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Our Centers
Meet our Centers
To advance our mission and vision of downtown we align our work in three strategic centers of focus.
We are advocates and architects, facilitators and stewards, dreamers and builders, all in the best interest of Downtown Denver and our city as a whole. By convening, listening and leading, our mission is to advance the center city as a place where all flourish in opportunity and belonging.
Our Center for Place is committed to creating a downtown that's not just safe and beautiful, but also alive with activity and excitement.
Our Center for Economic Development and Neighborhood Planning spearheads initiatives to build a thriving Central Neighborhood District in downtown Denver welcoming to business, residents and visitors.
Champions are our foundation - and our Center for Champions brings together our diverse membership and community partners around our vision for a dynamic city center, taking an active role in shaping the discussions, policies, and stories that bring our center city to life.
Center for Place
In our Center for Place we create a beautiful, safe and vibrant downtown that is distinctly Denver, a joyful and welcoming destination for all through transformational placemaking. This is accomplished through:
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Launching an in-house Security Team and continuing strong partnerships with the City, law enforcement and judicial agencies to increase resources and a coordinated strategy.
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Curating 90+ days of events, music and art to welcome families and visitors back to 16th Street.
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Elevating focus on beautification, planting and maintaining 575+ trees and planters on 16th Street.
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Maintaining and managing corridors addressing graffiti, trip hazards, trash receptacles, snow and bio-waste throughout the 120-block district.
2025 Success Measures Include:
Making Downtown Denver the Safest Downtown in the Nation (of a peer city set) by 2026.
Amplifying beautification through programming, landscape, environmental graphics and A+ maintenance measured by the BID perception survey.
Increasing downtown foot traffic by 10 million visits by 2026.
Center for Economic Development & Neighborhood Planning
The primary goal of the Center for Economic Development and Neighborhood Planning is to promote thriving businesses and complete neighborhoods. This is accomplished through:
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Advocating for priority catalytic investments for the DDDA.
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Advocate for continued, proactive monitoring and assessment of the City’s new Permitting Office.
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Increasing commercial office retention activity by connecting with all tenants over 10,000 Square Feet and <36 month lease expirations and mobilize employers’ commitment to Return to Office.
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Directly recruiting retail, restaurant and neighborhood-serving service businesses to Downtown by marketing and matching businesses with tools, spaces and resources needed for success.
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Align Downtown Area Plan recommendations toward improved access and transportation, increase multimodal access and streetscaping through projects and policy work including implementation of the DUS Bike Hub, continued work on the 5280 Trail, strategies for parking management, and increased coordination with RTD on policy and operations improvements.
2025 Success Measures Include:
Following the ‘Why Downtown Denver Retail Strategy’, lease or activate 26 priority spaces on 16th Street.
Launching a plan to affect a 7 million square foot reduction of commercial vacancy in partnership with the City and the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDDA).
Catalyzing neighborhood development through the completion and successful adoption of the Downtown Area Plan.
Champions for Downtown Denver
In our Center for Champions, we develop champions for Downtown Denver, fostering investment and engagement in the center city by influencing, convening and telling the stories of our place. This is accomplished through:
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Telling the Downtown story and showcase our impact through the website, social media platforms, campaigns, newsletters and media coverage.
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Achieving 80% favorable outcomes on legislative priorities.
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Engaging 75% of members in events, programs, and initiatives and grow breadth and diversity of participation.
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Creating professional development framework and track opportunities for all employees; continuing to elevate a culture of belonging.
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Maintaining organizational stability through healthy finances and effective internal operations.
2025 Success Measures Include:
Mobilizing diverse leaders from across the Denver community to advocate for business-friendly policies and streamlining public processes.
Shifting perceptions of Downtown by growing total reach by 20% and pitching positive media stories at least once per month.
Exceeding 90%-member retention and welcome 50 new members, sustaining and building a diverse base of Champions for Downtown.
Continuing to strengthen the organization’s fiscal position and talent retention/satisfaction.