For the first time since 1981, LoDo’s Barth Hotel has a new owner.
Eaton Senior Communities, a Lakewood-based nonprofit, closed on its $2.5 million purchase of the building at 1514 17th St. in Denver on Wednesday.
The building, which was a hotel for decades, was last sold to Senior Housing Options, which operated it as income-restricted housing for seniors. But the building hasn’t housed anyone since early 2025, when SHO moved everyone out due to deteriorating building conditions.
SHO was the seller in this week’s deal.
Eaton, in conjunction with developer Sue Powers’ Urban Ventures, plans to renovate the building and reduce its unit count from 62 to 50, with each unit getting its own bathroom for the first time. Once completed, the building will host poor seniors.
“We’re excited to do this first step,” Powers said Thursday.
Eaton financed the acquisition with a bridge loan from ANB Bank. Construction won’t start until next March. A deal that Eaton and Powers struck with hotelier Walter Isenberg meant they had to buy the building a bit sooner than they otherwise would have.
“Based on our agreement with Walter, we needed to close by the end of the year,” Powers said, noting she did it now to avoid closing around the holidays.
The $25 million project has secured funding from the Denver Downtown Development Authority. U.S. Bank is providing a construction loan in addition to buying the project’s historic and low-income housing tax credits.
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The renovated building is expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028.
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