Jobs, Housing, And Redevelopment Form City’s Strategy For Reviving Urban Core
Denver leaders are confronting a downtown economy that looks markedly different from the one that existed before the pandemic. Office towers remain partially empty as hybrid work continues to reshape the workplace. Restaurants and retailers have had to adjust to reduced weekday foot traffic, while declining commercial property values have created additional concerns for property owners, lenders, and city government.
The Johnston administration’s response is an ambitious combination of job creation, business recruitment, housing development, and public investment designed to help downtown adapt to those changes. In July, Mayor Mike Johnston unveiled the Denver Jobs Agenda, a $100 million economic development initiative with a goal of creating 10,000 jobs over three years. The program includes workforce development, incentives for businesses, and a $40 million effort to attract major employers to Denver or encourage existing companies to expand…