“Picture of children waiting in front of the Loveland Majestic Theatre, located at 4th Street and Jefferson Avenue, awaiting the ticket booth to open so they could plunk down their nickel and see a double feature show… in about 1938.”
October 1, 2026 | Loveland, Colorado
River of OZ, LLC, in collaboration with the Loveland Housing Authority and its nonprofit affiliate, Loveland Housing Development Corporation, has submitted four historic preservation grant applications to History Colorado's State Historical Fund in support of The Draper redevelopment in downtown Loveland.
The applications represent an important step toward preserving and revitalizing historic buildings along East Fourth Street while preparing them for renewed commercial, cultural, and community use.
Preserving More Than a Century of Loveland History
At the heart of The Draper redevelopment are two contributing buildings within the Downtown Loveland Historic District: the Majestic Theater and Odd Fellows Building, constructed in 1903, and the Moore & Gray Grocery Building, constructed around 1907–1908.
For more than a century, these buildings have reflected two essential aspects of downtown Loveland's identity.
The Majestic served as a center for entertainment, meetings, and community gatherings. The neighboring Moore & Gray building housed generations of commercial enterprises, including grocery, mercantile, and department-store operations.
Together, they tell the story of a downtown where residents came not only to shop and work, but also to gather, celebrate, and participate in community life.
The Draper redevelopment seeks to preserve that heritage while giving these important buildings a sustainable future.
Planning for Careful Historic Rehabilitation
The grant applications support a coordinated approach to historic preservation, beginning with research, documentation, and building assessments and advancing toward detailed rehabilitation plans.
The proposed work includes evaluating historic brickwork and sandstone details, preserving original architectural features, assessing structural conditions, and developing appropriate improvements to building systems, accessibility, and fire safety.
A major focus is the historic Majestic Theater, which The Draper team hopes to restore as a venue for performing arts, entertainment, educational programs, and community events.
The applications also support preparation of construction documents for the Majestic and Moore & Gray buildings. These documents would provide the architectural and engineering foundation for future rehabilitation while meeting established historic preservation standards.
Documenting the History of Draper Drugstore
Another important component of the preservation effort involves the properties at 301–313 East Fourth Street, historically associated with Draper Drugstore, Walgreens, and several earlier downtown businesses.
Although these properties have undergone significant changes, their commercial history remains an important part of Loveland's story.
The proposed historical research and survey work would help identify surviving historic features, document the buildings' evolution, and inform preservation decisions before redevelopment proceeds.
This work is particularly meaningful because the Draper Drugstore name provides a historical connection to the redevelopment's identity.
A Partnership for Preservation and Community Benefit
The grant effort brings together River of OZ, LLC, the Loveland Housing Authority, its nonprofit affiliate Loveland Housing Development Corporation, and a multidisciplinary design team led by Megin Rux, AIA, of MBX Architecture, the project's architect and historic preservation lead.
Loveland Housing Development Corporation is serving in a grant administration role, helping coordinate the preservation funding process and associated reporting requirements.
The collaboration reflects a shared interest in protecting downtown Loveland's historic character while supporting the larger redevelopment vision, which includes affordable housing, commercial spaces, offices, and opportunities for arts and community activities.
Importantly, the preservation grants are intended to support work associated with the historic resources. The proposed new housing and other new construction will be financed separately.
Investing in Downtown Loveland's Future
The Draper is envisioned as more than the rehabilitation of aging buildings. It is an opportunity to reconnect historic architecture with the economic and cultural life of downtown Loveland.
If awarded, the State Historical Fund grants would help advance essential preservation planning and design, reduce barriers to rehabilitation, and position the project for subsequent construction.
The October 1 submissions mark another milestone in the effort to preserve Loveland's past while creating new opportunities for its future.