History and culture - Front Range
LoDo is a protected historic district, not just a nightlife name
Lower Downtown, or LoDo, was declared a Denver historic district in 1988, which is why its old brick warehouses still stand and changes to them are reviewed.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 11, 2026
LoDo, short for Lower Downtown, is the old warehouse quarter near Union Station and the ballpark. The name reads like a bar district, but it is also a legal designation that shapes what owners can do to the buildings.
In the late 1980s, the city declared lower downtown a historic district. At the time, many of the old brick warehouses were emptying out and at risk. The designation set rules so the area’s character would be kept as it filled back up with shops, offices, and homes. That is a big reason the late-1800s brick fronts are still there.
Why this matters to a buyer or business owner: inside the district, outside changes to a building, its windows, signs, and sometimes new construction, are reviewed before they happen. It is not a free hand. If you are eyeing a loft or a storefront in LoDo, the historic-district rules are part of the deal, and they protect the look you came for.
For the district boundaries and the design-review process, start with Denver’s Landmark Preservation office.