On Wednesday, June 26, 16th Street project partners, including Mayor Mike Johnston, the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership, celebrated the official opening of the first completed block of the 16th Street Mall.
“The first completed block of the 16th Street Mall is a monumental moment in our city’s history after over a decade of careful planning and work,” said Mayor Mike Johnston. “As a dynamic public space that fosters a sense of community, this block opening and future block openings will bring energy and vibrancy to the fabric of our downtown.”
With the reconstruction of 16th comes new amenity zones for leisure, entertainment, and tourism designed to enhance the experience of the mile-long public space. The newly completed block features a new play structure, seating options for gathering and taking in the sights, and expanded patios for businesses located on the block. In addition to public realm amenities, the project brings expanded tree canopies along the corridor and honors the original paver design by renowned architects I.M. Pei and Olin. PCL Construction Services is the general contractor for the project.
“The opening of the first block of 16th Street is a historic moment for our city and symbolic of the incredible future ahead for this dynamic, world-class public space.” said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership. “16th Street is Denver’s Main Street and a critical connector for our center city and far beyond. This new block gives us a glimpse of how, when fully complete, 16th Street will enhance the overall experience for residents, employees, and visitors, creating moments of joy for everyone. We’re so excited to see the impact of this revitalization project as each block opens in the next year.”
As construction has taken place, Denver Economic Development & Opportunity, in partnership with the Downtown Denver Partnership, have supported businesses impacted by the construction with over $1.28M in stabilization and mitigation grants, that were distributed to 114 businesses.
“A vibrant downtown is a place that evolves and adapts to the needs and desires of its community – and that’s exactly what 16th Street represents,” said Adeeb Khan, executive director of Denver Economic Development & Opportunity. “As a key economic driver for the region, it’s critical that we continue to build upon the momentum that has started today with the opening of the first blocks. I encourage everyone to visit, support local businesses and enjoy all that downtown has to offer.”
The 16th Street Revitalization Project marks the first major renovation of this vital downtown corridor since its opening in 1982. A primary driver for the project is the need to address deteriorating infrastructure, specifically the granite paver system, that results in frequent disruptions to the transit system and maintenance costs of more than $1M annually.
