Adam RollinsThis story was originally published in the Government Contracting Pipeline newsletter from Strategic Partnerships, Inc. To have the latest government contracting news stories from across the country delivered straight to your inbox, click here to subscribe.
The city of Denver has overwhelmingly voted to invest $570 million into revitalizing its downtown area.
Like many cities in America, Denver has been facing challenges in returning to pre-pandemic levels of activity and economic opportunity. Office vacancies and rent are high, foot traffic is slow to recover and cultural centers are burdened by increasing costs without the means to sustain operations.
To expedite its recovery, the city will expand the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to transform the city center and breathe new life back into Denver’s cultural, civic and economic core. City officials anticipate that the DDA will use the funds to create economic growth opportunities through new housing options, revitalized public spaces and future mixed-use development.
The DDA is working on a Plan of Development to direct funds toward critical downtown-centric revitalization projects. These projects will build on recent investments made to recover the downtown area by supporting local entrepreneurs, attracting businesses and developing public spaces for residents. The City Council will vote to approve the plan Dec. 9, 2024.
The City Council’s approval will propel the Downtown Revitalization Plan into the next stage, opening applications for projects to receive funding. The city anticipates distributing funds for selected projects in 2025.
Photo courtesy Paul Sableman
