Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia
Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc.
2012-2013 ANNUAL REPORT
ACTION. IMPLEMENTATION. PROGRESS. Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia
The Downtown Denver Partnership is focusing on the people, places and businesses in Downtown Denver. We are continually collaborating with our partners to ensure our city center is vibrant, unique and economically sound. Our future plans call for looking ahead at that next big idea for tomorrow — and alongside our member businesses and our city partners, we are building a better city center that is prosperous, walkable, diverse, distinct and green. Over the past year the Partnership activated the 16th Street Mall; worked to bring more jobs to Downtown; enhanced the experience for visitors, employees and residents in the urban center; and much more that you can read about in the pages of this report. But it does not end there; every day is a chance to build a better city. Over the next year, the Partnership will: • Create a Culture of Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Downtown Denver • Advance the Rehabilitation and Activation of the 16th Street Mall • Educate and Engage a Broader Segment of the Community in City Building and in the Downtown Denver Partnership • Enhance, Activate and Manage Downtown Denver Public Spaces • Market Downtown Denver to Maximize Investment • Attract and Retain Residents in Downtown Denver • Expand and Enhance the Retail Mix in Downtown • Attract and Retain Companies to Grow the Economic Base and Create Jobs in Downtown Denver • Enhance Streetscape Designs and Transportation Options As economic development continues in our center city, we continue to take on new challenges and initiatives to complement the innovation that’s happening all around Downtown Denver. On behalf of the Board and Downtown Denver Partnership team, we thank you for your commitment to and investment in this organization and for your passion for Downtown Denver. Sincerely,
Tamara Door
Cole Finegan
Elbra Wedgeworth
President & CEO Downtown Denver Partnership
Downtown Denver Partnership Board Chairman, 2012-2013
Downtown Denver Partnership Board Chairwoman, 2013-2014
2012 – 2013
ACCOMPLISHMENTS : PEOPLE Enhancing the experience for visitors, employees and residents The Partnership encouraged and supported events in Downtown in order to create an environment where events can thrive. The numbers show that providing experiences for visitors, employees and residents through public events that create and promote a vibrant Downtown have enhanced Downtown’s image as an exciting urban destination and center of activity. • 8 weeks of outdoor movies under the stars in Skyline Park attracted families to Downtown. • The 29th Annual A Taste of Colorado brought nearly 500,000 visitors to Civic Center Park over 4 days. • A record audience of 550,000 attended the 38th Annual Parade of Lights. • More than 44,000 ice skaters enjoyed the Southwest Rink at Skyline Park. • Make Music Denver was named as “Best New Festival” by Westword, drawing more than 400 musicians to Downtown. • Initiated a series of street fairs to enliven Downtown, bringing in more than 50 new vendors and artists on four separate weekends. • More than 75,000 people gathered in Downtown on New Year’s Eve to enjoy two fireworks shows. • Attracted world-class speakers to the 2013 Rocky Mountain West Urban Leadership Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia Symposium that attracted the largest ever recorded attendance. • Planned and conducted Urban Exploration Toronto to learn best practices that could be applied to further the Downtown Area Plan goals. • Advocated for event-friendly policies to ensure we have a highly-activated city center. • Partnered with the City to craft communication, implementation and outreach strategy for the Urban Camping Ban. • Led private-sector fundraising efforts to support Denver’s Road Home. • Championed the Urban Camping Ban to encourage individuals to seek indoor shelter and services and advocated for additional services for homeless individuals, including an outdoor courtyard with service support and a rest and resource center. • Led efforts in creating urban, livable neighborhoods, including securing new business developments in the revitalization of Arapahoe Square and aiding in the establishment of Downtown’s first elementary school, the Downtown Denver Expeditionary School. • Cultivated the next generation of leaders within our community that address Downtown’s challenges and identify ways to enhance its appeal to workers, residents and visitors through the growth of the Downtown Denver Leadership Program (DDLP). • Increased the DDLP to a record number of 87 participants in the 2013 class. • Enhanced the Downtown Denver Leadership Program Alumni Association by increasing communications, events, and outreach that engaged more than 500 DDLP alums.
75,000 PEOPLE ENJOYED FIREWORKS
ON NEW YEARS EVE
2012 – 2013
ACCOMPLISHMENTS : PLACE Create and maintain a clean, safe and attractive environment with strong connections to the adjacent neighborhoods and the region. To enhance and promote transportation options to and in Downtown in support of the Downtown Area Plan objectives, the Partnership: • Successfully advocated for the first multi-block protected bicycle lane in Denver on 15th Street. • Partnered with the City to initiate a comprehensive strategy for converting selected one-way streets to two-way, identifying four Downtown streets for the initial conversion. The Partnership worked to activate the 16th Street Mall through programming and events to ensure its continued viability and importance. The Partnership: • Partnered with the City and Regional Transportation District (RTD) to win an $8 million federal grant, matched by $2 million in local funds, to begin rehabilitation efforts. • Enhanced and activated the central blocks of the 16th Street Mall by creating retail and food vending clusters and by partnering with the Denver Botanic Gardens to implement the Garden Block. • Celebrated the fifth year of Your Keys to the City program by placing 10 pianos painted by local artists along the Mall for public enjoyment. • Developed a strategy to create premier lighting along with artistic enhancements of the 16th St Mall’s 11 historic buildings. To effectively manage and activate Downtown’s parks and public open spaces, the Partnership: Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia • With the City of Denver, co-funded a comprehensive Downtown Parks and Public Spaces Plan that will identify new management, investment, maintenance, TH activation and design strategies for key public spaces and parks throughout Downtown. • Began evaluation of existing design, activation and unique management needs of Skyline Park for development of a master plan. • Worked with RTD to define a public-private management/maintenance/activation approach for Wynkoop Plaza, on the LoDo side of Denver Union Station.
RAISED $10 MILLION
FOR 16 STREET MALL
Enhancing connections to adjacent neighborhoods and amenities throughout the urban core is a key focus of the Downtown Area Plan and the Partnership: • Began the Connect Auraria Plan with the City and the Auraria Higher Education Center to identify strategic pedestrian, bicycle and street improvements to enhance connections between the Auraria campus and adjacent neighborhoods. • Collaborated on phase one of improvements to enhance the connections and flow of people to and from Auraria Campus by adding new planters and banners. • Worked with the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and the City to identify strategies that lay the groundwork for the Arapahoe Square redevelopment project.
2012 – 2013
ACCOMPLISHMENTS : BUSINESS Lead advocacy efforts representing Downtown business interests. Retain and attract companies. The Partnership continues to work with and for Downtown businesses by investing in the enrichment of our thriving city center. The Partnership: • Created the Downtown Development Map, which highlights major real-property and public realm investments in Downtown over the last five years, plus projects currently under construction. • Continued to work toward the Downtown Area Plan’s goal of adding 25,000 residents to Downtown by 2027 by assisting and marketing the 5,000 residential units that are under or planned for construction. • Worked with 12 prospective companies looking to relocate to or expand in Downtown Denver. As of press time, 5 of the 12 companies had chosen Downtown for their relocation or expansion. • Connected with a total of 46 regional, national and international retailers, in addition to supporting the recruitment efforts of Downtown’s retail centers. • Launched the first ever Denver Startup Week (DSW) that highlighted Denver as an entrepreneurial center on the local, regional, and national stage and provided education, inspiration and networking events. DSW drew more than 3500 startup community members that were engaged in over 85 events. • Launched the “Only Downtown Denver” brand to enhance the economic investment in the city center by reaching youth-minded audiences who have an existing connection to Downtown Denver. • Launched a new website introducing new tools, resources and dialogue opportunities for Downtown’s residents, workers and visitors. • Reached out to 23 existing Downtown companies occupying a total of over a million square feet of office space as part of the business retention program. • Educated and engaged the Boards on key issues related to Amendment 64 and Denver Measure 2A resulting in the Downtown Denver, Inc. Board of Directors taking a formal position in support for both. The Partnership educated members regarding the issues and actively engaged in the City process for evaluating policy and worked with media and the City to communicate our position and the basis for our support. • Collaborated with partner organizations to continue to evaluate options to mitigate the impact of Construction Defects legislation. The Partnership worked with City Council to research alternative options for Denver and took a formal position regarding proposed legislation on Construction Defects legislation and testified at the State committee. • Based on recommendations from the Mayor’s housing task force, partnered with Councilwoman Kniech to move forward changes to the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and review other policies aimed at creating a more diverse array of housing in Downtown. • Successfully advocated for additional officers in Civic Center Park and partnered with the Denver Police Department and LoDo businesses to fund a scout car for bar closing time. • Proposed and successfully advocated for the extension of the Downtown Denver Urban Renewal Area / TIF District and worked to identify core priorities for support. All of the priorities for which the Partnership advocated were included in the proposal.
LAUNCHED
A NEW BRAND
Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia
“ To stroll through the world’s great cities is to study nothing less than HUMAN PROGRESS.” - Edward L. Glaesser
2013 – 2014
OBJECTIVES
Photo: Ryan Dravitz
THE DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP IS COMMITTED TO THE FORWARD MOMENTUM OF THE CENTER CITY. By focusing on building a Downtown that people want to live, thrive, and work in, we are creating a world-class city that fosters collaboration, creativity and community building. Over the next year, the Downtown Denver Partnership will continue to build on big ideas. The Partnership will:
1
Create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship in Downtown Denver by helping to grow companies in the heart of the city through Denver Startup Week; by creating a center of innovation and entrepreneurship in the heart of Downtown; and by branding Downtown Denver through online video networks and e-publications.
2
Advance the rehabilitation and activation of the 16th Street Mall by pursuing additional funding options for the rehabilitation project and implementing key activation strategies for the core blocks of the Mall.
3
Engage the community in City Building and the Downtown Denver Partnership in order to proactively seek new resources and make the community a part of decision making in Downtown by launching tools and events that enhance community engagement.
4
Work to enhance, activate and manage public spaces to heighten Downtown’s position as a vibrant and vital urban center. This encourages economic development that creates business for Downtown Denver companies and our neighboring communities. The way that we build these spaces is crucial, because by ensuring that they’re well cared for and managed, we confirm that they will become natural drivers of economic impact events that attract a diverse audience and create unique and engaging experiences in the center city.
2013 – 2014
OBJECTIVES 5
Effectively market Downtown Denver in order to maximize investment in our urban core by implementing the “Only Downtown Denver” branding campaign, creating and marketing meaningful research and conducting outreach to local and national media.
6
Attract and retain companies to grow economic base and jobs in the Center City by advocating for public policy that supports the growth of companies and through proactive outreach to businesses located or interested in coming to Downtown.
7
Expand the economic impact of Downtown through efforts that grow the retail base, expand residential opportunities through residential serving amenities, and leverage new opportunities to build out neighborhood developments like Arapahoe Square.
8
Enhance streetscape designs and transportation options, leveraging Denver Union Station as a transportation hub, increasing connections through the Downtown Circulator, and identifying opportunities for bikes and pedestrians and increasing accessibility to the center city.
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are CREATED BY EVERYBODY.” – Jane Jacobs
Photo: Larry Laszlo, CoMedia
2012 – 2013
FINANCIALS REVENUE SOURCES
Earned Income 9%
Grants and Sponsorships 31% Contracts for Services 37%
Membership 17%
A Taste of Colorado 6%
ALLOCATION OF BUDGET EXPENDITURES TO PRIORITIES Administration 22% Leadership 27% Economic Development 6%
Experience 27%
Connections 3%
Environment 15%
“THE CITY is humanity’s laboratory, where people flock to dream, create, build, and rebuild.” – Fast Company
Photo: Evan Semon