1369 Downing Street was built in 1927, according to building permit #4261. The owner is listed as Dorothy Elderman, etal, and the permit describes the structure as a three-story brick apartment house with a ¾ basement and a staff garage. The estimated cost is listed at $45,000. Early newspaper advertisements show that the building was originally named the La Verne Apartments. The permit lists the contractor as F. J. Bruso, who is shown in city directories as working as a draftsman for the firm of Ireland and Parr. Frederick W. Ireland, Jr., architect, and Elza W. Parr, engineer, practiced in Denver from 1926 through 1932. The firm was responsible for some of the most architecturally notable revival style buildings in central Denver at this time.
Owners Dorothy Elderman and Kate Guiry purchased the land where the building was constructed in 1927. Dorothy was the wife of Ben Elderman, a Denver plumber. Kate was the wife of Joseph Guiry, one of the founders of Guiry Brothers, a wallpaper and paint store, in 1899.
