2007 DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN

Downtown Denver Partnership has owned key roles

in comprehensive planning for decades

1986 DAP PLAN 2007 DAP PLAN

PLAN BOUNDARIES

• 11 Downtown Districts

• 1,800 Acres

2007 DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN

Plan Structure

• 5 Vision Elements

• 19 Strategies

• 7 Transformative Projects

The vision for Downtown Denver:

VIBRANT – An Economically Healthy, Growing and Vital Downtown

Prosperous

Walkable

Diverse Distinctive

Green

2007 DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN

KEY THEMES

• Placed-based economic development

• Focus on the core

• Densify: 25,000 new residents;

35,000 new workers

• Putting pedestrians first

• 1000 small steps

Implementation

Tools

• Urban Exploration Trip

• Annual DDP Work Plans

• DDLP Activities

• Downtown Denver Awards

Mid-Point Reflection Goals Ten years into the 20- year master plan for Downtown, there is a need to reignite passion about the plan and keep it relevant with sustained energy for the next 10 years.

• Reinvigorate the 2007 Downtown Area Plan with enough energy to sustain for the next ten years.

• Tell a story about being strategic, building a city consciously and strategically.

• Include a retrospective of our accomplishments over the last 10 years, a look at what we are doing now, and a look at the next 10 years.

• Define focus for the next 10 years of the Plan – public input (focus groups and input sessions on the next 10 years

• Develop 10-year update report (Plan Companion Document) by August 2018.

– Touches on major accomplishments from past 10 years

– Sets priority of the next year/5 years/10 years

– Recaps public input received.

Mid-Point Outreach

1. October Forum

2. Form “NextGen” Steering Committee

3. Committees and Councils

4. Vision Element Focus Groups

5. DDP Boards

6. Public Meeting

7. Companion Document (Annual Meeting)

GLOBAL TRENDS SHAPING DOWNTOWNS – 2018 AND BEYOND DEMOGRAPHICS LIFESTYLES COMPETITION

TREND

Changing American

Demographics

Education,

Talent & Jobs

Rise of the Mid-

Tier City

Changing Consumer Behaviors

Shifts in Transportation

and Mobility

Housing & Livability

Regionalism

Shift in Global

Wealth

Continued Advances in Technology

Social Equity

WHAT’S NEW OR CHANGING?

Millennials are now the largest population group in the US – could hold 75% of all jobs by 2025. Gen Z is following close behind.

Economic development is now about businesses following clusters of young skilled talent. Growth in labor force over next 20 years will be fed largely by non-white populations.

Rising prices and cost of living in “superstar” cities is creating a migration to mid-tier “opportunity” cities. If Denver and downtown markets overheat, this becomes a vulnerability.

Disruption in traditional retail formats plus millennial focus on sharing economy places premium on unique retail and experiential concepts.

Shift from vehicles to alternative modes of mobility continues – teens with driver’s licenses at rates not seen since 1960s.

Downtowns are evolving into multi-dimensional neighborhoods, yet narrow wealthy demographics threaten economic vitality.

Growing national debt plus increased polarization in national politics makes federal and state resources less attainable to cities.

80% of the world’s population lives in emerging economies like China and India. Global demand continues to pressure costs of new development -- steel, concrete and petroleum.

Smart phone technology, introduced same year as DDAP, has influenced use of space and economic activity, placing more emphasis on social spaces that offer safety and speed for computing.

While environmental and economic sustainability are well understood, social equity grows in importance as income inequality reaches historical gaps.

IMPLICATIONS FOR DENVER’S DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN

Downtown needs to retain its appeal to multiple generations, including millennials, emerging Gen Z and aging Boomers.

Continue to create job opportunities for younger demographics, plus ensure downtown is welcoming to diverse populations and offers pathways to leadership.

Pro-actively address cost of living issues, particularly housing and transportation. Offer younger populations meaningful opportunities in city building.

Develop flexible retail and entertainment formats and anticipate technological changes – measure retail by sales, not space. Gen Z, who could be materialistic, may shake things up.

Continue to advance complete streets concepts and promote a walkable/bikeable downtown. Employ universal design concepts for both aging population and young families.

Encourage diverse housing in price point and unit type. Create amenities for living, including active green space, school options and day care.

Downtown can be a leading voice to build on Metro Denver’s tradition of regional investment to strengthen innovation, education and infrastructure.

Investment in existing infrastructure along with increased density provides economic advantage.

Remain technologically relevant to younger populations that are increasingly tech savvy. Plan for impacts from autonomous vehicles, starting with transit.

Continue to promote sustainability and become a leader to bring private sector perspectives to equity solutions in housing, education, workforce development, etc.

A Prosperous City Attracting Jobs, Growth, and Investment

A Prosperous City - Key Accomplishments

• Attracting Jobs, Growth and Investments

– Commons on Champa: Catalyzing entrepreneurship with access to programs for over 30,000 people.

– Denver Startup Week: Largest free

entrepreneurial event in North America.

– The Ambassador Street (14th Street): 137 new street trees and 52,477 square feet of new public space.

– Clean and Safe: Full-time Downtown security manager, 187 new pedestrian lights along 16th Street Mall and a decrease in crime by 15%.

A Prosperous

City

Attracting Jobs, Growth, and Investment

A Walkable City Putting Pedestrians First

A Walkable City - Key Accomplishments

• Putting Pedestrians First

– Denver Union Station: One of the premier Transit-Oriented Communities in the Nation.

– University of Colorado A-Line: Enhances

the competitiveness of Downtown Denver for business and visitor travel with 22,500 riders per weekday.

– Bicycle City: Downtown Denver has more than 19.4 miles of bike lanes and there are protected bike lanes on six streets in Downtown.

A Walkable City

Putting Pedestrians First

A Diverse City Being a Socially and Economically

Inclusive Place

A Diverse City - Key Accomplishments

• Being a Socially and Economically Inclusive

Place

– Downtown Living: Downtown population has more than doubled since 2007 and efforts are being made to add a variety of unit types.

– A Family-Friendly Place: Downtown Denver Expeditionary School: This vibrant public charter school opened in 2013 and serves 365 students grades K-4.

A Diverse City

Being a Socially and

Economically Inclusive Place

A Distinctive City Cultivating a Mosaic of Urban Districts

A Distinctive City - Key Accomplishments

• Cultivating a Mosaic of Urban Districts

– Connecting Auraria: Auraria Master Plan Implementation: 1.3 million square feet of new buildings added including 6 buildings fronting Auraria Parkway and Speer Blvd.

– Downtown’s New Neighborhood – Arapahoe

Square: Amendment to the Denver Zoning Code with new Design Standards and Guidelines along with 1,697 new housing units.

– Golden Triangle Neighborhood: Economically vibrant, diverse and sustainable and now recognized as an internationally celebrated arts and culture destination.

A Distinctive City

Cultivating a Mosaic of Urban Districts

A Green City Building a Greener Denver

Photo credit: D.A. Horchner, Design Workshop

A Green City – Key Accomplishments

• Building a Greener Denver – Outdoor Downtown Plan: Conceptual design

and planning underway for the 5280 Loop – creating a world-class urban trail as one of The Outdoor Downtown’s four iconic projects.

– Skyline Park: Activation strategies bringing

hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of Downtown. Two seasons of the Skyline Beer Garden and seven seasons of the Downtown Denver Rink at Skyline Park.

– A Rejuvenated Civic Center: Civic Center Design guidelines adopted by Denver Landmark Commission in 2009. Completed restorations – the Greek Theater; Voorhies Memorial; Broadway Terrace; McNichols building.

A Green City

Building a Greener

Denver