Car wash proposed to replace church in Denver’s Belcaro neighborhood

A lot along Colorado Boulevard may go from cleansing sins to cleansing Subarus, although some nearby residents hope to stop it.

A Quick Quack Car Wash has been proposed at 999 S. Colorado Blvd. in Denver’s Belcaro neighborhood, where a church currently operates.

The 1-acre lot is the only commercial property in the immediate area that extends all the way to Harrison Street, which runs parallel to Colorado Boulevard.

Plans show three rows of cars leading to the wash funnel and vacuum cleaners along Tennessee Avenue, where cars would enter and exit. There would also be an exit on Harrison.

That’s a concern to Ehren Joseph, who lives kitty-corner to the property along Harrison. He says at least six houses nearby have small children.

“If you’ve ever seen people drive out of a car wash, they’re not thinking about small children,” he said. “They’re thinking about getting to the next place they’re going.”

Joseph is also concerned about the scale of what he calls “a mega car wash,” as well as the resulting noise.

“It’s an industrial-level noise,” he said, noting plans call for 23 vacuums.

California-based Quick Quack, which didn’t respond to a request for comment, has a dozen locations in Colorado. One is in Parker and the rest are in the Colorado Springs area. The company also operates in eight other western states.

The property is currently owned by the Lovingway United Pentecostal Church, a congregation at the site that has operated as House of Worship United Pentecostal Church. The congregation didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The church was built in 1953, according to property records. Earlier this year, a certificate paving the way for its demolition was requested.

Joseph said he and neighbors considered seeking landmark status, which would have effectively prevented demolition. A different party was under contract to buy the site at the time, he said, not the car wash.

After months of mediation, Joseph said, the group determined their landmark efforts were unlikely to get the support of city leaders. Facing no further opposition, the certificate was granted.