The City and County of Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development, along with the Downtown Denver Partnership, today unveiled a transformative new vision for downtown Denver. This vision prioritizes the area’s future as a central neighborhood, the epicenter of economic activity, a cultural and community hub, and a place celebrated for generations to come.
The Downtown Area Plan is a 20-year roadmap developed through extensive public engagement, with thousands of touchpoints with the community including over 8,400 visits to the website, more than 2,200 survey responses, more than 750 public meeting attendees and 3,300 of people at pop-up events on 16th Street, Skyline Park, Civic Center and at community events like the Christkindl Market, Dia De Los Muertos, and Parade of Lights. This collaborative process also included seven community advisory committee meetings and dedicated focus groups and interviews with underrepresented communities to shape a vision that embraces downtown as a vibrant, inclusive neighborhood filled with parks, housing, economic opportunity, and cultural experiences.
“Denver’s downtown is more than a business district; it’s where our city comes together to live, work, celebrate and connect,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “This plan is about ensuring our downtown grows into a place that serves all people—families, workers, artists and entrepreneurs. We are taking bold steps to make our city center welcoming, vibrant and resilient, driving economic growth and improving quality of life.”
The release of the Downtown Area Plan comes one week after Mayor Johnston and the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board announced $100 million in DDA funding for a range of downtown Denver projects, including new housing, business support, redevelopment efforts and park improvements. Downtown Denver is a significant economic driver for Denver, the Front Range and Mountain West region. Despite accounting for only 1.8% of Denver’s land area, downtown Denver represents 30% of all Denver jobs, 21% of retail and lodging sales, 20% of taxable property value, and 17% of the city’s sales and use tax revenue. Yet, the area like many other downtowns has faced challenges including high office vacancies, declines in foot traffic and a need for multi-use districts.
“We are at a pivotal time in our downtown’s history, and this plan provides an opportunity to guide the next decade of progress that strengthens Downtown Denver as a complete and connected neighborhood,” said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “Through this unified and cohesive vision for downtown, we are excited to see increased investment and activity that catalyzes economic impact and increased social wellbeing.”
At the heart of the plan is the theme “Where Denver Goes to Play” — envisioning downtown as the city’s premier place for outdoor adventure, cultural gatherings, and neighborhood life across generations and backgrounds.
“This plan recognizes that a strong downtown is essential to the future of our entire city,” said City Councilman Chris Hinds, representing District 10. “But it also recognizes something more important—that downtown must be for everyone. That means building more housing, creating welcoming spaces, and making our city center a place where people want to stay, not just stop by.”
Key priorities of the plan include:
- A targeted reduction of up to 7 million square feet of vacant office space through strategic redevelopment and incentives, transforming offices into homes, neighborhood services, creative space, and innovation hubs.
- Doubling the population of downtown, including a near-term goal of adding over 2,000 new housing units in Upper Downtown to support families, workers, and seniors, with a focus on affordability and diversity of household types.
- Revitalizing public spaces such as Civic Center Park, Skyline Park, Glenarm Plaza and the Cherry Creek corridor with playful, people-centered amenities that foster neighborhood growth, connection and creativity.
- Building upon recent investments to 16th Street to create a premier destination for commerce, culture, and community gathering.
- Encouraging redevelopment of underutilized properties, including surface parking lots, with a focus on equitable access, sustainability, and urban design excellence.
- Enhancing multi-modal transportation access for people traveling through the district with parking improvements and enhanced bicycle and transit facilities.
- Identifying several locations downtown for signature play features that are attractive and fun for a full range of ages and abilities and celebrate our adventurous Colorado spirit.
The Downtown Area Plan will be a coordinated effort across city departments in collaboration with the Downtown Denver Partnership and other community organizations. A draft of the plan is available on the project website for public review and comment, with formal adoption expected by the end of the year.
