Over his lifetime, SR DeBoerhad been recognized in many ways: as a Fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects; as a member of the Colorado State Planning Board, the American Institute of Planners, and the Netherlands Institute for City Planning and Housing. He received an Award of Merit from the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association, life membership in the Colorado Society of Engineers, and honorary membership in both the American Institute of Architects and American Society of Planning Officials. He was honored with a Distinguished Service Award from the American Institute of City Planning in 1960, an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Colorado Nurserymen's Association in 1961, a Distinguished Service Award from Americans by Choice in 1966, and Regis College's Civis Princeps Award in 1972.
Currently, his heirs (SR DeBoer family) are embroiled in a property rights dispute. With the death of his daughter, Elizabeth Wright last July (2005), her three remaining children were forced for financial reasons to put the property up for sale. Currently, the Historical Society of Denver and neighbors of the property on East Iliff Avenue in Denver are trying to designate an historical district, which includes several surrounding properties. Leigh and Mark LaFon entered the application for historical designation without the consent or knowledge of the SR DeBoer family and obtained signatures of members of the neighborhood. The application is a 45-page document that contains numerous misrepresentations and historical errors. Leigh and Mark LaFon have had several opportunities to appear before the historical commission to argue their points while the SR DeBoer family heirs have had virtually no opportunity to do so. Ana Novas, who lives in the farmhouse adjacent to the SR DeBoer property and SR DeBoer's actual home during his lifetime, was initially interested in selling her property along with the SR DeBoer family. The neighbors of the SR DeBoer property, including the LaFons, refer to this property as "their forest" and "their sanctuary" and have long enjoyed the efforts of SR DeBoer's family to maintain this heavily-treed property. Unfortunately, with the possible development of the property, the neighbors chose not to address the issue with the family, but to underhandedly seek historical designation so the family could do nothing with the property.
The main issue lies with the possible demolition of what is termed "the office" of SR DeBoer. In the application, Leigh and Mark LaFon claim that the property located at 505 East Iliff Avenue was once his house and is of a rare architectural design. The application for the historical district contains Leigh and Mark LaFon's house (which they claim a heavy connection to artist John E Thompson and SR DeBoer), the entire property of the Elizabeth Wright Trust (which ends up being 60% of the proposed historical district), the farmhouse where Ana Novas currently resides, and the home of Elizabeth Wright located at 575 East Iliff Avenue that was built in the 1950s . Also, there is a small dwelling on the property referred to as the "cottage" that the LaFon's claim to have a strong connection to John E Thompson, a local painter in Denver, CO. While John E Thompson did rent the cottage for 2 years before moving into what is now the LaFon home, the heavy connection to SR DeBoer they are claiming simply did not exist beyond just being friends. The LaFon's have termed the entire SR DeBoer property as being a past and present artists colony. This fact has never been substantiated and though the family has done extensive research in defense of this designation they have never found any evidence of an artist colony, nor is there a present day colony.
However, this application by Leigh and Mark LaFon grossly overstates the historical importance of these properties. Examining each:
• Leigh and Mark LaFon's House; 2260 South Pinon Court (formerly 519 East Iliff Avenue)
Leigh and Mark LaFon's house has received major renovations and additions over the years since the home was originally built. Leigh and Mark LaFon have added over 1500sq ft and a detached garage on this property.
• Farmhouse residence of Ana Novas; 501 East Iliff Avenue
Ms. Novas' house has also received major renovations and additions over the years since its original construction. The farmhouse that Ana lives in is a mere shadow of its former self, yet the LaFon's claim it's the oldest house in South Denver, even thought the majority of the original construction has been overwrought by newer construction.
• Elizabeth Wright residence; 575 East Iliff Avenue.
This residence was constructed in the 1950s by TW Wright and not by SR DeBoer like the application claims.
• Elizabeth Wright Trust/ The Office; 515 East Iliff Avenue
The "office" was constructed around 1931 to act as SR DeBoer's office. This location never acted as a home for SR DeBoer and has not been substantiated in the application. The architect for the "office" was not SR DeBoer as also claimed.
• Elizabeth Wright Trust/ Cottage; 517 East Iliff Avenue
The "cottage" is claimed in the application to have acted as a haven for starving artists and is also included in the historic designation. This dwelling has received substantial renovation as well. Approximately 3 years ago, the inside was gutted and half of the stucco on the outside was removed. The largest part of the remodel has been finished, but there is still a great deal left undone due to financial issues. The claim of the "cottage" being an integral part of the artists colony has not been substantiated.
While Leigh and Mark LaFon have billed themselves as saviors of historically-valuable property, they did not seem interested in historical values when it meant constructing an addition to their residence or adding a garage, both of which would have been denied to them had their residence been deemed a historical landmark PRIOR to the construction. How convenient for the LaFons that now that their additions are added that they are NOW seeking historical classification and preservation of the SR DeBoer legacy.
Additionally, the LaFons are now blocking the family of SR DeBoer from taking actions with the property that are allowed by any property owner – primarily because the LaFons do not want to lose the privacy and shading that the SR DeBoer property affords them. At no time did the LaFons approach the SR DeBoer family to compromise on this issue or work out a symbiotic solution. Rather, the LaFons decided to take action with the city of Denver – an action that, through their erroneous application, is wrought with deception. The LaFons' and the neighbors who signed the petition for the historical designation do not have the first-hand experience with SR DeBoer as the DeBoer family does. The SR DeBoer family personally experienced what happened on the property and know his ultimate wishes for the property.
The LaFons are welcome to purchase the property located at 575, 515, and 517 E. Iliff Avenue from the SR DeBoer family, as is anyone interested in the property, for fair market value. Thus, the LaFons can then ensure that the trees on the SR DeBoer property remain intact, as do the so-called "historical" areas while also allowing the SR DeBoer family to relieve themselves of the ongoing financial burden imposed by maintaining this property. But by no means is the property of historical value, and the SR DeBoer family should be allowed to sell their property as planned.