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.

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.

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.