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Krisana Park and Cliff May homes, Denver
Krisana Park and the Harvey Park Cliff May homes are two mid-1950s modern home tracts in Denver, one modeled on Joseph Eichler’s California houses and the other built from Cliff May’s prefabricated system. Krisana Park, in southeast Denver, has about 175 homes and a city conservation overlay adopted in 2016 that limits height and bulk; the roughly 170 Cliff May homes sit on a few blocks of Harvey Park. We found no landmark or historic district designation for either tract.
The housesThe rulesBefore you buy
- built1954–1957both tracts
- homesabout 175 + 170Krisana Park + Cliff May
- overlayCO-5, 2016Krisana Park only
- landmark statusnone foundfor either tract
the houses
What makes them distinctive
- Eichler-inspiredDeveloper H.B. Wolff and his son Brad Wolff built Krisana Park after being inspired by Joseph Eichler’s modern homes in California.
- Krisana Park detailsLow-slung rooflines, post-and-beam construction, Philippine mahogany wall panels, carports, and floor-to-ceiling windows opening to side or back lanais.
- Prefab systemThe Cliff May homes were built from a patented prefabricated system of panels on a post-and-beam frame, designed by Cliff May and Chris Choate and built locally under license.
- Glass gablesLow-sloped roofs, vaulted ceilings, glass walls and clerestory windows known as “glass gables.”
- Largest outside CaliforniaHistoric Denver calls the Harvey Park tract, on the 2300–2500 blocks of South Lowell Boulevard, South Meade Street, South Newton Street and the east side of South Osceola Street, the largest Cliff May Homes tract outside California.
- Original prices1955 newspaper ads put the Cliff May homes at about $12,750 to $16,750; Krisana Park’s base price was $15,950.
the tracts
The two tracts
| Tract | Built | Homes | Developer | Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Krisana Park | 1954–1957 | about 175 | H.B. Wolff and Brad Wolff | CO-5 conservation overlay, 2016 |
| Cliff May homes, Harvey Park | 1954–1956 | about 170 | D.C. Burns | none found |
Counts and dates as the sources report them; they differ slightly.
protection
Designation and the rules
- Krisana Park overlayDenver City Council approved the Krisana Park Conservation Overlay District (CO-5) on November 21, 2016. It limits homes to one and a half stories, adds bulk-plane limits tied to a maximum 3:12 roof pitch, and allows expansion toward the backyard.
- No design reviewProjects are checked against the overlay and base zoning at permit time, with no design or neighborhood review; Historic Denver notes that conservation overlays don’t regulate demolition.
- Landmark review only if designatedDenver Landmark Preservation design review applies to individual landmarks and historic districts. We found no such designation for homes in either tract.
- Tax creditsColorado’s historic preservation income tax credit (20% of qualified rehabilitation costs, up to $100,000) is limited to Denver landmarks, historic district contributors and State or National Register properties, so it doesn’t apply here today.
before you buy
What to check before you buy
- Check overlay limitsBefore planning a Krisana Park addition, confirm the CO-5 limits on stories, bulk plane and roof pitch with Denver zoning.
- Insulation and energyOriginal Cliff May homes have no attic or in-wall insulation and very little roof insulation; owners often switch to double-pane windows and a high-efficiency HVAC system.
- Common upgradesElectrical, sewer lines, roofs and windows often need upgrading, and older materials such as asbestos may be present.
- Structure and crawl spacesCliff May homes are post-and-beam with no load-bearing interior walls and sit over crawl spaces, which affects inspections and layout changes.
- Original finishesCheck which original Krisana Park features remain, such as mahogany paneling, carports and window walls.
Sources differ on Krisana Park’s home count (174 to 177) and build years (1954–55 or 1954–57) and on the Cliff May count (170 or 171), and original heating systems in either tract couldn’t be confirmed.
sources
Where this comes from
Checked October 20, 2026.
- Historic Denver: Cliff May Homes Story TrekCount, years, builder, designers, streets, largest outside California.historicdenver.org/tours-and-events/story-trek/cliff-may-homes/
- Modern in Denver: A Cliff May Q&AInsulation, windows, HVAC, crawl spaces, upgrades.modernindenver.com/cliff-may-q-and-a/
- Denver Architecture Foundation: Krisana Park (2019)The Wolffs, Eichler inspiration, count, overlay.denverarchitecture.org/recap-modernism-series-krisana-park-midcentury-modern-design-at-its-best/
- Krisana Park neighborhood: historyCount, years, materials, base price.www.krisanapark.community/kp-history-1
- Krisana Park neighborhood: zoning (CO-5)Approval date, stories, roof pitch, no design review.www.krisanapark.community/krisana-park-zoning
- Historic Denver: For communitiesOverlays vs. historic districts.historicdenver.org/resources/for-communities/
- City and County of Denver: Landmark design reviewWhat Landmark Preservation reviews.www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Community-Planning-and-Development/Landmark-Preservation/Landmark-Reviews-and-Demolition/Landmark-Design-Review
- City and County of Denver: State historic preservation tax creditsTax credit eligibility.www.denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Community-Planning-and-Development/Landmark-Preservation/Resources-for-Landmark-Property-Owners/State-Historic-Preservation-Income-Tax-Credits
- 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
Is Krisana Park a historic district?
No. It has a conservation overlay (CO-5), approved in 2016, that limits building form but doesn’t regulate demolition or require design review.
Who built Krisana Park?
Developer H.B. Wolff and his son Brad Wolff began building it in 1954, inspired by Joseph Eichler’s California homes.
Are the Harvey Park Cliff May homes protected?
We found no landmark, historic district or overlay designation; a 2017 article reported residents pursuing a historic designation or a conservation overlay.
more to learn
Keep going
- Cliff May Rancho EstatesAbout 700 Cliff May houses in Long Beach.
- Arapahoe AcresEdward Hawkins’ modern neighborhood in nearby Englewood.
- 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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