Downtown Denver looks to a new, more vibrant chapter

State of play: Now that many of those indicators are improving, city leaders are trying to shift perceptions.

• Johnston has been visiting companies to keep them in Denver while also hearing concerns — mostly about affordability.

What they're saying: "Convincing folks to expand business, to hire new people, to open a new office, to come back to a downtown — those are all new risks for people to take," Johnston said during an interview at the event.

• "Part of it is increasing public confidence that they can and should invest."

Zoom in: One of downtown's biggest cheerleaders right now is Mary Nguyen, founder and president of Olive & Finch restaurants.

• She recently opened the brand's largest restaurant in the Golden Triangle neighborhood. It joins the brand's existing spots in Uptown, Union Station, downtown and the airport.

What she's saying: "I would be a fool to sit here and say that it's so easy and everything's amazing ... because I think we all know that it's such a really challenging time right now in our city. But I also think that there's so much hope," she said at the event.

• "I truly believe that Denver is going to come back."

What's next: Asked about a possible second term, Johnston said the challenges would largely remain the same. The goal, he added, is to become "a city with one of the fastest growing economies in the country ... [and] one of the best places to do business."