One of the many beautiful residential areas in Denver is the Bonnie Brae neighborhood located between University Boulevard on the west, Steele Street on the east, Exposition Avenue on the north and E. Mississippi Avenue on the south.
So, who was this wonderful neighborhood named after? So began the search for the infamous Bonnie Brae. She must have been a fascinating person with neighborhoods, restaurants and charities named after her. It turns out that Bonnie Brae is actually Gaelic meaning "Pleasant Hill". Whether or not there has been an actual person named Bonnie Brae I'm not sure, but this neighborhood was planned and named in 1923 by Saco Rienk DeBoer, an influential Denver city planner, to have the feel of a Scottish village inside of Denver.
Houses were first built in 1923 but development stalled in the late 1920's when the developer, Associated Industries, went bankrupt in the late 1920's. The majority of construction occurred in the 1940's and 1950's. So, there is a real mix of architectural styles throughout the area. Bonnie Brae Boulevard is a wonderful street to drive to get the feel of the neighborhood and to see some truly beautiful homes. The Boulevard runs from University Boulevard and Exposition Avenue on the west and runs diagonal through the neighborhood to Steele Street and Mississippi on the east.
You'll find wonderful neighborhood restaurants and businesses along South University Boulevard. The Bonnie Brae Tavern has been the rock of the neighborhood since 1934.
The Bonnie Brae neighborhood, with its towering trees, fabulous neighborhood businesses and convenient central Denver location, is a very popular Denver community. The area is experiencing a great deal of construction and renovation. It is truly a "pleasant hill" or at least a pleasant neighborhood to call home. Here's to Bonnie Brae.
Visit www.CentralDenverBlog.com for more Denver neighborhood and real estate information.
Edit: At the request of family of Saco Rienk DeBoer, I have changed the link to one they suggested.
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