In the late 1800s and the first half or so of the 1900s the area in Denver between Broadway and Zuni Streets on the east and west and 46th and 32nd Avenues on the north and south was known as "Little Italy". It was an area of Italian grocery stores and bakeries, community bread ovens, churches, and schools; an area where a new wave of immigrants from all over Italy moved to and where they were comfortable and socially secure in this new country.

The area along the South Platte River sandwiched between the growing downtown Denver and the hills to the west, Highland, was known as "The Bottoms". Here many of the first Italian immigrants settled. There was also farmland along the South Platte where they could grow cash crops of vegetables that were then sold in small, neighborhood shops and from push carts and horse-drawn wagons thoughout the neighborhoods of Denver. Later it became an area of railroad yards, industries, and warehouses.

These two areas - Little Italy and The Bottoms - have undergone drastic change since those days of the first Italian immigrants. Today "Little Italy" is still a residential area interspersed with small businesses. But the demographics are most different indeed as Highland neighborhood is re-populated with a new wave of residents - young (20-30 year olds) singles and couples often with young children and often well-educated. The Bottoms is no longer truck farms and warehouses but beautiful parkland and high rise apartment buildings.

Now imagine Little Italy resurrected with an Italianate piazza surrounded by Italian-oriented businesses including resturants, small shops, a small hotel, apartments and condos, and a museum dedicated to the Italian community of Colorado. Today this dream is rapidly moving towards becoming a reality.

Read on and learn about Denver Little Italy . . . .

 

In the historic Bottoms district where many of our families worked for generations, we propose to redevelop a parcel of land and build a piazza-themed, mixed-use Little Italy neighborhood. The goal is to unite in purpose Colorado’s Italian community, while not detracting from the longstanding Italian neighborhood of North Denver.

What will it look like? Imagine a charming Italian city, with a central piazza that serves as a community gathering spot for old people and children, shoppers and workers, residents and visitors. Picture a collection of stunning architecture that evokes the best in classic Italian urban design, adorned by flowers and color, street vendors and sidewalk cafes. Envision a museum that pays homage to Colorado’s influential Italian immigrant roots, along with a stately hotel, a quaint chapel, and spaces to work, play, live and shop … all with the distinctive character of a Little Italy.

Standing to benefit from such a place is not only the Italian community but also the City of Denver. Denver currently has a committee to promote ethnic cultural centers, with government funds available for cultural use. We anticipate the City’s support in this project because it will contribute value in supporting tourism. Denver Little Italy will become a new destination spot in Colorado, promoted through travel and visitors centers across America.

How will we do all this? With hard work and commitment, and with the enthusiasm of Colorado’s 100,000-plus Italian families supporting the concept. This is and always will be a philanthropic project, but that doesn’t mean it will be done for free. Our goal is to bring Italian culture to all Coloradans in partnership with good business philosophy, aided by virtuous people in power. This concept can and will work to everyone’s benefit.

To raise funds for the management company and the Italian museum, we will sell bricks used to build the foundation of the fountain in the piazza.

Bricks will display family names, similar to bricks used to build the Roman Coliseum. Thus, Italian families who purchase bricks will have their family name commemorated forever on this striking piazza showpiece.

The purchase of a brick is an investment, since it includes a share of corporate stock in the property management firm that runs Denver Little Italy.

Proceeds from the sale of bricks – or any other funds put in by Italians – will be used only for operating the management company and Italian museum. Nothing goes toward building the project, not even the museum.

Before a developer is brought in to the project, we will secure signed commitments for the purchase or lease of 80% of retail, office and residential space. Additionally, we will establish a property management firm made up of people in the Italian community. A proposal describing the partnership between developer and management company will include the following:

  • The developer will provide financing and expertise to get the project built. The developer will own and maintain building pads.

  • The property management firm will oversee construction. It will own the piazza, museum and right-of-way.

This management concept is similar to how a mall is organized, except we will do it by a company dedicated to the positive promotion of the Italian community. Accordingly, the property management company will be in charge of covenant control. The Covenant Control Committee will review and approve every aspect that reflects Denver Little Italy. Standard covenants will be included later when attorneys are on board, but here are some tenets unique to this development:

  • All construction will be of Italian design.

  • All retailers will have an Italian theme to be approved by the Covenant Control Committee.

  • Restaurants will be Italian-themed and serve 51% Italian products.

  • All names will be Italian and pronounced in Italian.

  • All businesses will agree to and sign a contract to abide by the Denver Little Italy covenants.

Both historical and forward-looking, Denver Little Italy honors our past heritage while building a place for all to be proud of for generations to come. If you have a desire to promote Italian heritage, community and family, and you want to pass that on to your children and their future, then you should be involved.

An Italian museum will depict your family and its history. You will own a piece of the project, and your family will be represented by a brick at the base of the piazza’s fountain. Moreover, the funds you invest will earn money. You can help shape the future of this development as a part of the steering committee, founders’ core group, board of directors or property management company.

The economy is primed for this kind of project, the City of Denver is encouraging downtown development, and we think Denver’s Italian community has waited long enough for a Little Italy.

 

For more information about the Denver Little Italy project or to learn the location of the next presentation contact:

Mary Lombardi Dye at mary.dzine@comcast.net or call 720-3371-4955

Tony Polisi at tony@buildingdesignandservices.com or call 303-277-1799