Staff recommends forwarding Stone House landmark nomination at 740 N. Washington

Becca Dier Shaw, a senior city planner with Community Planning and Development, presented the owner-supported landmark nomination for 740 North Washington, known as the Stone House, and recommended the committee forward the application to full City Council for final consideration.

The staff report said the home — constructed in 1891 and associated with Denver’s late-19th century development — meets three of the city’s ten historic criteria, including association with the city’s historic development patterns, maintenance of visible architectural characteristics, and significance as an example of the work of the Varian & Sterner partnership. "The Stone House demonstrates the partnership's ability to merge European design sensibilities with Colorado's emerging stone craft traditions," Dier Shaw said during the presentation.

Owner Joe Masakoy told the committee he and his wife brought the nomination forward reluctantly but to ensure the home’s history would be public record: "We felt it was important to codify part of that story," he said. Dier Shaw noted the property is currently a contributing resource in the East 7th Avenue Historic District, is over 30 years old, and retains most of its historic form despite some non-historic rear additions.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about differences between district-level review and single-property landmark protections, tax-credit eligibility and the proposed period of significance, which staff said covers 1891–2005 to reflect later adaptive uses. After discussion, the committee moved to forward the nomination. The motion to send the application to full City Council was made by Councilmember Amanda Sawyer and seconded by Councilmember [Alvarez].