Mayor Mike Johnston told Denver City Council on Friday morning that despite objections, the city would open an emergency winter homeless shelter in the ballrooms at 4040 Quebec Street, a former DoubleTree hotel, on Friday.
“This isn’t a decision we came to lightly, but it is the one that makes the most sense,” said the mayor’s spokesperson Jon Ewing. “We’ve spent the last several weeks looking for other options — and activated four other locations ahead of this one — but 4040 Quebec is clearly the site that does the most good for the most people in this bitter cold.”
The move defied district Councilmember Shontel Lewis’ pleas for Johnston to quit concentrating poverty in her district and spread the shelters citywide…