Mastering Denver’s Historic Home Market
Former competitive snowboarder Ian Price brings an athlete’s precision to preserving century-old homes while navigating labor shortages and modern demands
In Denver’s older neighborhoods, where 137-year-old houses stand alongside century-old brick structures, Forest Street Builders fills a unique role. The custom home builder specializes in what many contractors avoid: the complex work of preserving historic homes while adapting them for modern living.
“We’ve been getting a great reputation throughout all of the Denver area as a custom home builder,” says Ian Price, the company’s founder. “We’ve been doing a lot of work in historic and older homes, restoring, remodeling, renovating them and doing some pretty incredible things with them structurally to preserve a lot of the original character of the house, but at the same time, adding some of the more modern amenities.”
The company operates in a market where more than 50 historic districts require special permitting and oversight for exterior modifications. Price’s team currently manages four historic properties, including homes dating back to 1887, 1914, and 1919. Each project demands a tailored approach that respects the homeowner’s vision and the building’s heritage.
“Some people want a house that looks older, but when you come inside, it’s much more up to date,” Price explains. “Other people really like to try to keep the heritage of the house, including a lot of the woodworking and the original millwork.” Forest Street Builders distinguishes itself through careful listening and technical expertise. In an industry facing severe skilled labor shortages, with Colorado expecting 96,000 construction job vacancies by 2025, the company’s ability to source materials and execute complex structural work sets it apart from competitors who focus solely on new construction or simple renovations.
The Art of Collaborative Construction
Building trust isn’t just about client relationships at Forest Street Builders. The company has cultivated a network of architects, engineers, and designers who share their vision for quality historic preservation. Unlike transactional builders who simply execute plans, Price views each project as a collaborative effort requiring specialized expertise.
“We do not have an in-house design team,” Price notes. “Sometimes we have clients that come to us that have been working with an architect already, and the two of them have come up with a set of plans and then they bring us in partway through the design or near the end.” For clients new to historic renovation, Forest Street provides crucial guidance. “We have a great network that we’ve put together of architects, structural engineers, interior designers, to be able to guide them in the direction that seems like it would be the best fit.”
Among these partners, Steve Barsch of Barsch Design stands out for his modern transformations of older ranch houses. “He does a lot of more modern builds, and has a great vision at taking some of these older ranch houses that don’t really look like anything special to start with,” Price says. “When these houses are complete, they’re incredible.”
Interior designer Stacy from Nook Design Collective brings another dimension to projects. “She really specializes in those mid-century modern builds and designs and just really has an incredible eye for making the final product just look really classy and inviting and warm,” according to Price. The collaborative approach proves essential in Denver’s complex regulatory environment. With historic districts requiring Landmark Preservation Commission approval for exterior changes, having partners who understand aesthetic goals and compliance requirements helps work through the intricate approval process while maintaining project momentum.
Building Generational Homes
For Price, houses represent far more than construction projects. His philosophy stems from childhood experiences in Vermont, where homes routinely passed through multiple generations within the same family. This perspective shapes Forest Street Builders’ approach to every renovation.
“The house, especially to us at Forest Street Builders, is much more than just a roof over people’s heads,” Price emphasizes. “The house is a place where families are going to grow. Relationships happen, families are born into and maybe even have generational terms as far as how long the house stays in the family.”
Growing up in Vermont exposed Price to buildings with remarkable longevity. “The town that I grew up in, has houses that are over 200 years old and there are some families that have been in the houses for the whole time throughout the whole history of the home,” he recalls. “For me personally, and for all of us in our company, it’s really a connection.”
This philosophy translates into meticulous attention to detail that distinguishes Forest Street from production builders. “By no means do we just nail the board on the wall and get it up there and get onto the next one,” Price states. “Everything is very intentional, it’s very well thought out.” The approach resonates in a market where historic preservation requires balancing modern functionality with architectural integrity.
Denver’s older homes, many featuring original millwork and craftsmanship rarely seen in contemporary construction, demand builders who appreciate their inherent value. Price’s team ensures these irreplaceable elements survive for future generations while integrating necessary updates for contemporary living. Their work preserves not just structures, but the stories and memories these homes will continue to shelter.
Solving the Puzzle of Historic Renovation
Working with century-old brick homes presents unique structural challenges that Price compares to strategic gameplay. Each project requires careful planning, creative problem-solving, and the ability to adapt when unexpected issues arise beneath layers of plaster and brick.
“The older homes structurally have a bit more of a challenge when remodeling them,” Price explains. “That has to go with the methods that were used a hundred years ago when it was primarily brick houses around here in Denver and how we support the brick, how we work with the brick, and how we caress these homes to be able to take a whole exterior wall off of the house while supporting the roof and all the floors inside.”
Denver’s historic homes often feature thick stone foundations built to combat the region’s expansive soils, a challenge builders recognized even a century ago. Modern renovators must contend with these original design decisions while addressing decades of deferred maintenance and outdated systems.
“Every remodel has its own unique challenges and how we play the hand that we’re dealt with each house to get it to that finish line,” Price says. “I find it really enjoyable and entertaining, just coming up with solutions and the problem solving and the team effort that goes into what we do every day.”
Forest Street typically manages two to four projects simultaneously, with proximity affecting capacity. “If some of the projects are closer together, it’s easier for us to maybe take on an additional project,” Price notes. “If they’re further apart, just with the time of commuting and getting materials and whatnot, it might get more difficult.” This strategic approach ensures quality control while managing the complexities inherent in historic preservation work.
Facing Off Market Realities
Supply chain disruptions and material costs remain front of mind for custom builders nationwide. Forest Street Builders has weathered the post-pandemic market volatility while maintaining project quality and timelines. Price offers a measured assessment of current conditions.
“During COVID it was definitely very fluid and just honestly expenses were increasing,” Price recalls. “It seemed like the price could increase just throughout the day. From what I’ve seen, that has definitely leveled out and plateaued. It’s come down quite a bit from where it was at the all-time high.”
Material availability has largely stabilized, though certain items require advance planning. “I can source the material, so it’s readily available for the most part,” Price says. “Windows and doors have a little bit longer lead time than a lot of the other items, but all of our other items are typically readily available.”
Looking ahead, Price remains watchful of economic factors that could impact pricing. “In the news recently with the tariffs being released and these types of things, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with everything in the global economy at the moment,” he observes.
The company’s experience managing up to ten projects during peak COVID demand, when material shortages plagued the industry, has prepared them for market fluctuations. Colorado’s construction sector continues grappling with challenges beyond materials. Forest Street’s conservative approach of limiting active projects helps ensure reliable delivery despite industry-wide constraints affecting both materials and skilled labor availability.
From Olympic Dreams to Construction Excellence
Price’s path to construction began on Vermont slopes, where competitive snowboarding shaped his approach to business. Growing up near Burton Snowboards’ headquarters placed him at the epicenter of the sport’s emergence, surrounded by future Olympic athletes who pushed boundaries and set new standards.
“I grew up working on a farm and growing up working on a farm, one, it taught me a powerful work ethic,” Price reflects. “It also allowed me to wrap my head around a lot of difficult scenarios as far as fixing tractors or mending fences or building barns or whatever it is we might need to do.”
The farm experience proved foundational for both athletic and construction pursuits. “I think some of that upbringing really helped me with some of the difficult structural challenges that we get into with some of these older remodels, but also that drive and that hard work ethic helped me in being an athlete and striving to be one of the better athletes in the world,” he explains.
Price’s competitive circle included remarkable talent. “I have 12 to 15 friends with Olympic medals or multiple. We’ve known each other since we were 13 or 14 years old,” he notes. “I grew up around people that were really good and competitive, both in the snowboarding world and in the construction world.”
The transition from professional sports to construction felt natural. “As I got older and was phasing out of snowboarding and wondering what is going to be my job now, construction for me was the next logical thing,” Price says. “It was something that I really enjoyed, I had a lot of experience doing it from a younger age.”
Future Vision and Priorities
Forest Street Builders focuses on sustainable growth through relationship building and operational excellence. Price emphasizes that referrals from satisfied clients remain the company’s primary measure of success in Denver’s competitive custom home market.
“Our top priorities at the moment are to keep building relationships throughout Denver, and that’s with other builders, other vendors, and obviously clients as well,” Price states. “Our biggest pat on the back is getting referrals from past clients. It’s really creating that client experience and making sure that it is as great as we can make it all the way through the process.”
The company addresses common industry pain points through technology and transparency. “You always hear these horror stories of people’s houses taking longer than they’re supposed to or going over budget or these large surprise bills,” Price acknowledges. “We’re really doing our best to make sure that everyone’s aware of what’s coming up and just to make the process as predictable as possible.”
JobTread project management software has transformed their operations. “We’ve really enjoyed our move over to JobTread and they’ve been amazing to work with,” Price says. “Everyone that works at JobTread has worked in construction themselves, so it’s not like it’s some people that were really good at working on computers that got a job because it’s in the tech industry. It’s been incredible.”
Continuous improvement drives the company forward. Price credits Breakthrough Academy, a contractor education program he’s participated in for nearly four years, as “a real game changer for me and definitely for my company, making sure that we’re bringing in the best employees, we’re working with the best subcontractors, and we’re making sure that we’re providing an incredible experience.”
As Denver’s housing shortage intensifies and historic neighborhoods face development pressures, Forest Street Builders stands ready to preserve the past while building for the future.
AT A GLANCE
Who: Forest Street Builders
What: Custom home builder specializing in historic home restoration, remodeling, and renovation, with expertise in preserving architectural character while integrating modern amenities
Where: Denver, Colorado
Website: www.foreststbuilders.com
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