Overview:
Construction in the area is nearly complete, and block parties are being held to commemorate the newly renovated 16th Street.
On Memorial Day, the newly renamed 16th Street hosted its first event to kick off the summer festivities and showcase its makeover. The event hosted Australian DJ/Producer, Fisher, and took place right in the middle of 16th and Welton Street.
“Activating downtown, especially on 16th Street, is fundamental to our mission of building a thriving urban core for all to enjoy,” said Kourtny Garrett, president and CEO of the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP).
The city didn’t hesitate to start celebrating its accomplishments by hosting this event and bringing more people to the newly dubbed “Denver Way,” despite construction only being 90% done and some streets past Welton still in the beginning phases of renovation.
“There’s no need to wait until fall to welcome people back to 16th Street. Summer is the perfect time to enjoy its restaurants, bars, businesses and amenities,” said Marketing and Communications Director Nancy Kuhn from the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“Fences are down now on the vast majority of blocks,” she continued. “Furnishings and play structures are in place and fun activities are occurring now, including DDP’s summer kickoff this weekend. Having people down there will not impact the remaining renovation work that’s underway.”
The event’s atmosphere was electric and thrilling, with loud house music pounding through people’s chests, people dressed in rave outfits and everyone ready to start partying.
“I like how the mall has changed for the better,” said one local event attendee who was waiting in line. They hadn’t been to the area in a long time, and attending the block party was their way of returning. “It looks a lot better than the last time I was down here. I’m glad they decided to do something about it rather than just letting it get worse.”
The event was an introduction of what people can expect to see: new furnishings, suitable walking spaces, bright colors from newly planted trees, and, of course, the free bus ride. Even though construction continues down the street, it didn’t stop people from attending.
“People will come to a block party regardless of whether construction [is happening] or not, especially if you’re trying to have a good time in downtown Denver,” said Marie, a Dallas native who is visiting the city and walking up and down 16th Street. “I think [16th Street] is amazing; it provides a lot of opportunity for families to be out here. It’s very walkable. It gives you something to do, and overall, I think the way it is done is really cool.”
One of the businesses that benefited from Fisher’s block party was Menya Noodle Bar. Manager Daniela Holguin stated that her sales increased compared to last year on Memorial Day.
“I was thinking that we were going to have to close early because the year before, I compared the sales, and it looked like we had closed early that day last year,” Holguin said. “The sales from last year’s Memorial Day to this year doubled.”
Despite the fact that construction on their end of 16th Street has been completed, Holguin claims that her business has yet to resume full operations. She hopes that as more people become aware that 16th Street is once again a place to hang out, foot traffic will increase.
“[The sales] vary, depending on the day of the week or whatever is going on downtown, even though [the construction] is finished. Hopefully, with our patio furniture being outside, we will see more traffic, and it will attract more people to come to our place,” Holguin said. “I am really optimistic about it and hope for the best.”
Across the street from Menya Noodle Bar is the Sportsfan shop, where area manager Elliott Sweazey is excited to see more people visit 16th Street. Sweazey reports that business at Sportsfan has improved since construction in the area was completed, and foot traffic has increased.
“We’re really excited about bringing the people back and hopefully bringing back some of the nightlife because I always heard stories about how awesome this place used to be, and I’m hoping that we get back to that,” Sweazey said. “We’ve definitely seen an improvement over the past two to three months since they completed construction in front of our store. We are excited about what the future holds for 16th Street.”
As of now, the renovation of 16th Street is set to cost an estimated $175.4 million, and it is supposed to be completely finished in the fall of this year. 16th Street currently has a 30% vacancy rate, but that’s expected to turn that around with the new renovations and block parties to attract more people to return to the area.
The city of Denver and the DDP plan to have more police presence to make people feel safer while navigating 16th Street. A unit of ten officers will be assigned to patrol the area. Furthermore, at 16th and Arapahoe Street, there will be a police kiosk that will serve as a hub for both police officers and anyone looking for help to report an incident.
“A safe, beautiful environment is the absolute cornerstone of a thriving downtown, and especially key as we continue our collective efforts to revitalize the heart of our city,” Garrett said. “Creating a safe urban center—one that not only is safe but also feels safe—cannot happen without deep collaboration and a shared commitment to dedicating the resources and services necessary to meaningfully address challenges and ensure that all users of downtown are well-supported.”
The Memorial Day event is just the beginning of a series of events that will take place on 16th Street. The DDP plans to attract more people to the downtown area to experience more block parties on May 31 and June 1 featuring World Cup Speed Climbing, a beer garden, a grand bazaar and more.
“This summer, we’re turning up the energy, splashing some sunshine around, and rolling out a fresh vibe,” DDP said on social media. “We’re creating a whole new energy for downtown.”
For more information about construction on 16th Street, visit here. Learn more about its upcoming events here.
