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