Denver Approves $100M for Downtown Projects: Parks, Housing, Redevelopment & Small Business

Denver is moving forward with a major investment in its downtown core. Mayor Mike Johnston and the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDA) have approved a $100 million funding package focused on parks, housing, local business support, and future redevelopment. This is the largest allocation of its kind since voters approved the DDA in 2024.

Photo Sourced from RIOS Project Page

Investment Breakdown

The newly approved funding will support the following initiatives:

Parks & Public Space

• Civic Center Park — $30M
  Major upgrades including new infrastructure, lighting, expanded garden walkways, and enhanced tree canopy to improve access and usability.

• Skyline Park — $5M
  Accessibility and lighting improvements, along with new activation areas such as a concessions building and performance stage.

• McNichols Building — $7M
  Ground-floor renovations to create garden dining space, a full-service kitchen, and an arts-focused public market.

Renderings Sourced from Fox Park

Housing & Redevelopment Opportunities

• Glenarm Place Parcels — $23M
  City acquisition of two parking lots between 15th and 16th Streets to unlock future mixed-use redevelopment and address affordable parking needs.

• Symes Building — $17M
  Adaptive reuse project converting a historic office building into 116 residential units, with a mix of income levels and a new outdoor plaza.

• University Building — $14.5M
  Office-to-residential conversion adding 120 affordable housing units to the downtown area.

Local Business Support

• Green Spaces Market — $2.7M
  Affordable commercial space for small businesses, artists, and nonprofits.

• Milk Tea People — $640K
  Relocation and expansion of the award-winning tea shop to a new location along 16th Street.

• Sundae Ice Cream — $750K
  Flagship expansion into a new destination dessert concept, featuring “Create Your Own Pint” classes.

• Denver Immersive Theater — $400K
  Renovation support for a new immersive theater venue near the 16th Street Mall.

Final Outlook

According to city officials, these investments mark the next phase of post-pandemic downtown recovery, with a focus on housing, public space, and creating a more vibrant, mixed-use urban core. Stay tuned as we continue tracking the rollout of these DDA-backed projects and other key investments across downtown Denver.

All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.

---

See more behind the build on Denver’s greatest construction projects

Get a deeper dive on the who, what, when and why behind the city’s greatest construction projects with our premium member content.

Interested in sponsorship? Learn more about our sponsors and how to get involved.

All project information was sourced from publicly available site plans, renderings, and permitting documents.