NORTH-CENTRAL DENVER · DOWNING TO YORK, 32ND TO 40TH AVENUE
Cole
One of Denver’s oldest neighborhoods, with Victorians and bungalows, the 39th Avenue Greenway and a train to the airport a few blocks west.
Location: North-central Denver, from Downing Street east to York Street and from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard north to 40th Avenue | Vibe: Old houses, longtime neighbors and a lot of new building | Known for: 39th Avenue Greenway, Denver Rock Drill, Williams Street restaurants
Cole runs from Downing Street east to York Street and from Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (32nd Avenue) north to 40th Avenue, with RiNo across Downing and Walnut to the west. The first lots were platted in 1871, Denver annexed the area in 1874, and by 1930 the neighborhood was built out to 40th and York. It’s named for Carlos M. Cole, an early superintendent of Denver Public Schools.
It was a working neighborhood. The Denver Rock Drill Manufacturing Company built pneumatic drills at 39th and Franklin that were used in mines around the world. By the 1970s a large share of Cole’s residents were Black, and 34th Avenue is now Bruce Randolph Avenue, named for “Daddy” Bruce Randolph and his free Thanksgiving dinners.
What the housing looks like
The older houses are Victorians, Queen Annes, Denver Squares and bungalows. Many have been renovated, and a lot of lots have been scraped for duplexes, townhomes and modern single-family houses, so one block can have an 1890s cottage next to a three-story new build.
The north edge is changing fastest. In September 2025 City Council approved the Rock Drill redevelopment between 39th and 40th avenues and Franklin and Williams streets, a plan for hundreds of homes, offices, shops and a hotel that keeps the old factory buildings.
Cole at a glance
Residents
About 4,600 people.
Getting around
38th & Blake station on the A Line is a short walk from the west side, one stop from Union Station and direct to the airport. The 39th Avenue Greenway path runs across the north end of the neighborhood.
Public schools
Cole Arts & Science Academy and DSST: Cole share the campus at 3240 Humboldt St, and Wyatt Academy is a K-5 charter at 3620 Franklin St. Enrollment depends on address and the DPS choice process, so check the school finder for a specific house.
Rules to know
Since November 2024 Denver allows accessory dwelling units in all residential zones, and Cole has a lot of scrape-and-rebuild activity. I check permits and zoning on the lots next to any house you’re considering.
“Cole is where I send buyers who want an old Denver house close to RiNo and a train, and can live with some construction for a few years.”
North-central Denver
Discover Cole
Local spots worth knowing
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39th Avenue Greenway
A mile-long park and flood channel along 39th Avenue, finished in 2020, with a paved path, swinging benches near Franklin and a nature playground at 39th and Williams.
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Russell Square Park
A 2.3-acre park at 36th Avenue and Vine Street that reopened in April 2023 after a renovation planned with the neighbors, with a bigger playground under the old trees.
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Community garden
A Denver Urban Gardens plot garden on 39th Avenue where neighbors grow their own vegetables.
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Denver Rock Drill
The sawtooth-roofed factory buildings at 39th and Franklin date to 1906. They carry a large mural by Victor “Marka27” Quinonez and are the center of the approved redevelopment.
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Yacht Club
A cocktail bar, natural wine bar and dive bar in one at 3701 N Williams St, named to North America’s 50 Best Bars. Look for the black flag and go in through the curtain.
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Brasserie Brixton
A French bistro in the same building, open since summer 2020, with steak frites, French onion soup and natural wine.
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Wyatt Academy building
A historic school building at 3620 Franklin St, now a K-5 charter. In 2026 it received a $250,000 State Historical Fund grant to repair its masonry and windows.
New in Cole
City Council approved the plan for the 6.7-acre Denver Rock Drill site in September 2025. Expect construction traffic on the blocks near 39th and Franklin once work starts.
Cole real estate
Cole has two markets on the same streets: older houses that need work, and new townhomes and modern builds. They sell in very different price ranges, so a neighborhood average doesn’t say much. For a specific house I compare it with recent sales of the same kind of home within a few blocks.
Source: Zillow Home Value Index for Cole, Denver, as of August 31, 2026. All home types, including condos and townhomes.
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Who buys in Cole
Most Cole buyers want to be close to RiNo and the train without living on a busy commercial street.
Train commuters
People who want the A Line to Union Station or the airport a short walk or bike ride away.
Renovation buyers
Buyers who want an original Victorian or bungalow and the budget to bring it up to date.
New-build buyers
People who want a newer townhome or modern house close to downtown at less than LoHi or RiNo prices.
Cole questions I get asked
What is going on at Rock Drill?
In September 2025 City Council approved a redevelopment of the 6.7-acre Denver Rock Drill site between 39th and 40th avenues and Franklin and Williams streets. The plan includes hundreds of homes, offices, shops, a hotel and public space, with buildings up to about 16 stories, and it keeps the historic factory buildings. If you buy nearby, expect construction for several years.
How close is the train?
38th & Blake station on the A Line is just west of Cole’s northwest corner. It’s one stop to Union Station and a direct ride to Denver International Airport. From the east side near York Street it’s more of a bike ride than a walk.
Why are there so many new townhomes?
Builders have been buying older Cole houses, scraping them and putting up duplexes and townhomes for years, and since November 2024 Denver also allows accessory dwelling units in all residential zones. If you buy next to an older house, the lot next door could change. I check permits and zoning on the neighboring lots for you.
Nearby neighborhoods
RiNo and Five Points are west across Downing. Clayton is east across York Street, and Elyria-Swansea is north across 40th Avenue.
Buying in Cole? My Denver home buyer’s guide walks through the whole process in 10 steps.
Thinking about Cole?
Let’s talk about which Cole blocks are close to the train and the greenway, which are near the Rock Drill construction, and what homes like the one you want have actually sold for.
Or call or text 720.454.5432