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Arapahoe Acres, Colorado
A 30-acre neighborhood in Englewood, Colorado, of 124 individually designed modern houses built from 1949 to 1957 by developer and designer Edward Hawkins, with architect Eugene Sternberg. It was listed on the National Register in 1998.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1949–1957Englewood, Colorado
- houses124individually designed
- site30 acresa 40-foot slope kept
- designation1998National Register
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Built on the slopeThe natural 40-foot east-to-west grade was kept, so houses step up and down the hill, along a street that curves through the grid.
- Turned for sun and viewsHouses sit at 23 to 45 degrees to the street, behind a 25-foot building line, for privacy, sun and mountain views.
- A 4-foot modulePlans on a 4-foot module, in International Style (Sternberg) and Usonian (Hawkins and Joseph Dion) designs.
- Warm floorsInsulated cavity brick walls and the area’s first heating that combined radiant floor heat with forced air under the slabs.
- MaterialsBrick, stone, concrete block, wood siding and glass in earth tones; a fireplace in every house and built-in millwork; carports or garages.
protection
Designation and the rules
- National Register, 1998Listed November 3, 1998 (also on the Colorado State Register); The Cultural Landscape Foundation calls it the first post-war neighborhood on the National Register. Listing alone doesn’t restrict private owners.
- CovenantsThe original covenants set land use, lot sizes, footprints and setbacks, but an architectural control committee hasn’t been convened since 1967, according to a 2011 report.
- City rulesWe couldn’t confirm whether Englewood has added local landmark rules or design guidelines; check with the city before buying.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Original heatingAsk whether the radiant-floor and forced-air system under the slab is still in place, and its condition.
- Past changesThe nomination notes converted garages and porches, enclosed carports, second-story additions and incompatible materials, windows and colors.
- CovenantsRead the original covenants and ask whether any architectural review is active today.
- State and local rulesCheck with the city and the state historic preservation office for any rules beyond the National Register listing.
The nomination counts 122 contributing and 2 noncontributing buildings; Hawkins designed about 70 houses and Sternberg about 20.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- National Park Service: Arapahoe Acres, National Register nomination (1998)Houses, designers, site, heating, alterations.npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NRHP/98001249_text
- History Colorado: Arapahoe AcresDates and register listings.www.historycolorado.org/location/arapahoe-acres
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation: Arapahoe AcresHomes and lot sizes.www.tclf.org/landscapes/arapahoe-acres
- The Cultural Landscape Foundation: Arapahoe Acres design intent threatened (2011)Covenants and the inactive committee.www.tclf.org/landslides/arapahoe-acres-design-intent-threatened
- National Park Service: National Register FAQNational Register listing places no restrictions on what a non-federal owner may do with their property.www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/faqs.htm
questions
Questions we hear
Where is Arapahoe Acres?
In Englewood, Colorado, between Bates Avenue, Dartmouth Avenue, Franklin Street and Marion Street.
Who designed Arapahoe Acres?
Developer and designer Edward Hawkins designed about 70 of the houses, architect Eugene Sternberg planned the site and designed about 20, and Joseph Dion worked with Hawkins from 1951.
Are there rules about changing a house?
The National Register listing alone doesn’t restrict owners. The original covenants still exist on paper, but their review committee hasn’t met since 1967; check for any city rules.
more to learn
Keep going
- Krisana Park and Cliff May homes, DenverTwo 1950s modern tracts in Denver.
- Mid-century modern across the U.S.Every guide in the series, coast to coast.
- Mid-century modern homes in Silicon ValleyThe style at home: where it is, what to look for.
- Silicon Valley Eichler tractsEvery Silicon Valley Eichler tract we cover, with live listings.
- Builder FilesThe builders and architects behind Bay Area homes.
General information from the sources listed, checked October 20, 2026; not legal, preservation or construction advice. Confirm designation and permit rules with the local preservation office before you buy or remodel. The Boyenga Team represents buyers and sellers in Santa Clara County, bay-side San Mateo County and San Francisco.
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