A neighborhood built in one generation

Lowry was an Air Force base for much of the twentieth century and was redeveloped after it closed in the 1990s. Most homes, from single-family houses to rowhomes and apartments, date from the late 1990s onward. A handful of historic base buildings, such as hangars and barracks, were converted to lofts, offices and other uses. Part of the former base area lies in Aurora rather than Denver, so check which city your address is in before calling about permits.

Newer construction generally means insulated walls, housewrap, modern windows and mechanical ventilation, and fewer of the mid-century issues seen in Hilltop. Instead, Lowry's common mold situations involve water getting behind exterior cladding at windows and decks, condensation in tight homes, bathroom and laundry leaks in stacked townhomes, and basements finished by owners with less attention to moisture than the original builder.

Lowry versus Hilltop: different houses, different weak spots

Lowry (mostly late 1990s onward)

  • Stucco or siding with housewrap; leaks at windows, decks and roof-wall junctions
  • Tighter envelopes where ventilation must run as designed
  • Many attached homes with shared walls and HOA-maintained exteriors
  • Converted historic buildings with masonry and unusual layouts

Hilltop (much from the 1940s and 1950s, plus rebuilds)

  • Brick ranches with older basements and layered finishes
  • Older materials that may need asbestos or lead testing
  • Additions and rebuilds stitched onto original houses
  • Mostly detached homes with owner-maintained exteriors

Questions for Lowry owners

  1. Is my home in Denver or Aurora, and which building department applies?
  2. Does my HOA maintain the exterior cladding, windows or roof, and how do I report a suspected leak?
  3. Are the bath fans and any whole-house ventilation in my home running and maintained?
  4. If the basement was finished after the original construction, was it permitted and how were the foundation walls treated?
  5. In a converted historic building, who is responsible for masonry, roof drains and common mechanical systems?
Map of Lowry. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

My Lowry home is only about twenty years old. Why would it have mold?

Age does not prevent leaks or condensation. Window and deck flashing, failed caulk, bath fans that are seldom used, and basements finished without attention to the foundation are all common sources in homes of that age.

Do converted historic buildings at Lowry need special care?

Often. Masonry walls, large open volumes and older roof drainage behave differently from new framing. Ask the building's association or manager about the history of leaks before planning any remediation inside a unit.

Is stucco a mold risk?

Stucco itself does not grow mold easily, but water that gets behind it at windows, penetrations or the base of the wall can wet the sheathing and framing. Cracks and stains near windows are worth having inspected.

General information for Hilltop, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.