What are homes like in LoHi?
LoHi, short for Lower Highland, is the eastern end of Denver’s Highland neighborhood, on the bluff across the South Platte River and Interstate 25 from downtown. Homes range from late 1800s brick and frame houses and Craftsman bungalows to newer townhomes, duplexes and apartment and condo buildings that replaced older lots. Expect small city lots, a lot of recent infill, and big differences in build quality from one project to the next.
LoHi homes sit on some of the oldest platted ground in Denver, a few minutes’ walk over the river from downtown. LoHi is a nickname for Lower Highland, the part of the city’s Highland neighborhood closest to the river, and it mixes nineteenth century houses with a large amount of townhome, duplex and condo construction from the last two decades. This guide covers where LoHi is, how it was built, the rules that shape what can be built, 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 LoHi?
LoHi is inside the City and County of Denver. The city’s official neighborhood is called Highland, and its usual boundaries are West 38th Avenue on the north, Federal Boulevard on the west, Speer Boulevard on the south and the South Platte River and rail line on the east. Locals use West Highland for the area west of Federal, and Lower Highland, or LoHi, for the blocks that run down the hill toward the river.
There is no official line for LoHi itself. A Denver North Star history column describes the early North Denver annexations as running from the river west to Zuni Street (then called Gallup), south to Speer (then Lake) and north to 38th Avenue (then Prospect), and that is close to how most people use the name today. Listings often stretch the label, so check the actual address against the map.
Getting downtown is short. The Highland Bridge, a 325 foot pedestrian bridge over Interstate 25 that opened on December 16, 2006, links Central Street in LoHi to Platte Street and the line of the 16th Street Mall. By car, Speer Boulevard and 15th Street cross into downtown, and Interstate 25 runs along the east edge for trips south to the Denver Tech Center.
How was LoHi built?
According to the Denver Public Library’s Highlands history, the Highland townsite was laid out in 1858 by General William Larimer and David C. Collier across the Platte from Auraria. The Town of Highlands was incorporated on April 8, 1875, had more than 35 subdivisions by 1890, and voted in 1896 to join Denver after river crossings, the climb up the hill and the 1893 Silver Crash strained its finances.
The Denver North Star column notes that a lack of bridges slowed early settlement, that mapmakers in the twentieth century called the area Lower Highland, and that the LoHi name came into use in the 2010s, credited to Lu Stasko and Paul Tamborello, who led early redevelopment. The interstate changed the eastern blocks too: a Westword account of one Umatilla Street lot describes an 1888 house left alone after the rest of its row was cleared when Interstate 25 was built.
The most visible survivor is Stonemen’s Row. History Colorado’s register entry places it on the south side of West 28th Avenue between Umatilla and Vallejo streets: eight Romanesque Revival duplexes built from 1891 to 1893 by stone workers as investment property, listed on the National Register on January 5, 1984.
What are the homes like?
The housing stock is layered. On the older blocks you find one and two story brick and frame houses from the late 1800s and early 1900s, Victorian and Craftsman houses, and small brick commercial buildings at corners. DenverInfill’s coverage of Lower Highland projects documents older Victorian and Craftsman houses and a 1928 brick house being cleared for new apartment buildings, which is the pattern on many blocks.
Most of the newer housing is attached: side by side townhomes, duplexes and rowhouses with roof decks, plus midrise apartment and condo buildings closer to the river and along corridors such as Tejon Street. There are also large modern single family homes on assembled or reused lots. Lots are typically narrow city lots with alley access, and garages, parking and outdoor space vary widely from building to building.
What rules shape what you can build?
LoHi is governed by the Denver Zoning Code, adopted in 2010, and the zone district changes from block to block: some lots allow only single unit or two unit homes, others allow rowhouses or larger mixed use buildings. Look up the exact zone district for any address before you plan an addition, a pop top or a scrape off.
Three rules matter most here:
- Townhome design. After a wave of sideways facing “slot homes”, Denver City Council approved zoning amendments in May 2018 requiring more units to face the street, limiting height and rooftop decks, and creating a new town house building form. Many LoHi townhomes were built before that change, and their layout shows it.
- Historic review. Properties in a designated Denver historic district need a Certificate of Appropriateness for new construction, additions and exterior alterations, under the city’s landmark design review. Outside districts, a demolition permit for an older house goes through the city’s demolition review, and if staff find landmark potential a sign is posted for 21 calendar days.
- Accessory dwelling units. Denver City Council voted on November 18, 2024 to allow ADUs in all residential areas, effective December 16, 2024, with building standards still tied to the neighborhood type.
Streets, parks and getting around
The main residential streets run north and south, among them Umatilla, Vallejo, Tejon and Zuni, with Tejon Street carrying much of the newer mixed use building. The Highland Bridge and the river crossings at 15th Street and Speer Boulevard put Commons Park, a 20 acre park along the South Platte that The Cultural Landscape Foundation describes as partly restored riparian habitat, a short walk away. The South Platte River Trail runs along the water on the east side.
There is no light rail station in LoHi itself; Union Station, across the river in downtown, is the closest rail hub. Interstate 25 and Speer Boulevard carry most car traffic, and the noise along the interstate and the busier corridors is something to judge in person on a showing.
Buying in LoHi
We usually advise buyers to treat LoHi as a building by building market. Two townhomes on the same block can differ in builder, construction quality, soundproofing between units, roof deck waterproofing and how the shared drive and utilities are set up. Ask whether a townhome is part of an HOA or governed by a shared wall or party wall agreement, and read it.
For older houses, a sewer line scope, a structural look at foundations and masonry, and an electrical review for older wiring are worth doing, along with a radon test, which applies anywhere in Colorado. For newer attached homes, look at the builder’s warranty, flashing around roof decks and windows, and whether the HOA has reserves. Check the zone district for any vacant lot or older house next door, because what can go up beside you shapes light and views.
Selling in LoHi
Buyers here compare a lot of similar product, so the details decide it: view, finish level, parking, roof deck condition and natural light. We suggest pricing against the right comparables, meaning the same building type on similar streets, not a citywide average. An 1890s brick house and a 2016 townhome a block apart are separate markets.
Before listing, fix deferred maintenance on decks and roofs, have warranty and HOA documents ready, and for older houses consider a presale sewer scope and inspection so buyers see the history up front.
How does LoHi compare with nearby neighborhoods?
West of LoHi, the area around Sloan’s Lake homes mixes 1920s brick bungalows with newer homes around the city’s second largest park. For older housing with stricter historic review on the other side of town, compare Congress Park, and for downtown adjacent homes with a different mix, see Cherry Creek. All 18 guides are on our neighborhoods page.
| At a glance | LoHi |
|---|---|
| City and county | City and County of Denver |
| Official neighborhood | Highland |
| Early history | Townsite laid out in 1858; Town of Highlands incorporated 1875; joined Denver after an 1896 vote |
| Typical house styles | Late 1800s brick and frame houses, Craftsman bungalows, modern townhomes, duplexes and condos |
| Landmark nearby | Stonemen’s Row on West 28th Avenue, built 1891 to 1893 |
| Zoning | Denver Zoning Code, varies by block |
| Parks and trails | Commons Park and the South Platte River Trail across the river |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LoHi the same as Highland?
LoHi is part of Highland. Denver’s official Highland neighborhood runs from Federal Boulevard east to the river, and LoHi, or Lower Highland, is the name used for the eastern blocks down the hill toward Interstate 25 and downtown.
Are there historic districts in LoHi?
Stonemen’s Row, the eight Romanesque Revival duplexes on West 28th Avenue between Umatilla and Vallejo streets, was listed on the National Register in 1984. Farther west in Highland, the Potter Highlands district was designated by Denver in 1979 and enlarged in 1987.
How do you get from LoHi to downtown Denver?
On foot, the Highland Bridge over Interstate 25, opened in 2006, connects Central Street to Platte Street and on toward the 16th Street Mall and Union Station. By car, Speer Boulevard and 15th Street cross the river.
Can I add an ADU to a LoHi property?
Denver has allowed accessory dwelling units in all residential areas since December 16, 2024, but the building standards depend on the zone district and lot. Confirm the zone district and lot size with the city before you design one.
If you own in LoHi and want to know where your home stands, request a home value review, or book a private consultation to talk through a purchase.
