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The Alleys of Lower Downtown
Click on a thumbnail
to view
the photograph.
Photos taken in
February, 2005.
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Behind the
Scenes. Alleys hold a certain mystique that adds to the
character of the city. Words that many people use to describe alleys in
older urban areas might include dark, dirty, gritty,
grimy, or even dangerous. Some alleys are many of
these things. But alleys are also honest, authentic places where
function rules over form and much of the city's mundane chores take
place. The alleys in Lower Downtown wonderfully reflect some of the best
and worst qualities of urban alleys, and in these narrow spaces is the
well-worn evidence of over a century of life and work in Downtown
Denver.
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01. Your typical
urban alley... lots of clutter and messiness and where kids will play
(Block 019). |
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02. The physical
characteristics of the sign may have changed, but a hundred years later,
you still can't park there! (Block 016). |
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03. The fire
escape... a common component of any historic urban alley
(Block 016). |
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04. Not as fancy as
the front side, but still a respectable facade
(Block 016). |
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05. New balconies off
of old alleys reflect the residential character of Lower Downtown today (Block 016). |
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06. A bank with an
alley-side sign over their back entrance (Block 016). |
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07. This wine store
is located entirely off the alley. Here's their "front" door (Block
016). |
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08. Some alley-side
balconies are bigger than others! (Block 016). |
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09. First it was a
window, then it wasn't, now it is again... sort of (Block 017). |
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10. The "bridge" over
the alley connecting the Oxford Hotel to the neighboring building (Block 015). |
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11. More evidence of
the residential nature of LoDo today (Block A). |
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12. More new
balconies cling to the side of an historic Lower Downtown building (Block
A). |
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13. Alley art (Block
A). |
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14. Utility poles
from another era (Block 022). |
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15. A generous use of
glass for alley-side windows
(Block 047). |
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16. A bright green
paint job for the back of the Rocky Mountain Seed Company building (Block
046). |
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17. Alleys... where
it's OK if things get a bit messy
(Block 045). |
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18. Alley art... or
is it graffiti? (Block 043). |
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19. A room with a
view (Block 019). |
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20. The old and the
new (Block 018). |
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21. Apparently, the
sign is effective (Block 039). |
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22. Another classic
fire escape (Block 039). |
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23. Only half as big,
but upgraded to stained glass! (Block 015). |
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24. Windows and doors
come and go over the years (Block 015). |
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