The city wants to bring new projects and residents to the downtown core, where 13 million feet of vacant office and retail space await new tenants.
Denver voters approved a $570 million bond measure aimed at revitalizing its downtown district. “The city plans to use the money — approved by over 80% of voters — to invest in housing, support local entrepreneurs, revitalize public spaces and bring in new businesses,” explains Ysabelle Kempe in Smart Cities Dive.
Denver’s downtown, like others around the country, suffered an economic decline during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, with foot traffic at 67 percent of 2019 levels and 13 million square feet of vacant office and retail space that could be converted to new uses.
The city will vote on expanding the Downtown Development Authority’s boundaries and the proposed downtown area plan in December.
FULL STORY: Denver to invest $570M in downtown revitalization after voters pass bond measure
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U.S. cities are working to redefine their downtowns in response to the “donut effect:” people and businesses abandoning city centers and flocking to suburban areas and beyond.
Office Vacancies Drag Down Property Taxes
Downtown office buildings around the country are selling for much lower prices than before the pandemic, prompting questions about the future of central business districts.
Draft Plan Takes Aim at Downtown DC Revitalization
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Seattle Legalizes Co-Living
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NYC Officials Announce Broadway Pedestrianization Project
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Denver's New High-Rise Integrates Vertical Canyon in Architectural Design
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Federal Resilience Program a Lifeline for Affordable Housing Providers
The little-known Green and Resilient Retrofit Program funds upgrades and repairs that improve efficiency and comfort in existing housing stock.
Fort Worth To Relaunch Bike Share System in January
Trinity Metro shuttered its current system at the end of November and plans to relaunch with a mostly-electric system.
A Brief History of Kansas City’s Microtransit
The city’s costly experiment with on-demand transit is yielding to more strategic investment.
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