What are homes like in Sloan’s Lake?
Sloan’s Lake is a west Denver neighborhood built around Sloan’s Lake Park, the city’s second largest park, with a 177 acre lake at its center. Homes range from 1920s brick bungalows on the interior blocks to modern single family homes, duplexes and townhomes, plus condos and apartments on the former St. Anthony hospital site south of the lake. Lake frontage, views and lot size make the biggest difference from one street to the next.
Sloan’s Lake homes ring a 177 acre lake on Denver’s west edge, next to Edgewater and Lakewood. Sloan’s Lake is inside the City and County of Denver, and its housing runs from early twentieth century brick bungalows to new construction on lots that have been scraped and rebuilt. This guide covers where the neighborhood is, how it was built, the rules that shape what you can build, and what we suggest buyers and sellers look at closely. For current asking prices and inventory, use the live numbers at the top of this page.
Where is Sloan’s Lake?
The Denver Public Library’s neighborhood history describes the Sloan’s Lake area as running from West 17th Avenue north to West 29th Avenue, between Federal Boulevard on the east and Sheridan Boulevard on the west. The city’s official statistical neighborhood, which Denver still spells Sloan Lake, is drawn more tightly; its usual description is Sheridan Boulevard, West 17th Avenue, Raleigh Street and West 26th Avenue. Agents and listings often use the name for the wider area, so check an address against the city’s map.
Sheridan Boulevard is also the city limit. The City of Edgewater sits on the west side of Sheridan, with Lakewood and Wheat Ridge nearby, and those are separate cities with their own rules and taxes. Downtown Denver is to the east: the Denver Urban Renewal Authority puts the former St. Anthony hospital site about 2.5 miles west of downtown. Interstate 25, east of the neighborhood, carries trips south toward the Denver Tech Center.
How was Sloan’s Lake built?
The lake came first. Denver Parks and Recreation’s 2026 park history boards say farmer Thomas Sloan dug a well in 1862 that tapped an aquifer and flooded about 200 acres, filed homestead papers in 1866, and in 1872 platted his land into lots and streets he called Lakeville. In 1874 a canal and the steamboat “City of Denver” linked the lake to the Grand View Hotel at Federal Boulevard and 17th Avenue.
The library history records the Manhattan Beach amusement park on the north shore, opened in 1891, which burned in 1908, reopened as Luna Park and closed in 1914. The Cultural Landscape Foundation dates the public park to 1923, and the Works Progress Administration connected Sloan’s Lake and Cooper Lake in the 1930s. The current boat house and walled banks were built in 1941.
The 1920s brick bungalows on many blocks date from the same era as some of the area’s public buildings. The library history notes Lake Junior High School, built in 1926 and designed by the Hoyt brothers, long nicknamed “The Castle” for its Tudor style features. At the southwest corner of the area, the Lakeshore Drive In Theater opened at 17th Avenue and Sheridan Boulevard in 1951 and was torn down in the 1980s for what became the Edgewater Marketplace, across the city line.
The other anchor was St. Anthony’s Hospital, whose first building opened in May 1892. The hospital closed its central campus in 2011 and moved southwest; the Denver Urban Renewal Authority says EFG bought the roughly 19 acre site in 2013, and the redevelopment area runs between Stuart and Perry streets from West Colfax Avenue to West 17th Avenue.
What are the homes like?
The interior blocks are mostly detached houses: 1920s brick bungalows alongside modern two and three story homes and duplexes built after scrape offs. Lots are generally Denver city lots, many with alleys. Homes that face the park carry the views and are a separate tier from houses a few blocks back.
The St. Anthony redevelopment added the most density. According to news coverage of the plan, the seven block site was planned for rental apartments, retail along 17th Avenue, an office building and for sale homes, with the historic Kuhlman Building kept. The neighborhood summary notes a 12 story condominium tower among the newer buildings.
What rules shape what you can build?
Sloan’s Lake is governed by the Denver Zoning Code, adopted in 2010. Zone districts vary from block to block, and the Colfax corridor and the old hospital site carry larger buildings than the interior streets. Look up the district for any lot before planning an addition, a pop top or a rebuild.
- Townhomes. Denver City Council approved changes in May 2018 that curbed sideways facing slot homes, required more units to face the street and limited height and rooftop decks. Some attached homes near the lake predate the rule.
- Demolition. Tearing down an older house needs a demolition permit through the city’s non landmark demolition review; when staff see landmark potential, a sign is posted on the property for 21 calendar days.
- ADUs. Denver allowed accessory dwelling units in all residential areas starting December 16, 2024, with building standards tied to the neighborhood type.
Streets, parks and getting around
Sloan’s Lake Park covers 290 acres, and its lakes cover 177 of them, according to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, which also notes a 2.5 mile paved trail around the water. The 2026 Parks and Recreation boards list current work: lake water quality improvements, a renovation of the northeast tennis and basketball courts expected in fall 2026, and a new maintenance facility in the old Gun Club building on the southwest corner.
Sheridan Boulevard and Federal Boulevard frame the area east and west, with West 17th Avenue, West 26th Avenue and West Colfax Avenue as the main cross streets. RTD’s W Line, opened on April 26, 2013, has stations at Perry Street and at Sheridan Boulevard south of the neighborhood, running east to Union Station.
Buying in Sloan’s Lake
We usually advise buyers to decide first between a park facing home and an interior block, because the two price and sell differently. On a showing, stand on the roof deck or top floor and confirm the view, and note what could be built on the lots between you and the water.
For the bungalows, plan on a sewer line scope, a foundation review and an electrical inspection for older wiring, plus a radon test, which matters anywhere in Colorado. For new construction and townhomes, ask about the builder’s warranty, roof deck waterproofing, and any HOA or shared driveway agreement. Busy edges such as Sheridan, Federal and Colfax bring more traffic noise than the streets near the park.
Selling in Sloan’s Lake
Buyers here compare views, parking, outdoor space and finish level. We suggest pricing against homes of the same type on comparable streets: a park facing modern home, an interior bungalow and a condo in the hospital redevelopment are three different sets of comparables. Have permits, warranties and any HOA documents ready, and for an older house a presale sewer scope answers a question buyers will ask.
How does Sloan’s Lake compare with nearby neighborhoods?
To the east, LoHi homes sit closer to downtown with more attached townhomes and older brick houses on the bluff. For established detached homes around a large park on the east side, compare Washington Park or Park Hill. Every guide is on our neighborhoods page.
| At a glance | Sloan’s Lake |
|---|---|
| City and county | City and County of Denver |
| Bordering city | Edgewater, across Sheridan Boulevard |
| Typical house styles | 1920s brick bungalows, modern single family homes, duplexes, townhomes and condos |
| Park | Sloan’s Lake Park, 290 acres with a 177 acre lake and a 2.5 mile trail |
| Redevelopment | Former St. Anthony hospital site between Stuart and Perry streets |
| Light rail | W Line stations at Perry and Sheridan |
| Zoning | Denver Zoning Code, varies by block |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sloan’s Lake in Denver or Edgewater?
The neighborhood and the park are in the City and County of Denver. Sheridan Boulevard on the west side of the park is the city line, and Edgewater, a separate city, begins on the other side of it.
How big is Sloan’s Lake Park?
The park covers 290 acres, making it Denver’s second largest after City Park, and the combined Sloan’s and Cooper lakes cover 177 acres with a 2.5 mile paved trail around them.
What happened to the St. Anthony hospital site?
St. Anthony Central Hospital closed in 2011. EFG bought the roughly 19 acre site in 2013, and it was redeveloped with apartments, condos, offices and shops between Stuart and Perry streets, from Colfax Avenue to 17th Avenue.
Is it Sloan Lake or Sloan’s Lake?
Both appear. The city renamed the park Sloan’s Lake Park in 2002 after a petition, but Denver still uses Sloan Lake as the official name of the statistical neighborhood, according to the Denver Public Library.
If you own near the lake and want a current view of your home’s value, request a home value review, or book a private consultation before you buy.
