A photography project by Nathan Gilmer

"The most perfectly planned community in America"

Life Magazine, 1962.

Northglenn is a small suburb community of Denver Colorado. For almost a decade I have been photographing and documenting this place I call home. What once was believed to be “The most perfectly planned community in America" has turned into something quite different.

My goal with this project is neither to glamorize Northglenn or to show it negatively, but rather to document it as it actually is. I believe Northglenn is a microcosm of suburban life in the Denver area, and thus suburban life in America.

The middle American dream vs. reality.

Project Updates

Blog
World School Demolition
World School Demolition

I haven’t done a good job of documenting it at all, but the large building on the NW corner of 112th and Huron is completely demolished. Supposedly it is being turned into apartments. I think that is actually a good thing for the area but still kinda crazy to see such a huge change to this corner of Northglenn. I will try to get more images soon.

The Old Rec Center
The Old Rec Center

I took my kids swimming at the new rec center today (which is really nice BTW) and noticed that the old one is officially set for demolition.

The Middle-American Dream vs. Reality
The Middle-American Dream vs. Reality

I was messaging my cousins on Instagram the other day and he mentioned that he thought my “iconography speaks to the middle-American dream vs. reality.” I had never really thought about it that way before, but I think he is right. I think that idea was always somewhere in the back of my mind as I capture images of Northglenn.

Welcome to The Northglenn Project
Welcome to The Northglenn Project

Northglenn Colorado holds a special place in my heart. It is the town I spent much of my childhood in and now own a house and am raising my own family. It is a small suburb of Denver that most people drive through and never even notice.