Discover Boulder’s Secret Neighborhood: The Story of Floral Park’s “Little Russia”
Tucked away near the University of Colorado campus lies one of Boulder’s best-kept architectural secrets—Floral Park Historic District, affectionately nicknamed “Little Russia.” Even longtime Boulderites are surprised to learn about this charming enclave of eight nearly identical homes that date back to the late 1930s. With white brick walls, red tile roofs, green shutters, and a shared garage, the neighborhood offers a rare glimpse into Boulder’s early experiments with communal living and design unity.
Built between 1939 and 1940 by a group of University of Colorado faculty members, Floral Park was Boulder’s first planned-unit development—a revolutionary idea at the time. These professors didn’t just want to live near campus; they wanted to build a community. They pooled resources, hired the same architect, and created a small village where the homes echoed one another in harmony and intention…