Is downtown back up? Not yet, but Westword Editor Emeritus Patricia Calhoun has been spending time on 16th Street and around Lower Downtown lately, and she sees a lot of potential. Potential and results are two different things, though, and downtown Denver remains in the “trying” phase as it fights a sustained COVID drop-off, reputational issues and an increasing work-from-home force.
The city has poured millions of dollars worth of projects into downtown and even followed some of Calhoun’s suggestions, like bringing back the mounted police force or pushing for more live music on 16th Street. While there have been some hits and moments of success, visitors still haven’t returned in full force.
Some of our readers provided reasons why downtown has lost its mojo in the 2020s, such as too many corporate businesses or competition from other neighborhoods, like the Highlands or Capitol Hill. Others defended downtown’s current state, arguing that most of its current detractors don’t visit enough to have an opinion…