Transforming Downtown Denver into a Vibrant Mixed-Use Neighborhood

Like many downtowns, downtown Denver is at a critical inflection point. Hybrid work has led to an increase in office vacancies and reduced office attendance, combining to lessen street activity and affect retail success. At the same time, housing demand in and around downtown is increasing, with thousands of new units entering the market since 2020 to answer the growing demand from families and young professionals relocating to Denver.

In 2024, the City of Denver and Downtown Denver Partnership teamed to create a new Downtown Area Plan, which reimagines downtown by leveraging new and reimagined economic development incentives to deliver new housing and critical quality-of-life enhancements. The planning process, led by Denver-based Sasaki, is being written concurrently with the planning process and is in its final phase. Key to the planning effort has been a deep focus on implementation, using high-tech tools to understand priorities, potential phasing, and tradeoffs. At the same time, the process has utilized robust, inclusive, high-touch engagement methods with stakeholders to build consensus and ensure an efficient, nine-month process to encourage action.