Award-winning preservationist Dana Crawford initiated a concept of urban renewal that was one of the first of its kind in the United States. She pioneered the redevelopment of Denver’s historic Larimer Square in the mid 1960s, creating a festival shopping area from the neglected and abandoned buildings of Denver’s original main street. Today, Larimer Square serves as a prototype for the revitalization of forgotten main streets and architectural landmarks throughout the country.

Since the 1960s, Mrs. Crawford has redeveloped more than 800,000 square feet of historic property in the city of Denver including the Oxford Hotel, the Acme Lofts, the Edbrooke Lofts and Cooper Flats Condominiums. She completed Phase One of the Flour Mill Lofts project, converting an abandoned flour mill into unique loft spaces designed for the sophisticated urbanite. Mrs. Crawford has been steadfast in her belief that core cities can be made livable again. Today, in partnership with her son Jack Crawford, she is developing Prospect Park, a mixed-use, master planned village in Denver’s Central Platte Valley.

In addition to her many business accomplishments, Mrs. Crawford has given much of her time to both local and national concerns. She served nine years on the board of directors of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, six of those years on its executive committee. In 1995 the National Trust awarded her their highest honor, the distinguished Louise duPont Crowninshield Award. For fifteen years she worked with Preservation Action, serving as president for two years. She presently serves on the national board of Project for Public Spaces.

Mrs. Crawford’s contributions to the Denver community are many. She has been on the board of the Downtown Denver Partnership for more than thirty years and has been active with the Platte River Greenway Foundation, the Denver Art Museum, Historic Denver, Inc., the Colorado Historical Society and Foundation, and the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. She is an honorary member of the Colorado Chapter of A.I.A., and has been awarded a Doctorate of Humanities by the University of Colorado. In recognition of her civic contributions, business successes, and the positive influence she has had on the architectural character of Denver, she was inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame in 1997. That same year, in honor of her many years of community service, she was presented with the prestigious Bonfils-Stanton Foundation Award, also known as the “Colorado Nobel Prize.” In 1998, the Denver Business Journal recognized Mrs. Crawford as one of twenty people who have made a difference to Denver’s business success in the twentieth century.

Dana Crawford’s energy and commitment continue to be the spark for the ongoing revitalization of Denver’s Lower Downtown Historic District (LoDo). She is often called upon to assist others in their own revitalization efforts and has served as a consultant for over fifty communities to help preserve the historic character of neglected main streets and neighborhoods nationwide.
lifetime member of Downtown Denver Partnership Board
25 year board member of Project for Public Spaces (PPS)
9 year board member of National Trust for Historic Preservation
A founding member of Historic Denver
Founding group for Friends of Union Station
A founder of Platte River Greenway Foundation
Originator of Larimer Square and Developer of lofts
A board member with national launch of Main Street Program
Speaker/Consultant in some 60 American communities
Active public sector/private sector developer
Doctorate of Humanities, University of Colorado
Memberships ULI, IDA, and ICSC
Recent Work
Downtown Denver new 20 year Master Plan Steering Committee
Mayor’s 2007Bond Issue task Force
Consulting for Commerce City, Brighton, and Broomfield Civic Center Master Plans
Colorado Preservation Inc.
Colorado Business Hall of Fame
Historic Preservation Fund Committee since 1991. $200 million in gifts to all Colorado counties
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1988-Present: Chairman, Urban Neighborhoods, Inc., Denver, Colorado
1980-Present: General Partner, Oxford Hotel, Ltd., Denver, Colorado
1991-1998 General Partner, Market Center Associates., Denver, Colorado
1965-1986 General Partner, Larimer Square Associates, Denver, Colorado
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY (Project Start Dates)
2006: Tomboy Lofts, Red Cliff Lofts, Smuggler Lofts
2003: Jack Kerouac Lofts
2000: Ajax Lofts
1999: Flour Mill Lofts Phase II, Prospect Square
1998: Flour Mill Lofts Phase I, Cooper Flats Condominiums
1992: Acme Lofts
1990: Edbrooke Lofts
1980: Oxford Hotel
1974: Federal Fiber Mills, New Orleans, Louisiana
1965: Larimer Square
BUSINESSES ESTABLISHED
The Market at Larimer Square
Antonia Tsai Chinese restaurant
Victoriana Jewelry Store
Crawford Department Store
The Cabaret
The Criterion
The Oxford Club Spa and Salon
Urban Neighborhoods, Inc.
Urban Neighborhoods Real Estate Co.
CIVIC WORK
NATIONAL
Board, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1972-1981
Board, Project for Public Spaces, 1985-Present
Board, Preservation Action, President 1985-1987
Full Member, Urban Land Institute, 1981-Present
Honorary Member, American Institute of Architects
COLORADO
Colorado Historical Society, 1983-2006, Vice President ten years
Colorado Historic Preservation Fund Committee – Ten years
DENVER
Board, Denver Art Museum, 1976-1982
Board, Platte Valley Greenway Foundation, 1973-1980, still active
Board, Denver Performing Arts Complex, 1994-1997
Founding Member, Historic Denver, Inc., 1970-1980
Founding Member, Lower Downtown District, Inc., 1984-1992
Chairman, Downtown is the City Program, 1990-1991
Advisory, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, 1984-1990
Member, Mayor’s Housing Task Force, 1991
Founding Member, Friends of Union Station
Founder, Evil Companions Literary Award
Union Station Advisory Committee (USAC)
Conservancy – Civic Center
EDUCATION
University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas
Monticello College, Alton, Illinois
Harvard-Radcliffe, Cambridge, Massachusetts – Business Administration Program