A 113-unit, eight-story apartment building might take the place of one of Denver’s lasting greasy spoons.
Alberta Development Partners, based in Greenwood Village, this month proposed razing and redeveloping Tom’s Diner at East Colfax Avenue and Pearl Street.
To do so, the developer has also applied for nonhistoric status on the building, built in 1967, and the half-acre property around it. BusinessDen first reported the news on Tuesday.
On Friday, the city will decide if Tom’s Diner has the potential for historic designation. Denver’s Landmark Preservation office is reviewing Alberta Development’s application and early stage proposal, according to Alexandra Foster with Denver Community Planning and Development.
If it’s deemed historically significant, community members will have around a month to protect the restaurant from demolition within the next five years. Anyone could apply for landmark status on the Googie-style building within that time period, though the paperwork comes with a fee of $875.
A similar process took place last month at the 85-year-old Bonnie Brae Tavern. Its owners said they were considering a sale and in early May were granted nonhistoric status, making their property more attractive to developers.
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Tom’s Diner owner Tom Messina told The Denver Post in February that he was selling his 20-year-old restaurant so he could move on or else retire. He bought the property 15 years ago for $800,000. It’s listed now for $4.8 million.
“It would make me happy to see someone come in and keep the ball rolling and enjoy a busy and successful restaurant,” he said in February.
Calls and emails to Messina and Alberta Development Partners were not immediately returned on Wednesday.
