The tide may finally be turning for downtown Denver
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The downtown Denver skyline in May. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
The state of downtown Denver is looking up.
Why it matters: The city's center has been a post-pandemic shell of its pre-2020 self. But signs are stacking up that the negative narrative is finally turning.
Driving the news: It's been a banner week for downtown momentum.
- Denver-based Ibotta cut the ribbon on its new 16th Street, nearly 100,000-square-foot office, bringing more than 500 employees to the newly renovated area.
- German fitness tech firm EGYM opened its North American headquarters in LoDo Towers on 17th Street.
- Construction kicked off on a major redesign of Civic Center Park.
- The Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA) approved funding to convert 12 floors of the historic Petroleum Building on 16th Street into 178 residential units, pending City Council's final say.
- And the City Council passed the first major Downtown Area Plan since 2007 — aiming to transform the city center into "the nation's largest signature 'play' district," with parks, public space, art activations and more.
By the numbers: Downtown recently hit its highest recovery rate since the pandemic's start. Pedestrian traffic is 93% of September 2019 levels, according to the Downtown Denver Partnership.
- Average daily visits are up 6,200 over last year.
- And at least 57 new ground-floor businesses have opened since January.
The big picture: The turnaround reflects Mayor Mike Johnston's downtown revitalization push, including a $175 million makeover of 16th Street. Meanwhile, the DDDA is steering a roughly $100 million investment plan to breathe new life into the area.
- Together, it's arguably the most concerted effort to reimagine downtown Denver in a generation.
Reality check: Denver's comeback is still a work in progress. Office vacancies remain high, public safety concerns persist, and return-to-office rates continue to lag behind the national curve.
What we're watching: If the current momentum holds, 2026 may be the year Denverites can finally declare "downtown's back."