On Tuesday, Oct. 8, the Downtown Denver Partnership held its 2024 Annual Meeting, emphasizing a bold future for downtown Denver amidst current challenges, highlighting the center city’s unwavering resilience, economic potential, and the power of community action. With the two latest completed blocks of 16th Street (from Lawrence to Curtis Streets) as the backdrop, more than 400 business and community leaders gathered to reflect on a year of impact and look ahead at what’s next for downtown Denver.
Hosted in Skyline Park, the Annual Meeting program included a keynote address from Downtown Denver Partnership President & CEO Kourtny Garrett; remarks from Mayor Mike Johnston; and featured presentations from Mary Nguyen (Founder, Olive & Finch Collective), FloraJane DiRienzo (Executive Director, Biennial of the Americas), and Jon Buerge (President, Urban Villages).
Key takeaways from the Downtown Denver Partnership’s 2024 Annual Meeting include:
Building on a Legacy of Transformation Since its founding nearly 70 years ago, the Downtown Denver Partnership has been a driving force in shaping the city’s evolution. Garrett reflected on the last four decades of significant milestones in downtown made possible by strong public private partnerships, from the opening of the 16th Street Mall in 1982 to the redevelopment of Union Station in 2014. She noted, “Each of these milestones represents a purposeful step forward – a choice to invest and make Denver better.”
Navigating Today’s Challenges Despite Downtown Denver’s vibrant past, Garrett acknowledged the very real challenges facing the city today, particularly in the office market, with record-high vacancies at 27%. “We are at a pivotal moment,” Garrett said. “The fragility of our office market cannot be taken for granted. We need immediate, proactive interventions to attract businesses, retain current tenants, and capitalize on emerging economies.”
Adapting for Growth With a projected 35% population increase in the next five years in Denver’s center city, it is critical to drive forward comprehensive solutions to keep Denver accessible and diverse. Garrett acknowledged the city’s ongoing housing crisis, emphasizing the importance of supporting housing production to meet growing demand while keeping costs manageable.
“We must prioritize reducing barriers to housing supply while addressing the broader cost of living,” she said. “This is critical to recruiting and retaining talent and preventing Denver from becoming one of the most expensive non-coastal cities in the U.S.”
Investing in Safety and Public Health Safety and public health continue to be at the forefront of the Partnership’s agenda. While Downtown Denver’s crime rate is decreasing by 30% year-over-year, Garrett called for ongoing efforts to address the perceptions and realities of safety in the city. So far in 2024, the Partnership’s Street Outreach team has made over 2,000 touchpoints with vulnerable community members, helping many access critical services and housing.
Bright Spots and Future Vision Despite challenges, downtown has felt a strong resurgence in events and tourism. Hotel occupancy is nearing pre-pandemic levels, and 34 new ground-floor businesses have opened so far in 2024, with 21 more openings planned by year’s end. Upcoming transformative developments such as the 5280 Trail, Civic Center Park reconstruction, and the Ball Arena redevelopment, which will serve as anchors of Denver’s next generation of growth, are also moving forward.
A Call to Action The Downtown Denver Partnership invites Denverites across our city to be a part of downtown’s next chapter. “The time is now. The place is here. And the power to shape our future lies with us,” Garrett said, calling on attendees to advocate for policies that support growth and share Denver’s story widely.
Following the Annual Meeting, the Downtown Denver Partnership invited thousands of people to experience the newly finished blocks of 16th Street at MyDenver Day. The day-long event featured games, live music, giveaways, service opportunities and more. Presented by Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, MyDenver included activations from the Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Rapids, Girls, Inc., Denver Health, Be A Good Person, Crocs, and Denver Violins.
