The economy of Denver slumped following the Silver Crash of 1893 and the Capitol Hill residential construction shifted from mansions to boarding houses and apartments for rent. By 1910, Capitol Hill was fully developing into an “apartment district” and East Colfax was transitioning from a residential street to a commercial corridor for businesses. During World War II, housing density increased further with affordable housing resulting in population density among the highest in Denver, even today. The completion of Interstate-70 influenced Capitol Hill by diverting arriving tourists and visitors away from East Colfax, the traditional way to enter Denver from the East. East Colfax businesses and motels suffered further.

The population of Capitol Hill declined through-out the 1960’s, 1970’s and 1980’s. Crime rates increased as properties were abandoned. 

Capitol Hill’s proximity to Downtown Denver attracted the attention of city planners and real estate developers. Policing initiatives lowered crime rates. Rehabilitation, restoration and conversion of buildings began. New construction began to rise from vacant lots.

Capitol Hill’s old-world charm of tree-lined shady streets with stately mansions, quaint bungalows and Denver “squares” remind us of the neighborhood’s history. “Charming”, “nostalgic”, “historic”, “peaceful”, “serene” are commonly used to describe the newly-emerging “old” Capitol Hill. Capitol Hill has begun to attract an upbeat, diverse, eclectic, funky, young, urban, creative crowd. You can now find bustling neighborhood restaurants, coffee houses, cafes and local retailers – even neighborhood grocers and hardware stories. Nearby Fillmore Auditorium provides an intimate venue for concerts and entertainment. The neighborhood is evolving into a mixed-urban community with a majority of condominiums and high-density housing.