Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, alongside the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board, announced the approval of $100 million in DDA funding for housing, business support, redevelopment, and park projects in the downtown area. The DDA, established by voters in 2024, enables access to a total of $570 million for downtown investments without increasing taxes or affecting the city’s general fund.
“Downtown Denver is the heartbeat of our city and the core of our economic growth, and supporting it’s revitalization with funding from the DDA is key to our success as a city,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “These projects that the DDA approved today are exactly where we should be focusing: housing, new activations that bring people and events back downtown, and local business support that will transform our city center into not just a central business district, but a central neighborhood district for everyone to come and enjoy.
A “Plan of Development” — adopted in 2024 with the input of downtown residents and businesses — guides the DDA’s economic revitalization strategies for Downtown Denver. The projects selected for funding in this round of DDA investment align with the Plan in four key areas:
- Bringing on new, affordable housing with office to residential conversion
- Investing in public parks and spaces that create more livable communities and attract visitors and events back downtown
- Supporting local Denver businesses to open or expand retail space downtown
- Activating downtown by supporting large events, art, and family-friendly activities
“Downtown is the soul of our city where culture, commerce, and community come together. These investments reflect our commitment to shaping a downtown that feels welcoming, lived-in, and full of purpose,” said Denver City Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. “From new housing to small local businesses, to spaces that celebrate art, food, and gathering, the DDA projects we approved today reflect the heart and hopes of Denverites. Our downtown holds generations of history from indigenous roots to immigrant stories and with this work, we are honoring that legacy while building a future where everyone feels a sense of belonging.”
“The Downtown Denver Development Authority has the opportunity to bring transformational change to downtown Denver, and this batch of projects is the first step,” said DDA Board Chair Doug Tisdale. “Our priority is to help bring projects to life that will deliver thousands of people back to downtown and create new energy for the people who live, work, and play in Denver. I am thrilled about the opportunity to support these projects and create a real sense of place and economic revitalization in our city center.”
“Many of us are already proud of downtown. We live here, work here, and know its potential. This investment will help the rest of the world see what we see,” said Councilmember Chris Hinds. “This is just part of the largest investment in any downtown in America — and it reflects our Denver values: more housing, better transportation, and a downtown that represents everyone. We’re creating an even more vibrant, welcoming city center that brings people together and shows the world what Denver can do when we dream big and invest in ourselves.”
This package of investments will take the first steps into revitalizing downtown Denver post-COVID into a true neighborhood where Denverites and visitors alike will be excited to visit, work, live, and play. By focusing on the housing that will bring more people into the city center, local businesses that people are excited to visit, and public areas that will bring new events and attractions, Denver is laying the groundwork for economic revitalization and future investment.
In April, the DDA Board approved the first DDA project after opening applications in March, funding part of Denver’s Downtown Safety Plan that increased foot patrols and improve public safety and livability downtown. Today, the Board approved the next package of transformational projects downtown. That package includes:
Business Support
- $2.7M investment in new downtown retail space for Green Spaces Market, which provides affordable retail and business space for local artists, non-profits, and small businesses
- $400,000 to renovate space for the Denver Immersive Repertory Theater, the world’s first resident immersive, theatrical production studio and venue
- $640,000 to expand and relocate Milk Tea People, helping the recently ranked “Best Tea Shop in Denver” move to a larger and more visible location along 16th Street
- $750,000 to expand Sundae Artisan Ice Cream’s flagship store on Glenarm, which will create a unique, interactive ice cream experience, complete with “Create Your Own Pint” classes
Housing
- Two office-to-residential conversions will bring 236 new units of housing in the downtown core – including units which will be affordable to working Denverites making between $29,450 and $72,950 per year, or 30-80% Area Median Income:
- $17M to help finance an office-to-residential conversion of the historic Symes Building, unlocking 116 units of new housing, improved ground-floor retail space, and a new outdoor patio
- $14.5M toward an office-to-residential conversion of the historic University Building, unlocking 120 units of mixed-income housing
Redevelopment Opportunities
- $23M for the DDA to purchase the two parking lots on both sides of Glenarm Place at the Denver Pavilions block on 15th Street, offering significant mixed use private redevelopment opportunities between 15th and 16th Street. Acquisition also includes significant parking revenues and opportunities to address affordable parking along 16th Street.
Public Spaces
- $5M to improve and activate Skyline Park, making improvements in accessibility, lighting, safety features, and activation areas like the performance stage and concessions building
- $7M to reimagine the McNichols Building, renovating the ground floor to create outdoor garden dining spaces, a full-service kitchen, and an arts marketplace to further activate Civic Center Park as a destination for visitors to downtown.
- $30M to activate Civic Center Park, working to make the park more accessible and a true neighborhood asset by investing in new infrastructure, lighting, garden walkways, and tree canopy. The Civic Center Conservancy is committed to raising private funds to assist DDA and potentially reduce DDA’s investment in the park.
