Originally a medical depot for the U.S. Army during World War II, York Street Yards has been transformed into a thriving center for innovation and creativity. The preservation of this brick and timber project, guided by a deep respect for the site’s rich heritage, preserves the architectural integrity of the original buildings while infusing them with modern amenities for today’s tenants. These once-utilitarian warehouses have been reimagined as flexible workspaces, fostering a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, artists, and innovators.

Union Station is a Denver icon. Opened in 1881, it held the distinction of being the tallest building in the West in its day. The Station reached its zenith in the mid-1940s, welcoming more than 50,000 visitors daily, but with the waning popularity of train travel in the latter half of the 20th century, the Station gradually fell into disuse.

In 2001, efforts began in earnest to reimagine the once-great landmark. The historic Denver Union Station would become the centerpiece of a shopping, dining, and cultural destination—part of a grand vision to revitalize 14 city blocks featuring offices, apartments, restaurants, stores, condominiums, hotels, and entertainment.

The scope of the project included three primary components:

• Transit: A joint venture of East West Partners and Continuum Partners, this project was planned and financed with additional partnership of the City of Denver, RTD, the state, and Trammell Crow. A $480 million multimodal transit station is now the hub of Denver’s rail and bus system; it features incredible new public spaces and is the impetus of an urban migration that’s drawing young singles, families, and retirees back to the city’s core.
• Private development: Several parcels of the station land were redeveloped, including two 100,000-square-foot companion office buildings that frame the historic building on the new kinetic plaza; the Triangle Building, a modern, mixed-use office and retail tower; 16 Chestnut, a 430,000-square-foot office building; and The Coloradan, Union Station Neighborhood’s only for-sale, residential high-rise, among others.
• Renovation of the historic station as the crown jewel of the community: Preservation and adaptive use of the historic station reached their highest form to maintain the neighborhood’s storied history. The Union Station Alliance continues to put love and care into Denver’s living history. Inspired by the journey, Denver Union Station has nearly completed an extensive refresh that honors its position as a thriving transit hub and downtown cultural destination.

Today, the entire Union Station Neighborhood works as a powerful economic engine for the city and the region, generating $3.8 billion in initial impact in 2014 and an additional $2.9 billion of impact on an ongoing basis. Come learn about the development of Denver’s iconic Union Station as a transportation hub, retail center, and hospitality location as it continues to serve visitors and locals from around the world.

Just minutes from downtown Denver, Cherry Creek North is a destination in itself, with 16 blocks of walkable streets lined with independent boutiques, celebrated restaurants, and an array of hotels and residences. A robust business district is also woven into the fabric of this thriving district and has positioned itself as one of the top markets in the United States—outperforming most downtowns and suburban office parks across the country over the past five years. Crossing 1st Avenue, the landscape shifts as Cherry Creek West takes shape—a vision that deepens the neighborhood’s relationship with Cherry Creek.

Cherry Creek West has been designed for people first. It will be a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood where everything you need is a 15-minute walk or bike ride away. The $1.5-billion development will be built in two phases. It is located at 1st and University on 13 acres and will feature seven buildings–three are anticipated to be office (600,000 square feet) and four for-rent multifamily buildings (around 825 units in total). There will be restaurants and services on the ground floors of the buildings and four acres of public space, including a large park and market square. Here, urban living meets sustainability, with new residences, offices, and retail spaces thoughtfully envisioned to integrate with four acres of open space and its prominent neighbor, Cherry Creek Mall.

Colorado Springs lies an hour south of Denver amid some of Colorado’s most breathtaking natural landscapes. Visit the recently completed United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum (designed by Diller Scorfidio + Renfro)—one of the most accessible museums in the world. Then visit Weidner Field (a 10,000-seat urban stadium home to the United Soccer League Champion Colorado Springs Switchbacks) to learn about urban stadium development in mid-market cities. Lastly, tour current urban renewal and downtown development authority areas (residential and commercial) and the creative district to understand the local efforts and tools used to create public/private partnership redevelopment opportunities.

A neighborhood that has not yet fulfilled its promise, the Golden Triangle is poised to become the vibrant, mixed-use downtown neighborhood it has always aspired to be. Already home to some of Denver’s most important cultural assets and institutions, recent significant real estate transactions, a zoning code rewrite, and the Downtown Denver Partnership–led 5280 Trail are set to transform the landscape with an inundation of food, beverage, and retail opportunities; new public spaces; and improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods.

Explore Denver’s most dynamic new area of growth and development along the South Platte River. Hop on a bike and take a seven-mile ride on a flat, protected bike path with many stops along the way. Visit RiNo Park, the first green space in Denver’s River North area, which historically has been home to manufacturing industry and artists. The park will feature two repurposed buildings, activated by the River North Art District. Ride south to Confluence Park, Denver’s origin in 1858 at the confluence of Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, which has been transformed into a kayak run, several new urban residential developments, all immediately across from REI’s Colorado flagship store. The final leg of the tour rides through the future sites of over 20 million square feet of urban mixed-use developments, the River Mile, the Stadium District, Denver’s own Meow Wolf, and Steam. 

Denver’s Lower Downtown (LoDo) Historic District is home to some of the most innovative approaches to historic downtown development. This tour visits McGregor Square, which offers office and retail space, dining, and events near Coors Field. Dairy Block is a historic block, once home to Windsor Dairy and now a vibrant micro-district that boasts 11 shops, 19 restaurants, eight bars, a luxury coworking space, and a 172-room hotel. Market Station offers residences in the heart of LoDo, as well as office and retail space.

See one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver! Pancratia Hall is a four-story, red brick, collegiate gothic style building constructed between 1929 and 1930, originally designed by master architect Harry W.J. Edbrooke for Loretto Heights College. Transformed into a 74-unit affordable multifamily project in one of the most creative adaptive reuse projects in Denver, Pancratia Hall provides affordable housing in southwest Denver. It offers a unique example of how historic buildings can not only be preserved but transformed to address the urgent issues facing real estate development today, where history, design, and function are all preserved to create a one-of-a-kind environment.

Spread across an entire city block, Clara Brown Commons includes an impressive offering of 61 apartments, 17 townhomes, and inviting communal areas for shared experiences. Nestled at the intersection of 37th Avenue and York Street in northeast Denver, the location offers unrivaled proximity to essential amenities, convenient transit options, reputable schools, and a plethora of engaging activities. Each residence is dedicated to providing enduring affordability for individuals with incomes below the area median income, and an on-site team actively fosters a dynamic community experience, uniting residents, volunteers, and caring neighbors to nurture a lively communal atmosphere day in and day out. Clara Brown Commons offers a comprehensive approach to affordable housing.

Located in Denver’s historic Five Points neighborhood and inspired by the legendary musician Charles Burrell, The Burrell offers luxury living at an affordable price. The Burrell offers 49 permanently affordable condos for one-, two-, and three-bedroom units in the heart of a vibrant Denver neighborhood with a rich cultural history unlike any other in the city. Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Five Points neighborhood is a cultural hub with a rich and diverse history, with roots deeply intertwined with the African American community and the golden age of jazz. As a center for artistic expression, creativity, and resilience, the neighborhood’s history is reflected in The Burrel.

At the heart of downtown Denver, Larimer Square is where historic charm meets the vibrant energy of downtown. Named for pioneering General William Larimer, it was the city’s first block, first commercial district, first designated historic district, and home to its first residence and city hall. Now, preservation and restoration efforts maintain its heritage architecture and streetscape while honoring Denver’s pioneering spirit to set the stage for Larimer Square’s future.

This tour also visits Auraria Campus to learn about its impact on the area. Auraria is home to three institutions: Community College Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Denver. Auraria’s master plan sets a vision for the campus’s physical environment—shaping goals, objectives, and design principles for its future growth and establishing a collaborative project-planning approach to improve campus space and meet its most urgent needs. This plan integrates Auraria into the city, further connecting the campus to downtown Denver through alignment with the 5280 Trail, the redevelopment of the Auraria Parkway, and more.

Led by Brookfield Properties (formerly Forest City Stapleton) beginning in 2001, the redevelopment of the former Stapleton Airport site is close to completion. One of the largest urban neighborhood infill projects in the country and one of the highest-ROI neighborhoods in the city of Denver, the site is home to nearly 35,000 residents. See first-hand how the goals outlined in the original sustainability vision plan were manifested—or not—in the final development, and discuss key lessons learned. See how open space and drainage were major economic drivers and community form-givers across the 4,700-acre site. See how parks, greenways, and open space contribute to the unique resilience and sustainability performance of this community. Led by key players on the development and public realm design teams, this tour explores how public/private investment in parks, open space, and green infrastructure lead to higher real estate and community values.

For more than 60 years, the Downtown Denver Partnership has convened, collaborated, and led a bold vision to build an economically powerful center city. The Partnership believes providing venues for residents, workers, and visitors to gather, relax, and play in the public realm is a key component of fostering a balance between urban life and the outdoors and adding vitality to urban spaces. Over the years, the Partnership has led efforts to make Skyline Park accessible and inviting through activations including the Downtown Denver Ice Rink, the Skyline Beer Garden, Putt-Putt Golf, a dog park, and much more. Now, the Partnership is working alongside Denver Parks & Recreation on the Skyline Park Improvements Project to ensure that the public space serves the need of those who live, work, and play in the center city. Come learn about the future of the park that is at the heart of downtown Denver!