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January Member Assembly Recap: The State of Downtown Denver’s Real Estate Market

Every month, the Downtown Denver Partnership convenes our members to learn about the opportunities and challenges shaping Downtown Denver. At our first 2026 gathering, we hosted a dynamic panel of Denver real estate leaders who didn't just discuss the market but revealed why they're betting on Downtown Denver's next chapter. 

 

Moderated by Naked Denver’s Sara Carter, the panel brought together Downtown Denver Partnership President and CEO Kourtny Garrett with Sean Campbell (FORMATIV CO), Douglas Elenowitz (Trailbreak Partners), Kenneth Monfort (Monfort Companies), Andy Cullen (TRE), and Haroun Cowans (Goshen Development). The conversation was candid about current challenges while highlighting the momentum already underway. 

 

Key Insights from the conversation: 

  1. The Market Window is Open We're in a unique phase of the commercial real estate cycle. Current downtown asset pricing and valuations presents compelling opportunities for strategic investors, whether through adaptive reuse, conversion to new asset classes, or value-add repositioning. 

  2. Foot Traffic is Rebounding Pedestrian activity downtown is trending upward, with December 2025 reaching 99% of December 2019 foot traffic levels. This isn't just recovery; it's the foundation for what comes next. 

  3. Residential Growth is Accelerating Downtown Denver added 1,200 occupied apartment units in 2025, with 2,600 units delivered across the center city, surpassing 2024 occupancy activity.  We’re expecting to see continued stabilization as new multifamily projects come online.  

  4. The Downtown Area Plan is Guiding Investment The recently adopted Downtown Area Plan provides a 20-year roadmap for center city growth, emphasizing connectivity between downtown and adjacent neighborhoods like Five Points while identifying Arapahoe Square as a key development opportunity and future gathering space. The Plan has already informed Denver Downtown Development Authority investments designed to catalyze private development and strengthen downtown's tax base. 

  5. Infrastructure Remains Critical Panelists emphasized that continued investment in safe, reliable transit and infrastructure connecting downtown to the surrounding Denver metro area and beyond is crucial for driving return-to-office activity and sustaining pedestrian traffic to downtown.  

 

A special thank you to SideCar Public Relations for hosting this Member Assembly, and to our panelists who shared their insights and expertise. Interested in joining the next conversation? Learn more about the Downtown Denver Partnership’s membership opportunities at www.downtowndenver.com/membership.  

 

Upcoming Downtown Denver Partnership Events: 

*Tickets Available Non-Members and Members  

The Downtown Denver Partnership's 2026 Annual Meeting brings together our members, partners, and downtown stakeholders to celebrate the data-driven momentum of the past year and align around our strategic priorities for building the best downtown in the nation. This signature gathering strengthens our collective commitment to downtown's future by grounding our work in critical data, national trends from Bank of America, and collaborative action toward a thriving urban core where communities and businesses flourish. 

 

*Member Only Event | Not a Downtown Denver Partnership Member? Join today!  

Join us as we gather state legislators and policy leaders to hear updates on key issues shaping Denver's future. With insights from Rep. Alex Valdez and the Governor's office, come to connect directly with policymakers and preview the 2026 legislative session. 

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