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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. The primary goal of the Center for Place is to create a Safe and Vibrant Downtown, this is accomplished through:
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Curating events, music, and art that welcomes families and visitors to 16th street
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Planting and maintaining trees and planters to create a beautiful and green environment
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Maintaining and managing corridors throughout the 120-block district addressing graffiti, trip hazards, trash receptacles, snow and bio-waste.
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Implementing a security action plan and deploying an in-house security team that ensures that downtown not only is safe but feels safe.
In 2025, The Center for Place is measuring it’s success through:
Increasing 16th street foot traffic by 10% (from 2.4 million)
Planting and maintaining 575+ trees and planters along 16th street
Increasing downtown foot traffic by 2 million, totaling 76 million visits
Implementing a security action plan and launching a security action team
Curating 90+ days of events, music and art welcoming families and visitors back to 16th street
Center for Economic Development and Neighborhood Planning
In our Center for Economic Development and Neighborhood Planning, we drive an economically thriving Downtown Denver by stimulating business growth and lively neighborhoods. 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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Celebrating and supporting ground floor business openings throughout downtown
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Bolstering downtown’s multi-modal transportation network through the completion of a Bike Hub at Union Station, continued work on the 5280 Trail, strategies for parking management, and increased coordination with RTD on policy and operations improvement
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Supporting plans to increase commercial office retention
In 2025, The Center for Economic Development & Neighborhood Planning is measuring it’s success through:
Catalyzing neighborhood development through the Downtown Area Plan
Increase commercial office retention activity by 50%
Leasing or activating 26 priority spaces on 16th street, including 15 new retail business openings
Launching a plan to effect a 4 million square foot reduction of commercial vacancy by 2030
Celebrate 50 ground floor business openings throughout downtown
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. The primary objective of the Center for Champions is to build an active organization that inspires pride and future vision. This is accomplished through:
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Engaging members in events, programs, and initiatives
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Activating and involving our network of downtown organizations in signature programs
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Showcasing our organization's work and achievements across our marketing platforms and through media exposure
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Securing legislative policy that is advantageous to downtown through strategic policy priorities
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Maintaining organizational stability through healthy finances and effective internal operations
In 2025,our Center for Champions is measuring it’s success through:
Engaging 75% of members in events, programs, and initiatives
Achieve 80% favorable outcomes on legislative priorities
Exceeding 90% member retention and welcoming 50 new members
Engaging 200+ organizations in signature programs
Influencing positive perception of downtown by by pitching one positive media story per month, growing total reach by 12%