click to enlarge The remaining construction schedule for the 16th Street Mall. DOTI Project Dashboard
How Arts Could Help 16th Street Recover, Stay Safe
The Downtown Denver Partnership and Denver Arts & Venues have plans for a “Welcome to Downtown” weekend and summer kickoff party May 31-June 1 to showcase updates to the 16th Street Mall Mayor Mike Johnston has touted a Memorial Day date for the 16th Street Mall’s opening, with the kickoff party planned for the next weekend, and the city’s still sticking with that timeline. But the DDP acknowledges that the construction project won’t be completely finished until months later.“We’re focusing on this opening weekend, May 31 and June 1, and then events and activations all summer as the remaining construction finishes up by the end of the summer so that we can have our final block opening celebration in the winter,” the DDP’s Kate Barton told a Denver City Council committee on February 19.The Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure 16th Street Mall Project Dashboard shows that the two easternmost blocks of the mall, those between Court Place and Cleveland Place, aren’t slated for completion until the fall, with two other blocks slated for a summer completion and the rest set to be done this spring. That timeline hasn’t changed since late last year ; currently, the DOTI dashboard says the project is 83 percent complete.But that’s reason enough to party after years of delays.Construction work was originally supposed to begin in 2020 and wrap up in 2021, but because of delays it didn’t actually start until 2022. At that time, work was projected to end in 2024. But by the start of 2025, only six blocks had been completely finished.The project was originally slated to cost $149 million; the dashboard now projects a $175.4 million final cost, with $147.5 million spent thus far.Although the mall has been open to pedestrians throughout construction, businesses have struggled with the loss of foot traffic and would-be customers confused by construction. The resulting downturn in business is why the city is considering funding several DDP activation projects as the mall reopens, including light and art installations and events.“We’re seeing about an 81 percent return of foot traffic compared to pre-pandemic levels and we know that, as the fences come down and as blocks open, that number can and should skyrocket,” Barton told the committee. “A lot of this is around how do we create those invitations to ensure that that visitor number continues to rise?”According to the DDP, downtown Denver represented 13 percent of Denver’s property and sales tax revenue before the pandemic — despite only taking up 1 percent of the city’s total land. Currently, downtown represents just 8 percent of property and sales tax revenue, which translates to $45 million fewer dollars for Denver annually.“These investments are aimed at how do we chase that $45 million of investment back?” Barton said. “Because we know it’s there. We need it.”The city has already committed $400,000 to a contract between the DDP and Arts & Venues for artist activations in six vacant storefronts; the campaign is called “ leave your fingerprints downtown .” The primary focus will be on Curtis Street between the Denver Performing Arts Complex and the 16th Street Mall.Now, Arts & Venues and the DDP are asking for $1.5 million to be added to the contract for additional events and activations along the mall.“This is the moment to jump in and really take advantage of what the recovery of downtown can look like,” said Gretchen Hollrah, the deputy chief operating officer for the city who is also executive director of Arts & Venues. “Arts can’t do everything and activation can’t do everything, but we believe it’s a key to creating interest and sustained activation and that foot traffic is a key driver in that economic recovery.”If council approves the request, about $1 million of the additional dollars would go to a mix of events to draw people to 16th Street, with ninety days of activation over the next year.Events include Saturday markets in the summer and a live music series every weekday. The DDP is also in conversation with Street Soccer USA, an organization trying to put 26 soccer fields across the United States before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to place a soccer pitch in Skyline Park.Some of the art installations and activations would be designed to be moveable so if one block is struggling, the attraction could be moved there to entice visitors to stick around. In addition, the two organizations plan to create lasting elements that people will want to return to over the years.Around $500,000 of the additional $1.5 million would go to security for the activations and events.“Downtown not only needs to be safe, it needs to feel safe — and these events and activations are our first time to make that impression,” Barton said, adding that the extra security presence would be unarmed and serve in an “observe and report” capacity or as ambassadors for retailers to call if an issue arises.“There have been good memories on the mall and really horrific memories on the mall,” Councilwoman Stacie Gilmore said during the meeting. “It’s triggering for a lot of people. Quite honestly, if you have had a scary experience, if you have had a family member have a scary experience, it doesn’t seem the same. As a city, we need to acknowledge that and say this is how we’re working to address it.”Gilmore said she supports the arts activations but wants to make sure the city is being strategic about other safety investments to create a different impression of the 16th Street Mall.“Sixteenth is beloved. It also is troubled,” Barton acknowledged. “This is about, how do we really make the most of this infrastructure investment by being able to show how amazing this is and what the opportunities here are?”Barton and Hollrah emphasized that this funding is just part of the bigger picture for downtown; the DDP also plans to improve lighting infrastructure for vacant real estate and is working to find more tenants for those places, too, Barton said.Hollrah added that Arts & Venues often hears that people want to come to events at the Performing Arts Complex but are afraid to leave the complex to explore other parts of downtown. The former COO of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Hollrah said that Arts & Venues hopes celebrating the arts throughout downtown will help get more people back in on the area.Arts & Venues has already put out a call for people who want to “activate Denver’s downtown with musicians, artists, entertainers, and performers of all kinds to surprise and delight pedestrians,” according to the department’s 16th Street Performers Network website . Applications for the current round are open until March 13; those who are selected will go on the DDP’s roster for potential paid performances.Hollrah also teased an idea for a performance stage on Glenarm Street, which is currently being renovated by the mall, which would highlight local performers from around the city.A targeted marketing campaign to get the word out about downtown’s new activations is also part of the proposed contract extension.Separately, the DDP is working on a $100,000 rebranding campaign in partnership with the city that could possibly rename the mall because of its poor reputation and reported confusion about what the word ‘mall’ means. Council President Amanda Sandoval said she does not support spending taxpayer dollars on renaming the mall (or any area of the city) because in her north Denver district, rebranding has been used as a tool for gentrification.“I’m concerned that … it’s going to create a schism between the people who have been here for a long time supporting our downtown Denver and want to see the next iteration of things, and the people who are coming and saying, let’s rethink,” Sandoval said.Overall, the committee seemed open to adding funds to the contract but had remaining questions.“Two of my jobs that I’ve had in my life have been on the 16th Street Mall, and it pains me to see what it currently is,” said Councilwoman Diana Romero Campbell. “Having it be a destination or place to go and hang out is very much, I think, what people want it to be.”Councilman Chris Hinds, who represents downtown, was unable to attend the meeting; he’d shared a list of concerns in advance. As a result, the committee postponed any decision on the contract request until March 5; in the meantime, the DDP and Arts & Venues said they are committed to providing clarity on any questions.The DDP and Arts & Venues request is not part of the Downtown Denver Development Authority project. In November, voters approved extending the DDDA created for the renovation of Union Station over a decade ago, and the result will be an estimated $570 million for additional projects in downtown Denver. The city is currently accepting pre-application registrations here