| As a landscape architect, Saco Rienk DeBoers | | | | designation they have never found any |
| (SR DeBoer) work was inscribed in dozens of | | | | evidence of an artist colony, nor is there a |
| city parks, hundreds of private gardens, and | | | | present day colony. |
| thousands of city trees. As a city planner, | | | | |
| he co-authored Denver's first zoning code, | | | | However, this application by Leigh and Mark |
| devised many of its roadways, and led in the | | | | LaFon grossly overstates the historical |
| development of mountain parks. He was | | | | importance of these properties. Examining |
| instrumental in the creation of such | | | | each: |
| signature sites as Denver Botanic Gardens and | | | | |
| Red Rocks Amphitheatre. | | | | Leigh and Mark LaFons House; 2260 South Pinon |
| | | | Court (formerly 519 East Iliff Avenue) |
| Over his lifetime, SR DeBoerhad been | | | | |
| recognized in many ways: as a Fellow in the | | | | Leigh and Mark LaFons house has received |
| American Society of Landscape Architects; as | | | | major renovations and additions over the |
| a member of the Colorado State Planning | | | | years since the home was originally built. |
| Board, the American Institute of Planners, | | | | Leigh and Mark LaFon have added over 1500sq |
| and the Netherlands Institute for City | | | | ft and a detached garage on this property. |
| Planning and Housing. He received an Award of | | | | |
| Merit from the Colorado Forestry and | | | | Farmhouse residence of Ana Novas; 501 East |
| Horticulture Association, life membership in | | | | Iliff Avenue |
| the Colorado Society of Engineers, and | | | | |
| honorary membership in both the American | | | | Ms. Novas house has also received major |
| Institute of Architects and American Society | | | | renovations and additions over the years |
| of Planning Officials. He was honored with a | | | | since its original construction. The |
| Distinguished Service Award from the American | | | | farmhouse that Ana lives in is a mere shadow |
| Institute of City Planning in 1960, an | | | | of its former self, yet the LaFons claim its |
| Outstanding Achievement Award from the | | | | the oldest house in South Denver, even |
| Colorado Nurserymen's Association in 1961, a | | | | thought the majority of the original |
| Distinguished Service Award from Americans by | | | | construction has been overwrought by newer |
| Choice in 1966, and Regis College's Civis | | | | construction. |
| Princeps Award in 1972. | | | | |
| | | | Elizabeth Wright residence; 575 East Iliff |
| Currently, his heirs (SR DeBoer family) are | | | | Avenue. |
| embroiled in a property rights dispute. With | | | | |
| the death of his daughter, Elizabeth Wright | | | | This residence was constructed in the 1950s |
| last July (2005), her three remaining | | | | by TW Wright and not by SR DeBoer like the |
| children were forced for financial reasons to | | | | application claims. |
| put the property up for sale. Currently, the | | | | |
| Historical Society of Denver and neighbors of | | | | Elizabeth Wright Trust/ The Office; 515 East |
| the property on East Iliff Avenue in Denver | | | | Iliff Avenue |
| are trying to designate an historical | | | | |
| district, which includes several surrounding | | | | The office was constructed around 1931 to act |
| properties. Leigh and Mark LaFon entered the | | | | as SR DeBoers office. This location never |
| application for historical designation | | | | acted as a home for SR DeBoer and has not |
| without the consent or knowledge of the SR | | | | been substantiated in the application. The |
| DeBoer family and obtained signatures of | | | | architect for the office was not SR DeBoer as |
| members of the neighborhood. The application | | | | also claimed. |
| is a 45-page document that contains numerous | | | | |
| misrepresentations and historical errors. | | | | Elizabeth Wright Trust/ Cottage; 517 East |
| Leigh and Mark LaFon have had several | | | | Iliff Avenue |
| opportunities to appear before the historical | | | | |
| commission to argue their points while the SR | | | | The cottage is claimed in the application to |
| DeBoer family heirs have had virtually no | | | | have acted as a haven for starving artists |
| opportunity to do so. Ana Novas, who lives | | | | and is also included in the historic |
| in the farmhouse adjacent to the SR DeBoer | | | | designation. This dwelling has received |
| property and SR DeBoers actual home during | | | | substantial renovation as well. |
| his lifetime, was initially interested in | | | | Approximately 3 years ago, the inside was |
| selling her property along with the SR DeBoer | | | | gutted and half of the stucco on the outside |
| family. The neighbors of the SR DeBoer | | | | was removed. The largest part of the remodel |
| property, including the LaFons, refer to this | | | | has been finished, but there is still a great |
| property as their forest and their sanctuary | | | | deal left undone due to financial issues. |
| and have long enjoyed the efforts of SR | | | | The claim of the cottage being an integral |
| DeBoers family to maintain this heavily-treed | | | | part of the artists colony has not been |
| property. Unfortunately, with the possible | | | | substantiated. |
| development of the property, the neighbors | | | | |
| chose not to address the issue with the | | | | While Leigh and Mark LaFon have billed |
| family, but to underhandedly seek historical | | | | themselves as saviors of |
| designation so the family could do nothing | | | | historically-valuable property, they did not |
| with the property. | | | | seem interested in historical values when it |
| | | | meant constructing an addition to their |
| The main issue lies with the possible | | | | residence or adding a garage, both of which |
| demolition of what is termed the office of SR | | | | would have been denied to them had their |
| DeBoer. In the application, Leigh and Mark | | | | residence been deemed a historical landmark |
| LaFon claim that the property located at 505 | | | | PRIOR to the construction. How convenient for |
| East Iliff Avenue was once his house and is | | | | the LaFons that now that their additions are |
| of a rare architectural design. The | | | | added that they are NOW seeking historical |
| application for the historical district | | | | classification and preservation of the SR |
| contains Leigh and Mark LaFons house (which | | | | DeBoer legacy. |
| they claim a heavy connection to artist John | | | | |
| E Thompson and SR DeBoer), the entire | | | | Additionally, the LaFons are now blocking the |
| property of the Elizabeth Wright Trust (which | | | | family of SR DeBoer from taking actions with |
| ends up being 60% of the proposed historical | | | | the property that are allowed by any property |
| district), the farmhouse where Ana Novas | | | | owner primarily because the LaFons do not |
| currently resides, and the home of Elizabeth | | | | want to lose the privacy and shading that the |
| Wright located at 575 East Iliff Avenue that | | | | SR DeBoer property affords them. At no time |
| was built in the 1950s . Also, there is a | | | | did the LaFons approach the SR DeBoer family |
| small dwelling on the property referred to as | | | | to compromise on this issue or work out a |
| the cottage that the LaFons claim to have a | | | | symbiotic solution. Rather, the LaFons |
| strong connection to John E Thompson, a local | | | | decided to take action with the city of |
| painter in Denver, CO. While John E Thompson | | | | Denver an action that, through their |
| did rent the cottage for 2 years before | | | | erroneous application, is wrought with |
| moving into what is now the LaFon home, the | | | | deception. The LaFons and the neighbors who |
| heavy connection to SR DeBoer they are | | | | signed the petition for the historical |
| claiming simply did not exist beyond just | | | | designation do not have the first-hand |
| being friends. The LaFons have termed the | | | | experience with SR DeBoer as the DeBoer |
| entire SR DeBoer property as being a past and | | | | family does. The SR DeBoer family personally |
| present artists colony. This fact has never | | | | experienced what happened on the property and |
| been substantiated and though the family has | | | | know his ultimate wishes for the property. |
| done extensive research in defense of this | | | | |