Bringing Denver's Downtown Back: Lessons and Ideas after a Challenging Time

Denver's downtown area has faced numerous challenges over the past few years. The COVID-19 pandemic, ongoing construction along the 16th Street Mall, and recent violent crimes have taken a toll on businesses and residents alike. On January 11-12, four stabbings rocked the city, leaving everyone on edge. One of the suspects, Elijah Caudill, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. This incident also highlighted the need for improved safety measures. The city has been trying to revitalize downtown for a while now, but previous efforts like PR campaigns and pop-ups didn't make a significant impact. Mayor Mike Johnston has taken action by expanding the Downtown Denver Authority, with a focus on distributing funds for downtown projects. However, residents and businesses want more than just promises. They need concrete plans and immediate solutions. Here are some suggestions: finish the 16th Street Mall project, postpone the Civic Center Park project to avoid another messy construction site, highlight downtown's history with 150 stories to celebrate its 150th anniversary, promote downtown events on social media, help restaurants navigate bureaucraticprocesses, hire a Night Mayor to support nighttime businesses, boost live music on Thursdays, host a Mile High Mile run to celebrate the completion of the mall, increase police presence, including the mounted patrol unit, and revive the electronic ticker tape for informative messages. Mayor Johnston will share his plans for 2025 soon, and these ideas could be a good starting point.