Park Hill, Denver

Park Hill is a neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, U.S.A. Located in the northeastern quadrant of the city, it is bordered by Colorado Boulevard on the west, East Colfax Avenue on the south, Quebec Street on the east, and East 52nd Avenue on the north. It is further divided by the City and County of Denver into three administrative neighborhoods, South Park Hill, North Park Hill, and Northeast Park Hill.

History

In 1887, Baron Allios Gillaume Engine von Winckler platted the original Park Hill development on 32 acres of land he owned east of City Park. This development was bordered by present day Montview Boulevard on the south, Colorado Boulevard on the west, East 26th Avenue on the north, and Dahlia Street on the east, placing it in what is now the western portion of South Park Hill.

In 1898, in response to the Spanish-American War, Baron von Winckler allowed land directly north of the original development to be used as a camp for the Colorado National Guard. It housed 1,400 troops in tents. Shortly after this, the Baron committed suicide, reportedly after seeing the troops leave for the Philippines.

The first homes in Park Hill were offered for sale in 1900. As the neighborhood grew, settlers from many nations, including England, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, and Italy, moved in, as did African Americans. After World War II, residential development increased in the northern part of the neighborhood.

Dahlia Square

In the early 1950s, the Dahlia Square Shopping Center was built in Northeast Park Hill atop a landfill. Located between Dahlia Street and Elm Street and between East 33rd Avenue and East 35th Avenue, it was the commercial heart of the neighborhood during its time, and at its peak featured a number of businesses including a grocery store. As time passed, it fell into disrepair and was considered a nuisance by residents.

Starting in the 1990s, under efforts by then-mayor Wellington Webb, several redevelopment plans were considered, but none was successful until April 2005, after Webb left office. In that month, the site was purchased by Parkhill Community Inc., a subsidiary of Brownfield Partners, LLC, which had been chosen by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) to clean up the site and prepare it for redevelopment. In late 2005, DURA announced it would work exclusively with Alliance Development Partners, Inc., to redevelop the site when remediation was complete. Alliance was formed by Webb and partners.

Demolition of the structures on the site, including removal of asbestos, was completed by December 2005, and remediation of the landfill began in February 2006. [cite web | title = The Dahlia Square Redevelopment | url = http://www.dahliasquare.com/ | publisher = Brownfield Partners, LLC | accessdate = 2006-07-28 ] [cite news | title = Dahlia Square sold | url = http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2005/04/11/daily45.html | author = Erin Johansen | work = Denver Business Journal | date = 2005-04-14 | accessdate = 2006-07-28 ] [cite news | work = Rocky Mountain News | title = Web to vie for Dahlia Square project | author = April M. Washington | date = 2005-06-15 | url = http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3859264,00.html | accessdate = 2006-07-28 ]

Demographics

Data from the U.S. Census indicate that in the year 2000, there were a total of 26,422 residents in 10,221 households in the three administrative neighborhoods comprising Park Hill. Income increased from north to south, and the number of minority residents increased from south to north. African-Americans comprised nearly 46% of the neighborhoods populations but this varied greatly depending on how far north. In the Southern part of the neighborhood, they accounted for only 13% of the 8541 residents but in the Northern part of the neighborhood (north and northeast park hill), they accounted for nearly 62% of the 17,881 residents.

outh Park Hill

In 2000, South Park Hill had 8,541 residents in 3,644 households. Its population was 74.6% white, 8.1% Hispanic, and 12.8% black. Its median income was $88,478.59, well above the city's overall median income of $55,128.62.2000 U.S. Census]

North Park Hill

In 2000, North Park Hill had 10,057 residents in 3,944 households. Its population was 27.6% white (Anglo), 10.9% Hispanic, and 56.0% black. Its median income was $58,392.34, slightly higher than the city's overall median income of $55,128.62. North Park Hill has always been the most diverse neighborhood in the Park Hill area.Fact|date=February 2007 It's a poster of an American middle-class neighborhood. Although 15 years ago most of North Park Hill was around 70% Black, and faced many street gang problems that newer Denver neighborhoods, progressive measures by the city cleaned up most of the problems.Fact|date=February 2007 Park Hill's location, beautiful brick homes and at the time lower housing costs made it appealing to many suburban whites who sought to move back into the city. Also there has been an increased Hispanic population throughout Park Hill and other surrounding East Denver neighborhoods, most notably Five Points and Whittier.Fact|date=February 2007

Northeast Park Hill

In 2000, Northeast Park Hill had 7,824 residents in 2,633 households. Its population was 4.7% white (Anglo), 23.8% Hispanic, and 68.5% black. Its median income was $37,468.06, below the city's overall median income of $55,128.62.In all of North Park Hill (the north and northeastern neighborhoods), there were 17,881 residents in 6,577 households. The population was 17.6% White, 61.5% Black, and 16.5% Hispanic thus making it a majority African-American neighborhood.

This area is well known for its gang activity and rivalry between the Bloods and the Crips. [Citation needed]

A fire on May 18, 2008 destroyed most of Holly Square, perhaps connected to the death of the Denver Crips founder, Michael Asberry, who was murdered ten blocks away the day before. [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/19/1980s-gang-organizer-shot-killed-in-aurora/] [http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/may/18/early-morning-fire-destroys-holly-square-in-park/] , [http://cbs4denver.com/local/strip.mall.fire.2.728671.html]

Park Hill community

The Greater Park Hill Community (GPHC) is a non-profit neighborhood organization formed in 1961. The GPHC, managed and staffed largely by volunteers, is involved in the following tasks:
* Most significantly, it serves as a liaison between local residents and businesses and the City and County of Denver.
* It publishes a monthly newspaper, the Greater Park Hill News, which is distributed free to residents of Park Hill's administrative neighborhoods and nearby businesses.
* It operates a Youth Jobs Program to help young people ages 12-15 find summer jobs.
* It sponsors an annual home tour in the fall. [http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/denver/gphc/]

Famous people from Park Hill

*Detroit Pistons basketball player and 2004 NBA Finals MVP Award winner Chauncey Billups
*Former USC and current NFL running back LenDale White
*Former University of Denver basketball player Rodney Billups
*Former University of Arizona and former Denver Broncos running back Mike Bell was raised in Park Hill.
*Jazz singer Dianne Reeves is a current resident
*Current Mayor of Denver, John Hickenlooper moved to Park Hill in 2007

References

* [http://www.denvergov.org/Census/ Census data from the City and County of Denver]
* [http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/denver/gphc/ Neighborhood Link information on Greater Park Hill Community]