 1960s or 1970s. Each era leaves a different set of materials that may need testing before demolition after a fire.
Forced-air heating is also more common in the postwar houses. When a fire happens and the furnace blower is running, ducts can carry smoke throughout the house quickly, so duct inspection and cleaning tend to be a bigger part of the job than in a radiator-heated older home.
Two typical North Park Hill houses after the same kind of fire
- Concern
- Walls
- 1920s bungalow
- Plaster and wood lath
- 1950s brick ranch
- Plaster on gypsum lath or early drywall
- Concern
- Smoke spread
- 1920s bungalow
- Open stairs, wall cavities, half story
- 1950s brick ranch
- Forced-air ducts, basement stair
- Concern
- Testing priorities
- 1920s bungalow
- Plaster, paint, pipe wrap
- 1950s brick ranch
- Floor tile and mastic, duct wrap, ceiling texture
- Concern
- Heating after the fire
- 1920s bungalow
- Boiler check, frozen pipe risk
- 1950s brick ranch
- Furnace and duct cleaning before restart
- Concern
- Roof
- 1920s bungalow
- Steeper, more complex
- 1950s brick ranch
- Lower pitch, simpler to tarp
- Concern
- Basement
- 1920s bungalow
- Often unfinished
- 1950s brick ranch
- Often finished, with more to remove
Common questions
Does North Park Hill have historic designations?
Designations vary across the Park Hill area. Check with Denver Landmark Preservation whether a specific address is designated.
My ranch has a finished basement. What usually comes out after smoke?
Porous finishes like carpet, pad and acoustic ceiling tiles are commonly removed after heavy smoke. Paneling and drywall may be cleaned if residue is light. Older floor tile under carpet should be tested before anyone scrapes it up.
General information for Park Hill, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.