STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER SEPTEMBER 2012
Downtown Denver Partnership, Inc. With support from:
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
1 INTRODUCTION Dear Downtown Denver Stakeholder,
Thank you for picking up a copy of the Downtown Denver Partnership’s annual State of Downtown Denver report, a fact-driven report that provides timely, objective and accurate data about Downtown Denver. This year we are proud to collaborate with Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross to bring you the most complete statistics and analysis about Downtown Denver. In his 2012 State of the City address, Mayor Michael B. Hancock remarked that a vibrant downtown core is essential to the health of the city. At the 2012 Rocky Mountain Urban Leadership Symposium, Governor Hickenlooper and other leaders in the Rocky Mountain West stressed the importance of urban centers in creating strong place-based economies that attract and retain top talent. Downtown Denver is one of the nation’s leaders in this regard, with Denver being the number one city in the nation where young professionals are moving. This future workforce can be an incredible asset to our economy. It is critically important that we work to attract and retain this future workforce by continuing to improve Downtown Denver’s amenities, high quality of life, transportation options, walkable urbanism, and its healthy and growing rental market. Downtown Denver remains the hub of the region with approximately 112,000 employees, 17,000 residents in the urban core, 65,000 residents in City Center neighborhoods, and 44,000 university students. Downtown Denver has seen approximately $3.6 billion of non-residential development in the last 10 years. Downtown Denver is also a leader in sustainability and we are proud to have helped launch Downtown’s new green business rating, Certifiably Green Denver, a certification program that allows businesses to showcase their environmentally sustainable practices.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Letter..................................................1 Key Facts................................................................2 Denver’s Downtown Area Plan...............................3 Notable Rankings...................................................4 Office Market..................................................... 6-7 Employers & Employees...................................... 8-9 Retail & Restaurants..............................................11 Downtown Residents...................................... 12-13 Transportation................................................ 14-15 Students & Universities.........................................16 Development & Investment............................. 18-19 Sustainability........................................................20 Culture, Entertainment, Sports, & Events......... 22-23 Tourism ...............................................................24 Board of Directors................................................25
We invite you to turn the page and read the facts, figures and case studies in this report that showcase the current state of Downtown Denver. Please share this information with private sector leaders, investors, developers and decision makers and feel free to download additional copies of the report at www.downtowndenver.com. Sincerely, Tamara Door President & CEO Downtown Denver Partnership
Cole Finegan Board Chair Downtown Denver Partnership Tami Door, President & CEO
Cole Finegan, Board Chair
SEPTEMBER 2012
2
KEY FACTS • Denver, with its amenities, highly educated population, transportation options and attractive urban center, is the #1 city in the U.S. where the future workforce (ages 25-34) is moving.
For the purposes of this report, “Downtown Denver” is defined by the boundaries of the 2007 Downtown Area Plan and includes the following areas: Commercial Core, Cultural Core, Lower Downtown (LoDo), Arapahoe Square, Ballpark, Central Platte Valley, Auraria and the Golden Triangle.
1
#
The “City Center” encompasses Downtown Denver as well as its surrounding neighborhoods within a 1.5 mile radius. This includes the distinct neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Highland, Curtis Park, Five Points, Jefferson Park, La Alma and Lincoln Park and Uptown.
• Downtown Denver covers approximately 1,800 acres and is divided into 8 districts. • Downtown Denver has an office vacancy rate of 15.9%. • Downtown Denver has a 4.9% retail vacancy rate. • Annual Downtown Denver sales tax revenue increased 6.8% from 2010 to 2011. • .Downtown Denver businesses generated over $34 million in sales tax revenue for the City & County of Denver in 2011.
Globevil
le
Jason St
0
nd
Hya
na
l4 00
Warwick Hotel
wn otel Bro e H ac Pal
Broadway
B W lac es k A t M fr us ica eu n m
St
Downing St
Clarkson St
Downing St
Emerson St
The Ogden Theater
E 14th Ave
Molly Brown House Museum
Colorado History Museum Denver Art Denver Museum Public Library Byers-Evans House Museum
W 13th Ave
The Vance Kirkland Museum
Denver Art Museum Hamilton Building
Che
W 12th Ave
E 12th Ave
E 10th Ave
Downing St
Corona St
Ogden St
Emerson St
E 11th Ave Clarkson St
Washington St
Pearl St
Logan St
Pennsylvania St
Grant St
Sherman St
Lincoln St
Broadway
Acoma St
Bannock St
CAPITOL HILL
E 9th Ave
W 9th Ave
Colorado Governor's Mansion
Denver Health Medical Center
E Bannock St
Fox St
Ogden St
The Fillmore Auditorium
Colorado State Capitol
Sunken Gardens
Delaware St
Rd
W 6th Ave
Inca St
The Denver Civic Theater
Ogden St
Washington St
Washington St
W Colfax Ave
Civic Center Park
Clarkson St
E 16th Ave Pearl St
RTD Civic Center Station
Logan St
0
30
Co
Cherokee St Elati St
Museo de las Americas
Av e
r
Grant St
Pl
rk
ve
Sherman St
k
ar sM m' en Ada otel-D H
Pa
UPTOWN E 17th Ave
ns
Pla
urt
E 18th Ave
Inn
tP
lio
za
wne
Emerson St
Pl
Gle
nt mo Tre
0 50
na
Gle Ma
ll
vil
fort
Com
mo n
Pa
Hampton Inn & Suites
Pl
W elt
on
St
60
Gra
nt ou am er Par Theat
rm
er
E 19th Ave
tt
16 th St
Tre
nv
KU Gle VO na Stu rm dio Pl
Ca lifo rn ia
on W elt ge Amer Cen ic an ter
Pl rm
t nS W elt o
0
70
Lincoln St
St
ut
Delaware St
Art Histo s & ric Cu Fiv ltu e P re o Dis ints A tric Herfrican Stil es t ita
ia rn Ca lifo
eS pa ho
Ara
0
90
St
pa
80 0
am Ch
Sto
St
Galapago St
The Art District on Santa Fe
Lipan St
Navajo St
Tejon St
St
ict istr tori cD His Pa rk Cu rtis
0
St
20 0 t1
t1 10
eS re nc La w ark
Elati St
A Bla Resfrican ir-C ea A aldw rch mer el Libr ican l ar y
c
30
0
Ch ap u
t1 rS
La ylin eP Sk
Fox St Kalamath St
Santa Fe Dr
Yuma St
Vallejo St
Be Wo an me Pro n’s jec t
cre Ho d H us ea e rt
Sa
S
Cu rtis
St
Ar ap
ah oe
t
00 16 00
St
15
ee
St ke El
rim e
Bla
lte pe
00 17 St
W az
ko op
W yn
Im Th pu ea lse ter
Roc Mus km eu ount m
Mariposa St
Osage St
il Tra
Vallejo St
En Th terp e ris Den e C ve en r ter
St ke Bla W aln u
Pl es tnu t
Ch
St
ven
St St
De lga ny
wa t ta
C ir
Rio Ct
Shoshone St
Umatilla St
d ton gh Bri
Denargo St
Fox St
tta St
Inca St
Huron St
wa
Tra il
ike
er B Riv tte Pla
r Ci Elitc he s
tD r Cres ce n Zuni St
Blv
Lipan St
r
nt D
ckm o
Ro
t
Er ie S
Ce ntr
Umatilla St
Vallejo St
Alcott St
Bryant St Bryant St
ek
Cre
e inol
Alcott St
E 20th Ave
W 8th Ave
Sem
Bryant St
St
Decatur St
th
Clay St
29
Benedict Fountain Park
Cen
W 10th Ave
th A ve V iad
W 7th Ave
St
erry
W8
st
t
Ch
W 9th Ave
31
S nd 22
St
t Canosa Ct
Denargo Market
Osage St
Pecos St
Quivas St
Shoshone St
Vallejo St
Tejon St
Alcott St
Zuni St
Clay St
Bryant St
Decatur St
Wyandot St
Lyle Ct
St
St
Eliot St.
St
St rd 33
th
30
th
26
ia
lvd
tS
W 6th Ave
De
th 13
er B
Spe
Bryan
Decatur St
W 11th Ave
W 9th Ave
W 7th Ave
rio
Mar
rn
lifo
United City/County States Building Mint
W 10th Ave
W Barberry Pl
rC
ve
en
tt-D
GOLDEN TRIANGLE LA ALMA / LINCOLN PARK
t
tS
u Sto
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble Studio
Ca
W 13th Ave Lincoln Park
W
St
W 14th Ave
St
Son
ter
Firefighters’ Museum
Denver Justice Center
W 13th Ave
W 11th Ave
th St
Cro
Emily Griffith Opportunity School
Mestizo-Curtis Park
FIVE POINTS pa
am
Ch
e Av
5th
St
W 12th Pl
00
ity
ter
W Colfax Ave
Rude Park
St
lia no el Mag Hot
the Cen at ion cy nt en ve eg Con tt R o Hya olorad ilton Inn C H den Gar
Colorado Convention Center
9th Street Historic Park
rtis
Cu
W Colfax Ave
th 24
St
La
St. Elizabeth Church
St
7th
ce
n wre
St. Cajetan’s Golda Meir House
th 25
Metropolitian State College of Denver University of Colorado Denver Community College of Denver
rtis
Cu
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
King Center
y Wa
Car
Cur
The Ellie Caulkins Opera House Colorado Symphony Orchestra
n
wso La ny ark P
10
St
n
lto
Ritz
Ma
rd rtya riot Cou Mar by
tis
The
St
t
CURTIS PARK
St
19
St
t
MaeEdd ie Par stas k
St
rtis Cu
ce iden n Res In el o Hotonac M
ll
Denver Performing Arts Complex
AURARIA CAMPUS
t ut S Waln
y wa
t eS
St
St
16 th St
St
Cir
rk Pa
et
St tin WesHotel F D& wer To
th
12th
ium Mile High Stad
ia rar Au
Hig h Walk
ark
th
te Wri
15
e
uar
Sq
el Hot atro Te
t
rS
me
Lari
st
17
St
14 th S
ar qu
rS
er
im
Lar
ter
en
rC
bo
Ta
e
Tivoli Student Union
Invesco Field At Mile High
tM
St
Pedestrian Bridge
per
Starz Film Center
21 0
40
1 St
t n ke tio Mar t Sta ee Str
th 14
St
op Ch
Red Lion Inn
Mi le
t Je otel H
th
Downtown Children’s Playground
12th St
nd
LOWER DOWNTOWN / et rk LODO Ma
ord Oxf Hotel
e W
9th
Gates Crescent Park
Sta
th 20
Museum of Contemporary Art
Pepsi Center
rk ark allp et Pa e B ark Th M
22
n
tio
ion
Un
18
Downtown Aquarium
e tre
St
St
y rolle Sp t ee y T ter S rB er Wa lvd Riv tte Centennial Pla Gardens th u So
Coors Field
Pedestrian Bridge
CENTRAL PLATTE VALLEY Millennium Bridge
Elitch Gardens
W 20th Ave
Ra
Valle
Children's Museum Of Denver
rS me ari
th
15
tte
Pla 7th
W 23rd Ave Jefferson Park
e Littl
Confluence Park
25
W Byron Pl
t
nc
re aw
L
e W
eL
Commons Park
W 25th Ave
th
St h S
er
rim
La
BALLPARK
St
Ba
W 27th Ave
JEFFERSON PARK
W 29th Ave
t
t
tt S
e ss
Pedestrian Bridge
REI
29
St
St
19 th S
St ny
Th
West 28th Avenue Historic District
th 19
W 28th Ave
St
lga De
th
tte
Pla
Highland Bridge
vd
Denver Skate Park
27
W 29th Ave
St al
St
St
St
St
pee r Bl
e uld Bo
t rS
nd
t 28
th
W
NS
W 8th Ave
Sources: Brookings Institution 2011; City and County of Denver 2011-2012; Claritas 2012; Downtown Denver Area Plan 2007; Downtown Denver Partnership 2011; LED On the Map 2012; Longwoods 2012; Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross 2012; VISIT Denver, 2011.
St
Hirshorn Park
Du nke l d Pl
• 87% of Downtown Denver visitors, including residents, tourists, and employees, say Downtown Denver has a vibrant atmosphere.
• The Colorado Convention Center hosted 839,000 convention center attendees in 2011.
th
17
W 31st Ave
18
32
st
W Argyle Pl
W Caithness Pl
th
St
31
Figure 1: Downtown Denver
• Over half of Downtown Denver commuters use transit, bicycle, walk or share the ride to work.
• Downtown Denver welcomes 13.2 million overnight visitors who spend $3.3 billion annually.
W 34th Ave
Ct 34
29
th
HIGHLAND
W 26th Ave
• Over $1 billion in public and private sector development is scheduled to open in 2013 and 2014.
s Arkin W
City Of Cuernavaca Park
W 32nd Ave
• Approximately 44,000 students attend a college or university in Downtown Denver.
St
W 35th Ave
Potter’s Row Historic District
W 33rd Ave
• Approximately 65,000 residents live in the City Center neighborhoods.
ton
es W
Rd
th
W 35th Ave
Mariposa St
W 36th Ave
35
W 37th Ave
W 36th Ave
St
25%
W 37th Ave
st 31
• Downtown Denver is home to 17,000 residents. This number grew over 25% in just the past year.
Navajo St
• About one third of all of the City and County of Denver’s jobs are located in Downtown Denver.
Governor's Park
Sp
ee rB
E 8th Ave
Grant-Humphreys Mansion
lv d
Figure 2: Downtown Denver and City Center neighborhoods
E 7th Ave
E 6th Ave
Esquir Theate
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
3
DENVER’S DOWNTOWN AREA PLAN In 2007, the public and private sectors came together to build upon the 1986 Downtown Area Plan with an updated vision and set of goals and recommendations for Downtown Denver. The Downtown Area Plan outlines the major components to make Downtown Denver one of the most livable places in the world. The vision elements and accompanying strategies guiding Downtown Denver are:
PROSPEROUS The Downtown of the Rocky Mountain Region Energizing the Commercial Core A Comprehensive Retail Strategy Clean and Safe
WALKABLE An Outstanding Pedestrian Environment Building on Transit Bicycle City Park the Car Once Grand Boulevards
DIVERSE Downtown Living A Family-Friendly Place Embracing Adjacent Neighborhoods An International Downtown
DISTINCTIVE District Evolution Connecting Auraria Downtown’s New Neighborhood: Arapahoe Square
GREEN An Outdoor Downtown A Rejuvenated Civic Center Sustainable Use of Resources
SEPTEMBER 2012
4
THE CITY OF DENVER’S NOTABLE R ANKINGS QUALITY OF LIFE • Denver is the #1 city where 25-34 year olds are moving (Brookings Institution, 2011)
BUSINESS • Denver is the world’s best city for conventions (Globe and Mail of Toronto, 2011)
• Denver is the #1 city where people want to live (Harris Poll, 2011) • Denver is America’s healthiest city (Food and Wine Magazine, 2012) • Denver is America’s fittest city (Newsweek Online, 2011) • Denver has the nation’s best microbrew beer (Travel + Leisure, 2011) • Denver is the #1 athletic and active city in the U.S. (Travel + Leisure, 2011)
• Denver ranks 3rd among the top U.S. growth cities for relocating families (U-Haul International Inc., 2012) • Denver is the 5th best city for young adults (Kiplinger, 2012) • Denver is the 5th most attractive city (Travel + Leisure, 2011) • Denver is the 5th safest city (Travel + Leisure, 2011)
SUSTAINABILITY • Downtown Denver has the nation’s 1st LEED Platinum skyscraper (1800 Larimer) • Denver is the 2nd best city for public parks and outdoor access (Travel + Leisure, 2011)
• Denver ranks 11th in the United States for Energy Star buildings (The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2011)
• Denver is 5th greenest city in the U.S. (Siemens, 2011)
TOURISM • Denver is the 8th top place to go in the world in 2012 (Fodors, 2011) • Denver is the 6th top U.S. travel destination for 2011 (Lonely Planet,
• Denver is 2nd best city for finance jobs (Accounting Principles, 2011) • Denver is the 2nd best city for doing business (Area Development Magazine, 2011)
• Denver is the 3rd best city for startups (Venture Beat, 2012) • Denver is the 4th best city for recent college graduates (CareerBuilder.com, 2011)
• Denver’s employment forecast is 5th best in the nation (Manpower, 2012)
• Denver is the 8th hottest place to start a business (The Fiscal Times, 2011)
• Denver has the 10th highest average annual salary among metro areas in the western states (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2009)
TRANSPORTATION • Denver ranks #1 for public transportation (U.S. News and World Report, 2011)
• Denver International Airport is tied for America’s Favorite Airport (Executive Travel Magazine, 2011)
• Denver International Airport is the 5th busiest U.S. airport and is 10th busiest airport in the world (Federal Aviation Administration, 2010) • Denver is the nation’s 12th best city for bicycling (U.S. Census, 2010) • Denver is the 5th best city for teleworking (Microsoft ‘Work Without Wall’ Report: U.S. Telework Trends, 2011)
2011)
• Denver is the 4th best city base for day trips (Travel + Leisure, 2011) • Denver is the nation’s 2nd best weekend vacation city (Forbes, 2011) • Denver is the nation’s best city for a pet-friendly vacation (Travel + Leisure, 2011)
STATE OF COLORADO RANKINGS • Colorado is ranked 1st for growth in the startup job sector (StartUpHire, 2012) • Colorado is ranked the 2nd best state for entrepreneurship and innovation (U.S. Chamber, 2012) • Colorado is ranked the 3rd best state for economic competitiveness (Beacon Hill Institute, 2012) • Colorado is ranked 5th in entrepreneurial activity (2011 Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity) • Colorado has more LEED-certified buildings than any other state (U.S. Green Building Council, 2011) • Colorado is the 6th happiest state on well-being index (Gallup, 2012) • Colorado is America’s 6th top creative class state (Atlantic Cities, July 2012) • Colorado ranks 5th among states where people want to live (Harris Poll, 2011) • Colorado is the least obese state in the nation (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011)
SEPTEMBER 2012
6 OFFICE MARKET The last two years have brought an influx of new and expanding tenants to Downtown Denver, including Bridgepoint Education, HealthGrades, DaVita, Jacobs Engineering, AON, Suncor Energy, Intrawest, Pentax Imaging and Hub International. The highly desirable dynamics of Downtown Denver will continue to draw tenants from other submarkets, and many of the Commercial Core’s large tenants, particularly in the law, business services, engineering and oil and gas sectors, are in a growth mode. Illustrating this commitment to the Downtown Denver office market, Brookfield Office Properties bought 1801 California for $215 million in December 2011 and has committed to investing $50 million in improvements to transform the building. Renovations will include improvements to the plaza on 18th and California Streets, a new ground floor conference center and installation of glass to open up the lobby.
1801 California
Major office market purchases since July 2011 include: • Beacon Capital Partners purchased 1700 Lincoln Street for $387.5 million. The 1.2-million-square-foot “Cash Register” building is one of the icons of the Downtown Denver skyline. • Beacon Capital Partners acquired a 98% interest in a three-building 1.6-millionsquare-foot portfolio, made up of 410 17th Street, 600 17th Street and 1560 Broadway, for $268 million. • Brookfield Properties purchased 1801 California for $215 million with plans to create a transformative multitenant building. Downtown Denver’s office market boasts: • 27.4 million square feet of office space. • 15.9% office vacancy rate (down from 17.4% in year-over-year comparisons), in leased buildings, compared to an 18% office vacancy rate of the region’s suburban office market and to higher vacancy rates in other downtowns across the United States. • 11.1% office vacancy rate (down 0.7% in the last year) in leased and owned buildings. • $24.35 per square foot direct median asking rate compared to Metro Denver’s direct median asking rate of $17.67 per square foot. • 105,000 square feet of positive net absorption in the first half of 2012. Sources: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross, 2012; The Denver Business Journal, 2012, Development Research Partners 2012.
Photo: Inside Real Estate News
DOWNTOWN DENVER’S OFFICE MARKET BOASTS
27.4 MILLION SF OF OFFICE SPACE
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
7 SPOTLIGHT:
Downtown’s Expanding Office Market Near Denver Union Station Denver Union Station is taking shape with redevelopment plans for the historic building and new office and multi-family projects moving forward. The $32 million, 108,000-square-foot IMA Financial Center is under construction, and One Union Station will break ground in the fall of 2012, anchored by Antero Resources’ 68,000-square-foot lease. Nearby, DaVita’s new 270,000-square-foot headquarters opened in Summer 2012. In the LoDo micromarket, vacancy plunged to 10.6% from 22.0% at year-end 2010, with demand being driven by proximity to Denver Union Station and the variety of amenities it will provide long-term. Also in LoDo, the mixed-use 16M project, featuring 130,000 square feet of office space, 15,000 square feet of retail space and 43 residential units, will soon begin construction for a 2014 delivery. LoDo is one of the few micromarkets in the Metro
Rendering: SOM Red Square
Denver office market that can support speculative development because of strong demand, extremely limited supply of large blocks of space, and high Class A rental rates. Source: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross, 2012.
Downtown Denver Office Market Balance 1,500,000
20.0%
18.0%
1,000,000
16.0% Square Feet
500,000 14.0% 0 12.0%
-500,000
-1,000,000
10.0%
2003
2004
2005
2006
Supply
2007
2008
Absorption
2009
2010
Vacancy
2011
2Q12
8.0%
Source: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross Research.
SEPTEMBER 2012
8 EMPLOYERS & EMPLOYEES
• Downtown Denver is the employment hub of the city, region and state, with 112,285 employees, making up approximately one third of all the jobs in the City and County of Denver, while constituting less than 1% of the City and County of Denver’s land mass. Downtown Denver employment numbers are up 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. The largest employment sectors in Downtown Denver are professional and business services (33,455), government (23,380), leisure and hospitality (16,837) and financial activities (14,199). • Downtown Denver is home to several Fortune 500 companies, including Wells Fargo, CenturyLink and DaVita, and is becoming an increasingly attractive place for companies looking to relocate. Companies such as Jacobs Engineering and SendGrid have relocated to or added offices in Downtown Denver in the past year. In August 2012, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office announced that it had decided to locate a new regional office in Downtown Denver. Downtown Denver is also home to many energy companies, as well as the emerging high tech industries. Sources: LED On the Map U.S. Census Data 2010; DDP 2012; Development Research Partners 2012.
A Strong Oil and Gas Industry Downtown Denver has large employer presence in the oil and gas industry with Encana Oil & Gas taking the top spot of square footage occupied in Downtown Denver. The oil and gas sector is booming in the Commercial Core of Downtown, with current tenants such as Newfield Exploration, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, EOG Resources, and Williams Exploration & Production taking full-floor or multiple floor expansions. As of the second quarter 2012, approximately 3.2 million square feet of space, or 15% of the Commercial Core’s total occupied space, was leased by the primary oil and gas industry, which has experienced significant growth over the past several years. Recent and future growth in the oil and gas sector equates to approximately 1.6 million square feet of positive absorption, with an estimated 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of absorption occurring in the next 18 months. Downtown Denver’s Largest Oil & Gas Firms*
Company
Address
Encana Oil & Gas
370 17th Street (Republic Plaza)
452,000
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
1099 18th Street (Granite Tower)
310,000
Newfield Exploration
1001 17th Street
233,000
EOG Resources
600 17th Street (Dominion Towers)
160,000
QEP Resources
1050 17th Street (Independence Plaza)
150,000
DCP Midstream
370 17th Street (Republic Plaza)
146,000
Noble Energy
1625 Broadway (World Trade Center II)
132,000
Forest Oil Corporation
707 17th Street
121,000
MarkWest Energy Partners
1515 Arapahoe Street
110,000
WPX Energy
1001 17th Street
102,000
*By square feet occupied
SF Occupied
Source: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross, 2012.
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
9
STARTUPS & HIGH TECH
COLORADO IS
Due in part to its high quality of life, engaged community and startup events, Downtown Denver is quickly becoming a magnet for web developers, high tech companies, small businesses and entrepreneurs. ReadyTalk, an audio & web-conferencing company occupying 47,000 square feet on two floors at 1900 16th Street, was named 2012’s best place to work in the United States by Outside Magazine. ReadyTalk has established a culture that centers on creating an environment that fosters collaboration with employees and customers. It does this by offering weekly yoga in the office, office bikes, a Nintendo Wii (with Guitar Hero), and free RTD Eco Passes, an all-inclusive transit pass offered to employers. “Our young staff enjoys the amenities that come with being in Downtown Denver.” – Dan King, CEO, ReadyTalk
• 2nd most educated population, by percentage of residents with a Bachelor’s Degree or higher (U.S. Census Data, 2010)
Creating a place where people want to live and connect with each other will attract talent, which will in turn attract companies. In the first half of 2012, Downtown Denver hosted a variety of tech events including the International Drupal conference, the Denver i4c Campaign, the Colorado Code for Communities Hackathon, the Denver Business Technology Exposition, monthly Startup Colorado meetings, and monthly High-Tech meetup.com meetings.
• 2nd top state for high-tech business (U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2012)
• 3rd in small business innovative research grants (Toward a More Competitive Colorado, 2011)
• 3rd in venture capital investments per $1,000 for state GDP (Toward a More Competitive Colorado, 2011)
Downtown Denver Employment Q4 2011
Q4 2010
% Change
PRIVATE SECTOR
Downtown Natural Resources & Denver Construction Employment 7,955 6,898 Manufacturing
HIGH TECH & STARTUP FRIENDLY
• 3rd in concentration of high-tech workers in the nation (TechAmerica, 2011) • 3rd top state for business (CNBC, 2012)
15.3%
• 4th as the friendliest state toward entrepreneurs
889
877
1.4%
Wholesale and Retail Trade
3,631
3,551
2.3%
Transp., Warehousing & Utilities
1,353
1,469
-7.9%
Information
5,159
6,282
-17.9%
• 4th in number of new companies per 1,000 employees (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
Financial Activities
14,199
14,236
-0.3%
• 4th for early-stage venture capital investment
Professional & Business Services
33,455
30,556
9.5%
2,886
2,223
29.8%
16,837
16,743
0.6%
• 4th in number of proprietors as a percent of total employment (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011)
2,540
2,692
-5.7%
• 8th top state for “Talent Pipeline” (U.S. Chamber of
23,380
23,911
-2.2%
112,285
109,437
2.6%
Education & Health Services Leisure & Hospitality Other Services GOVERNMENT Total Downtown Employees
Source: Development Research Partners, 2012.
(Kauffman Foundation Index of Entrepreneurial Activity, 2012)
(MoneyTree, 2012)
Commerce, 2012)
• 9th in the Small Business Survival Index of 2011 (Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, 2011)
AT THIS LOCATION • Between 11:30am to 1:30pm, approximately 6,000 pedestrians pass along the 16th Street Mall in front of the Denver Pavilions. • In one year, approximately 17 million pedestrians pass by the Denver Pavilions. Source: Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, 2012.
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
11
RETAIL & RESTAURANTS • Downtown Denver has over 1,000 retail establishments and restaurants. The retail and restaurant sector employs 20,468 people in Downtown Denver, a 1% increase from a year ago. • In 2011, Downtown sales tax revenue accounted for 6.8% of the City and County of Denver’s total sales tax revenue, with $34,182,816 in sales tax revenue collected or over $554,000,000 in total sales. Sales tax revenue increased 6.8% from 2010 to 2011. • Establishments along the 16th Street Mall (including the ½ block extending on side streets) collected nearly $10.8 million in sales tax revenue in 2011, representing almost 32% of Downtown Denver’s total sales tax revenue. • The 16th Street Mall’s percentage of Downtown’s total sales tax revenue steadily rose over the last years from 2009 to 2011. • There is a total of 3.2 million square feet of total retail square footage in Downtown Denver with a 4.9% retail vacancy rate (leased buildings) or 2.8% retail vacancy rate (owned and leased buildings). The median asking rate for retail leases is $21.70 NNN per square foot. • Over 30 retailers and restaurants have opened since July 2011, including: H+M, LoDo Spokes, The Kitchen, Apricot Lane, Blue Sushi Sake Grill, Le Grand Bistro and Oyster Bar, Lucky Pie, Row 14 Bistro and Wine Bar, Zydeco’s and Udi’s Bread Café. • The 16th Street Mall remains the most popular tourist destination in Denver, attracting locals and visitors alike to its retail and restaurant establishments. Sources: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross, 2012; City and County of Denver, 2012; Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012; Development Research Partners, 2012; Longwoods, 2012.
Downtown Denver Pedestrian Counts
Downtown Sales Tax Collected - Annual Totals
5 year average by time of day and season, based on averages from 20062011; mid-day is 11:30am - 1:30pm and evenings are 5 - 7pm.
$40,000,000
9,000
Winter Mid-day
8,000
Summer Mid-day
7,000
Winter Evening
6,000
Summer Evening
$35,000,000 $30,000,000 $25,000,000
5,000
$20,000,000
4,000
$15,000,000
3,000
$10,000,000
2,000
$5,000,000
1,000
$0
0 16th 16th 16th 16th Arapahoe Larimer between between between between between between Glenarm California Lawrence Market and 16th and 14th and and Welton and Stout and Larimer Blake 17th 15th
SPOTLIGHT:
California California between between 16th and 15th and 17th 16th
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Sources: Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, 2012; City & County of Denver, 2012.
Marketplace on the Mall
In 2011, the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District revamped, diversified, and expanded the 16th Street Mall Vending Program into the newly branded “Marketplace on the Mall.” The retail and food vending cart and kiosk program on the 16th Street Mall focuses on bringing local, regional and first-to-market retailers and food vendors to Downtown. Marketplace on the Mall continues to activate the pedestrian space adjacent to the buildings and along the medians, by adding quality, diverse vendors to Downtown Denver’s current outdoor retail and food vending program. A variety of annual and seasonal (summertime) vendors were added to the program in the past year including Gigi’s Cupcakes, Wystone’s Teas, Donut Maker, Doc Popcorn, Climax Jerky, LOL Caricature, Taste of the Philippines, Spice India, Slyderman and Maui Wowi. Photo: H. Wilson Photography
SEPTEMBER 2012
12 DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS
Denver is the #1 city in the nation in attracting 25-34 year olds. CEOs for Cities recently reported that the population of 25-34 year olds with a four-year degree in the City Center neighborhoods grew 25%, while this population decreased by 1% in the rest of the region during the past 10 years. Almost a quarter (22%) of the City Center’s residents are 25-34 years old. Denver’s top five walkable neighborhoods are all in Downtown Denver or its surrounding neighborhoods, with the Central Business District ranked as the #1 most walkable neighborhood in Denver. Not surprisingly, 23% of Downtown Denver residents walk to work and 24% do not own a vehicle. Responding to the recent demand for housing in walkable urban environments, Downtown Denver developers are taking steps to provide an adequate housing stock. Recent projects have included The Four Seasons Private Residences, Solera and Renaissance Uptown Lofts. The Solera, a LEED-Gold Certified multi-family, mixed-use building was 92% leased by October 2011 and sold for the highest per unit sales price in Colorado history. Nearly a quarter of the 25 projects either planned or underway Downtown as of April 2012 had more than 300 units. As of the first quarter 2012, there were 5,582 rental units and 50 for-sale units under construction or planned for Downtown Denver’s residential market. Near Denver Union Station, several apartment projects are under construction, including 19th and Chestnut, 17th and Chestnut and Alta House. • The residential population of Downtown Denver has grown 86% from 2000 to 2012. This reflects a 35% increase in growth over the last year in Downtown Denver. • The City Center population (neighborhoods within a 1.5 mile radius of Downtown Denver) grew 22% between 2000 and 2012 and has stayed relatively stable over the past year. The City Center population is projected to reach 70,057 by 2017. • Over the last 12 years, the number of Downtown Denver households increased by 110% and the City Center households grew by 32%. Sources: Claritas, 2012; LED On the Map, 2012.
Downtown Population
City Center Population
Residential Population: 16,959
Residential Population: 65,093
Number of Households: 10,667
Number of Households: 39,861
Median Age: 47.5
Median Age: 40
Racial Breakdown:
Racial Breakdown:
84.4% Caucasian
78.25% Caucasian
5.35% Black
7.62% Black
4.26% Asian
2.64% Asian
.8% American Indian
1.41% American Indian
(5.19% Other)
(10.08% Other)
Sex:
58.95% Male
Sex:
55.55% Male
41.05% Female
44.45% Female
Households with no vehicles: 24%
Households with no vehicles: 23%
Average Income: $78,859
Average Income: $55,724
Median Income: $40,733
Median Income: $35,377
Population with a Bachelor's
Population with a Bachelor's
Degree or Higher: 57%
Degree or Higher: 49%
Median Housing Value (Owner
Median Housing Value (Owner
Occupied): $377,682 Average Household Size: 1.39
Where Downtown Denver Residents are Employed
60% of Downtown Residents work Denver
in the City and Lakewood County of Denver Aurora Greenwood Village Denver
Broomfield
Lakewood
Westminster
Aurora
Boulder
Greenwood Village
Centennial
Denver
Broomfield
Englewood
Lakewood
Westminster
Wheat Ridge
Occupied): $256,158
Aurora
Boulder
All Other Locations
Average Household Size: 1.52
Greenwood Village
Centennial
Broomfield Englewood Sources: ACS Census Data, 2010; Claritas, 2012; New York Times, 2010, On the Map, LED 2010. Westminster Wheat Ridge
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
13
SPOTLIGHT: The Economic Power of Downtown Denver Residents
Data indicates that the growing Downtown Denver residential population is well educated, tends to rent, appreciates the amenities Downtown offers, uses various forms of transportation and has a high average household income. Downtown Denver residents have an average household income of $78,859, a median income of $40,733 and a per capita income of $51,298. The Downtown Denver average household income ($78,859) is significantly higher than the citywide average household income ($45,501). In the upper brackets, 45% of Downtown households make over $50,000 a year and 31% of those make over $75,000. $ 1 5 0 ,0 0 0 t o $ 1 9 9 , 9 9 9 6%
$ 2 0 0 ,0 0 0 to $ 4 9 9 ,9 9 9 7%
$1 2 5 ,0 0 0 t o $ 1 4 9 , 9 9 9 3%
$500,000 and more 2%
Less than $15,000 25 %
$ 1 0 0 ,0 0 0 to 1 2 4 ,9 9 9 5% $ 7 5 ,0 0 0 t o $ 9 9 , 9 9 9 8%
$15,000 to $24,999 11%
$50,000 to $74,999 11% $ 3 5 ,0 0 0 to $ 4 9 ,9 9 9 12%
$25,000 to $34,999 10%
Sources: ACS Census Data, 2010; Claritas, 2012; New York Times, 2010.
SPOTLIGHT: Downtown Denver MultiFamily Rental Market
After taking a substantial hit in 2009 and 2010, the Downtown Denver apartment market has recovered at a faster rate than the rest of the nation. Vacancy rates remain historically low and effective rents continue to climb. In 2011, the average vacancy rate in Downtown decreased to an average of 5.25% and has stayed there in 2012. This represents the lowest vacancy rate in Downtown in a decade and is expected to remain there as construction lags behind Downtown’s growing demand. The desire of the echo boomers and young professionals to live in a central, urban location has tightened Downtown Denver’s market substantially and caused effective rents to grow at significant rates. In 2011, effective rents in Downtown increased 14.0% over 2010, to an average of $1,386 per unit. Effective rents have already increased 6.2% in 2012 and are expected to rise as the year progresses. Over the last 30 years, Downtown Denver has accumulated 5,100 apartment units, or 3.4% of metro Denver’s inventory. Due to a significant cultural and lifestyle shift for the younger population, there are more than 6,000 units proposed or under construction in more than a dozen developments in Downtown over the next five years. Although there are more units proposed and under construction in Downtown than the current inventory, Downtown Denver has become the largest and trendiest destination for the younger generation. In the past year, Downtown’s total population has grown by 35% to 16,959 residents. The strong population increase is the result of both organic growth and in-migration, as suburbanites move into the city and out-of-staters relocate to find jobs. This demand will continue as the economy approaches pre-recession levels and the transformation of Denver Union Station creates a new dynamic for workers that want to live in Downtown Denver. Source: Apartment Realty Advisors, 2012.
SEPTEMBER 2012
14 TRANSPORTATION
Downtown Denver is the transportation hub for the entire metropolitan region and continues to advance transportation options for its residents, visitors, employees and employers. Such advancements include improvements to the U.S. 36 highway system leading into Downtown Denver, the 122-mile build out of FasTracks bus and rail systems, various streetscaping projects enhancing the pedestrian environment and increasing the amount of bicycle infrastructure in and around Downtown. Approximately 50 transit-oriented developments are planned along eight different light rail and commuter rail lines as part of RTD’s FasTracks program extending in all directions from the downtown core, making Downtown Denver accessible to workers, residents, and visitors from every corner of the metro area. These investments in transportation choice are coming at an opportune time for Denver as the future workforce and the baby boomers are looking for more transportation choices in their daily lives.
Overview • 53% of Downtown Denver employees use alternative modes of transportation, including transit, bicycling, walking, carpooling, vanpooling and telecommuting. • 46% of Downtown Denver commuters travel via active transportation (bicycling, walking, transit). Bicycle
Walk How Downtown Denver Employees Get to Work Bicycle
Source: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2011.
Transit
Bicycle Carpool /Vanpool Walk Bicycle Walk Bicycle Transit /Vanpool Carpool Walk Bicycle/Vanpool Carpool Drive Alone – 39.4% Walk Drive Alone Bicycle Transit Walk Carpool /Vanpool Transit – 36.1% Transit Carpool /Vanpool Moped/Scooter Walk Drive Alone Carpool /Vanpool Bicycle – 6.3% Bicycle Transit Drive Alone Bicycle Transit Did not/ Vanpool Work Carpool – 5% Carpool /Vanpool Transit Moped/Scooter Walk Drive Alone Moped/Scooter Walk – 3.9% Walk Drive Alone Drive Alone Works Home Transit Did notfrom Work Carpool /Vanpool Moped/Scooter – 1.8% Moped/Scooter Did not Work Moped/Scooter Carpool /Vanpool Moped/Scooter Drive from home the day of the survey – 1.8% Worked Alone Works from Home Transit Did not Work Didfrom not Work Works Home Transit Did not work the day Did not Work of the survey – 5.7% Moped/Scooter DriveWorks Alone from Home Works from Home Drive Alone Works from Did not WorkHome Moped/Scooter Moped/Scooter Works from Home Did not Work Did not Work Works from Home Works from Home
• • • • •
48 bus routes and 5 light rail routes serve Downtown Denver. 48,693 people boarded the free 16th Street Mall Shuttle every weekday in 2011. 13 million trips were made at Downtown Denver RTD light rail stations in 2011. RTD’s most active light rail stations (in terms of boardings) are in Downtown Denver: Colfax at Auraria and the 16th Street Stations. Over one third of Downtown Denver commuters (36%) ride mass transit, compared to just 6% in the City and County of Denver and just under 5% in the United States. • Two thirds of Downtown Denver employees (66%) receive some type of transit pass from their employer. • When an employer pays for a transit pass, over half of the Downtown commuters surveyed will take transit to work (53%) and driving alone dips down to 32%. When employers do not offer the incentive of paying for a transit pass, 53% drive alone to work. Sources: RTD 2012; Downtown Denver Partnership, 2011.
STATE OF
DOWNTOWN DENVER
15 Automobiles
• There are 43,637 off-street parking spaces in Downtown Denver: 32,998 garage spaces and 10,639 surface lot spaces. • The median rates for parking garages and surface parking lots have remained relatively stable over the past few years with median daily rates of $15.00 for garages and $7.50 for lots, and $175.00 median monthly rates for garages and $117.50 for lots. Downtown Denver Parking Lot Rate Trends: Downtown Denver ParkingJune 2007 to December 2011 Lot Rate Trends: June 2007 to December 2011 200 180 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0
Garage Median Daily Max Rate #REF!
Bicycling
December 2011
June 2011
December 2010
June 2010
December 2009
June 2009
December 2008
June 2008
December 2007
June 2007
Garage Median Monthly Rate #REF! #REF! Lot Median Daily Max Rate #REF! Median Monthly Rate Lot
Source: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012. Peak Hour (7 - 9am) Bicycle Counts at 16th and Broad-
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January
• 6.3% of Downtown Denver commuters ride a 300 bicycle to work, compared to 2.2% in the City 250 and 0.5% in the nation. 200 • Bicycle commuting has doubled in Downtown 150 Denver since 2007, from 3.7% to 6.6% in 2011. 100 2009 #REF! • There are 20.5 miles of bicycle facilities in 50 2010 #REF! Downtown Denver, with 5 more miles proposed. 0 2011 #REF! • Historical bicycle counts at 16th Avenue and #REF! 2012 Broadway show a 91% increase in bicyclists over the last two years in the 7 - 9am time period. • Bicycle counts also reveal that separated facilities, such as Downtown’s Cherry Creek Trail at Market Street and 14th Street have higher percentages of women riding when compared to other locations Downtown. Sources: Downtown Denver Partnership 2012; ACS Census Data 2010; City and County of Denver 2012.
Walking • 4% of all Downtown Denver commuters walk to work, compared to just 1.9% in the Denver metro area. • The number of commuters who bike and walk to work in Downtown Denver has steadily increased over the past three years. Sources: Downtown Denver Partnership 2012; ACS Census Data 2010.
Carsharing & Bike Sharing • Carsharing allows users to rent a car for a short period of time and is often a convenient option for those without a car who may only need a car for certain trips. Three carsharing companies have 21 cars located within Downtown Denver. • Designed for short, urban trips, Denver’s bike sharing program, Denver B-cycle, allows users to rent a bike for a quick trip around town. Denver B-cycle has 25 B-cycle stations in Downtown Denver, with docks for 354 B-cycles. At these stations, there were 108,275 checkouts in 2011. Sources: Denver B-cycle 2012; eGo Carshare, Hertz on Demand, Occasional Car 2012.
16
SEPTEMBER 2012
STUDENTS & UNIVERSITIES Downtown Denver is home to 43,664 students in Schools in Downtown Denver Fall 2011 Enrollment public, not-for-profit, institutions of higher education, University of Colorado, Denver 13,491 as well as over 12,000 students at various trade schools and private, for-profit, institutions that have Metropolitan State University of Denver 21,898 offices or classroom space in Downtown Denver. Community College of Denver 8,241 An educated population stimulates the culture of Colorado State University Executive MBA Program 34 downtown. The Brookings Institution noted that the Total Downtown Denver Students 43,664 young, emerging workforce is choosing to locate in highly educated areas, where “young people can feel connected and have attachments to colleges or universities among highly educated residents.” This culture of higher education is exemplified by Downtown Denver’s residential population, 57% of whom have Bachelor’s Degrees or higher, compared to 45% in downtown Seattle and 44% in downtown Washington D.C. Sources: Auraria Higher Education Center, 2012; Colorado State University Executive MBA Program, 2012; Downtown Denver Partnership 2012; Downtown Seattle Association, 2011; and Downtown DC Business Improvement District, 2010.
SPOTLIGHT:
Auraria Master Plan Update 2012 The Auraria Master Plan was updated in 2012. Key elements of the original plan included creating neighborhoods for the three institutions where each institution can create a unique identity, moving athletic and recreational fields to the west end of campus, and opening Larimer as a pedestrian, and possible transit, connection to the Auraria West station from Downtown Denver. The updated plan refines the original 2007 plan and addresses changes in direction that have occurred within the community over the last five years and reinforces the goal of creating a more outward looking, urban campus, as recommended in the 2007 Downtown Area Plan. The 2012 update expands upon the neighborhood concept, linking each institution to an adjacent transportation corridor. Additionally, the 2012 update focuses on improving the circulation of modes around campus by looking at re-aligning certain streets and thinking more carefully about how specific modes are considered on each street that runs through the campus. Source: Auraria Higher Education Center, 2012.
Downtown Denver has 43,664 students
SEPTEMBER 2012
18 DEVELOPMENT & INVESTMENT
There was approximately $3.6 billion of documented, non-residential public and private sector investment in Downtown Denver between 2003 and 2012. Residential investment during this same time period is estimated at over $1 billion. There is also well over $1 billion in public and private sector projects under construction in Downtown Denver, due to open in 2013 and 2014 alone. Many of the large projects that have been completed within the past ten years include major hotels, transportation infrastructure, cultural facilities, office buildings, mixed-use development and landmark projects such as the Denver Justice Center and the 14th Street Streetscaping project.
Downtown Denver Development & Investment 2003-2012 $1,200,000,000 $1,000,000,000 Transp/Streetscape
$800,000,000
Convention
$600,000,000
Govt/Institutions Entertainment/Culture
$400,000,000
Office
$200,000,000
Hotel
Source: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012.
$2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Development Highlights From The Past Decade: Public Projects: • The 1.5 million-square-foot expansion of the Colorado Convention Center was completed in 2004 and the adjacent Hyatt Regency celebrated its grand opening in 2005. • After the completion of a $92 million renovation, the Ellie Caulkins Opera House opened at the Denver Performing Arts Complex in 2005. The world-class 2,268-seat hall is home to Opera Colorado, Colorado Ballet and The Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company. • The Denver Art Museum’s new wing, the Frederic C. Hamilton Building, opened in 2006. The titanium and glass addition, which is cantilevered across 13th Avenue, was designed by Daniel Libeskind. • The newly-renovated Denver Justice Center opened in 2010. The complex is composed of the 448,000-square-foot, $159 million Van Cise-Simonet Detention Center and the 310,000-square-foot, $136 million Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse. • History Colorado Center opened its new 200,000-square-foot, $110.8 million museum in 2012. The museum’s former site was demolished to make way for the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Complex.
Private Sector Projects: • Denver’s Ritz-Carlton opened in 2008, and the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences opened in late 2010, filling Downtown Denver’s void of luxury hotels. • Spire, a 42-story, 496-unit, LEED certified luxury condominium tower was completed in 2009. The residential units range in price from the low $200,000s to $1 million. • 1800 Larimer, Westfield Company’s 495,000-square-foot, 22-story tower, was completed in 2010. The LEED Platinum project is home to Xcel Energy’s 340,000-square-foot headquarters. • A new 403-room Embassy Suites opened in 2010. The LEED-certified hotel is located across from the Colorado Convention Center. • In 2009, DaVita announced that it would relocate its corporate headquarters from Southern California to Downtown Denver. The kidney dialysis provider leased interim space at 1551 Wewatta while its 270,000-square-foot build-to-suit headquarters was completed in July 2012 in the Central Platte Valley.
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ON THE HORIZON • 16th Street Mall Renovation • Denver Union Station Redevelopment • Ralph L. Carr Judicial Complex • Homewood Suites / Hampton Inn & Suites • Marriott Renaissance • One Union Station • IMA Financial Center • 16M Source: Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross, 2012, Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012.
20
SEPTEMBER 2012
SUSTAINABILITY Downtown Denver is a national leader in the movement to conduct business more sustainably. Sustainability is not only important to Downtown Denver’s residents, employees, and visitors but it is also important to businesses and the future workforce they are trying to attract. The Wall Street Journal reports that eco-friendly policies can help companies attract talent as “80% of young professionals are interested in securing a job that has a positive impact on the environment and 92% would be more inclined to work for a company that is environmentally friendly.”
Sustainability by the Numbers: • • • • • • • •
49 LEED certified buildings are located in Downtown Denver. 2,072 trees are located in the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District. 38,005 square feet of green roofs are located in Downtown Denver. The nation’s 1st LEED Platinum skyscraper, 1st LEED Gold museum and the 1st LEED Gold state cultural history museum are all in Downtown Denver (1800 Larimer, Denver’s Museum of Contemporary Art, and the History Colorado Center, respectively). 31 Downtown Denver companies participate in Certifiably Green Denver, a sustainability certification program, presented as a partnership between the City and County of Denver and the Downtown Denver Partnership. 65 Downtown Denver companies participate in Watts to Water, a regional program dedicated to the reduction of energy and water consumption. The Colorado Convention Center in Downtown Denver is rated LEED-EB (LEED Existing Building Operations and Maintenance certification). Its solar power could support 48 homes each year and the building diverts 981,965 pounds of waste from landfills, annually. The Denver Performing Arts Complex is Energy Star Certified.
Sources: CoStar, 2011; Downtown Denver Business Improvement District, 2012; Museum of Contemporary Art, 2012; DCPA 2012; Certifiably Green Denver, 2012.
SPOTLIGHT:
History Colorado Center The History Colorado Center is the country’s first LEED Gold state cultural history museum. The building’s design “promotes water and energy conservation by incorporating native landscaping, low-or zero-flow water systems, and fritted glass, and by taking advantage of natural light and heat provided by the Atrium.” It also incorporates recycled and regional materials as well as certified wood products. This building hopes to have a long life cycle, to stand for over 100 years. Ed Nichols, History Colorado President and CEO said, “The hundred-year life cycle is perhaps the most important sustainable element of the History Colorado Center.” The museum serves as a way to observe the past and present, while seriously looking into the future. Building a sustainable museum is a key way to serve as a model for Colorado’s future. Source: History Colorado Center, 2012. Photo: Frank Ooms
SEPTEMBER 2012
22
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT, SPORTS, & EVENTS Downtown Denver hosted the opening of two new museums in the last 12 months, the History Colorado Center and the Clyfford Still Museum. The Clyfford Still Museum, located adjacent to the Denver Art Museum, opened in November 2011 and hosts a collection of approximately 2400 paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures, from the late Clyfford Still, a mid-century abstract expressionist artist. As the majority of these pieces have never been on public display before, a visit to the museum provides an unprecedented opportunity to reflect on the full scope of Still’s legacy and his profound influence on American art. Just a few blocks away, the History Colorado Center opened its doors shortly after the Clyfford Still Museum in Spring 2012. The History Colorado Center allows History Colorado, a 132-year-old state agency, to continue creatively engaging Coloradans locally and across the state in discovering, preserving, and taking pride in its places of architectural, archaeological and historical significance through museum exhibitions, public programs and educational services. Although not new to the area, the Denver Art Museum attracted significant attention in 2012 when it hosted the exhibit, Yves Saint Laurent: The Retrospective, “a stunning selection of 200 haute couture garments along with numerous photographs, drawings, and films that illustrate the development of Saint Laurent’s style and the historical foundations of his work.” The Denver Art Museum was the only North American venue selected to feature the exhibit. Not to be outdone by its cultural competitors, Denver Center Attractions was chosen to launch the national touring premiere of the Broadway hit “The Book of Mormon” at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in August 2012. Finally, the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) hosted the innovative “Thinking About Flying” exhibit in 2011. Museum visitors were invited to participate by taking home a pigeon in a carrying case and releasing the pigeon to fly back to its loft on the museum’s roof, expanding the traditional view and scope of an art museum. In addition to Downtown Denver’s cultural facilities, Downtown Denver also hosts over 200 games at three major sports facilities: The Pepsi Center, Coors Field and Sports Authority Stadium at Mile High. Downtown Denver is home to six professional sports teams: Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth and the Denver Outlaws. In addition to professional sports, Downtown Denver played host to several high profile sporting events in the last 12 months, including the USA ProCycling Challenge and the NCAA Women’s Final Four.
16,752 school children attended theatre performances at the Denver Center for Performing Arts in 2011.
A new event in 2012,
In 2011 and 2012, the USA Pro-Cycling
Make Music Denver increased
Challenge, a state-wide race, finished
pedestrian traffic along the
in Downtown Denver where over
16 Street Mall by th
23%.
250,000
watched the final
stage, generating $83.5 million and drawing spectators from 17 countries. Photo: John Pierce, PhotoSport International
STATE OF
23
DOWNTOWN DENVER
Visitors See Downtown Denver as a Fun Place
Note: Responses to the 2011 Downtown Denver Visitor Intercept Survey question, “What word comes to mind when you think of Downtown Denver?”
Downtown Denver Attractions
Annual Attendance
Denver Performing Arts Complex
750,000
Denver Public Library Central
815,000
Denver Art Museum
670,000
Museum of Contemporary Art
48,398
Elitch Gardens
1,200,000
Children’s Museum of Denver
308,162
U.S. Mint
54,372
Coors Field
2,909,777
Pepsi Center
2,000,000
Sports Authority Field at Mile High
1,000,000
Source: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012.
Selection of Major Festivals and Events in Downtown Denver: • • • • • • • • • •
9News Parade of Lights Capitol Hill People’s Fair Cherry Blossom Festival Cinco de Mayo Festival Civic Center EATS Columbus Day Parade Denver Chalk Art Festival Denver Christkindl Market Denver Bike to Work Day Denver Day of Rock
• • • • • • • • • •
Denver PrideFest Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Doors Open Denver Downtown Denver Arts Festival Grand Illumination Great American Beer Festival Independence Eve at Civic Center Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon Komen Race for the Cure Make Music Denver
• • • • • • • •
SPOTLIGHT:
Programming at Skyline Park Skyline Park, which spans the 1500-1800 blocks of Arapahoe Street, provides a vibrant green space for Downtown Denver residents and visitors. The park is also host to several intriguing events and programs throughout the year. In 2011 and 2012, Southwest Airlines sponsored events such as the free summer movie and concert series, the Southwest Court, and the free Southwest Rink. The 20112012 rink saw more than 42,000 visitors, an increase of more than 11,000 visitors from the previous year’s attendance of 31,726. Source: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2011.
National Western Stock Show Parade New Year’s Eve Fireworks Oktoberfest Rock n’ Roll Marathon Southwest Concert and Movie Series at Skyline Park Southwest Rink at Skyline Park A Taste of Colorado USA Pro Cycling Challenge
SEPTEMBER 2012
24 TOURISM The 16 Street Mall is the most popular tourist destination in Denver, making Downtown Denver the metropolitan area’s center for tourism. The Colorado Convention Center hosted 839,000 annual visitors in 2011. Recent conventions include International Association of Fire Chiefs, Urban Land Institute, EDUCAUSE, DrupalCon, American Solar Energy Society, Green Schools National Network. th
Downtown Denver Hotel Room Nights 2,000,000 1,800,000 1,600,000 1,400,000 1,200,000 1,000,000 800,000 600,000 400,000 200,000 0 2003
Downtown Denver currently has 22 hotels, with over 8,400 hotel rooms, representing 18.8% of the entire metro area’s hotels. There are also over 600 hotel rooms planned as of August 2012; with over 1,000 rooms under construction and 630 rooms recently completed.
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Downtown Denver Hotel Market Occupancy Percentage Trends 2000 - 2011 74 72
Sources: Downtown Denver Partnership, 2012; VISIT Denver, 2012, Colorado Convention Center, 2012.
72.1 69.1
Occupancy Percentage
70
Downtown Denver’s 2011 hotel market boasts: 71.7% hotel occupancy 1,806,131 occupied rooms $144.70 average daily rate $103.69 revenue per available room (rev par)
67.7
68
70.3
69.4
67.6
67.3
67.0
66
71.8
69.5
65.5
64 62.9
62 60 58
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Downtown Denver Hotel Market Average Room Rates 2000 - 2011 $180.00 $160.00 $140.00 Average Room Rate
• • • •
2004
$152.46
$158.09
$139.96 $123.38 $125.92 $123.42 $123.72 $121.50
$131.17
$145.86 $144.71 $134.91
$120.00 $100.00 $80.00 $60.00 $40.00 $20.00 $0.00
Downtown Hotel Occupancy and 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Room Rates Source: Rocky Mountain Lodging Report Downtown Hotel Occupancy and Room Rates 2000-2011 2000
2001
$180.00 $160.00 $140.00 $120.00 $100.00 $80.00 $60.00 $40.00 $20.00 $0.00
74% 72% 70% 68% 66% 64% 62% 60% 58% 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Room Rates
Occupancy Percentages
Source: Rocky Mountain Lodging Report 2000-2011.
STATE OF
25
DOWNTOWN DENVER
Downtown Denver Inc. Board of Directors 2012-2013 Ray Baker, Gold Crown Management Jim Basey, Centennial Bank Mike Bearup, KPMG LLP Scott Bemis, Denver Business Journal Molly Broeren, Molly’s of Denver Brad Buchanan, RNL Design Chris Castilian, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation Stephen Clark, S. B. Clark Companies Rob Cohen, The IMA Financial Group, Inc. Mark Cornetta, 9News Dana Crawford, Urban Neighborhoods, Inc. Andre Durand, Ping Identity Corporation David Eves, Public Service Company, an Xcel Energy Company Cole Finegan, Hogan Lovells US LLP Bob Flynn, Crestone Partners, LLC Jaime Gomez, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority Jim Greiner, iTriage, LLC Lisa Halbleib, CenturyLink
Todd Hartman, Callahan Capital Partners Michael Hobbs, Guaranty Bank and Trust Company Kathy Holmes, Holmes Consulting Group Walter Isenberg, Sage Hospitality Bruce James, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP Steve Katich, J.E. Dunn Construction David Kenney, The Kenney Group Dick Kirk, Richard A. Kirk & Associates Gail Klapper, The Klapper Firm Charlie Knight, Venture Law Advisors, LLC Kim Koehn, K2 Ventures, LLC Mike Komppa, Corum Real Estate Group Tom Lee, Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross Harry T. Lewis, Lewis Investments Laura Love-Aden, Groundfloor Media Dan May, Quitman Consulting Patrick Meyers, Consumer Capital Partners John Moye, Moye White, LLP Will Nicholson, Rocky Mountain BankCard Systems, Inc.
Ralph Pace, US Bank Susan Powers, Urban Ventures LLC Gary Reiff, The Black Creek Group Bill Reynolds, Denver Post Mimi Roberson, Presbyterian / St. Luke’s Medical Center and Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at P/SL Jon Robinson, UMB Financial Corporation Jon Schlegel, Snooze, an A.M. Eatery David Shapiro, DaVita Inc. John Shaw, McWhinney Charlita Shelton, University of the Rockies Marc Spritzer, CoBiz Financial Tom Stokes George Thorn, Mile High Development, LLC Deborah Wapensky, Vectra Bank Colorado Travis Webb, BKD, LLP David Wollard Charlie Woolley, St. Charles Town Company, LLC John Yarberry, Wells Fargo
Denver Civic Ventures Board of Directors 2012-2013 Bruce Alexander, Vectra Bank Colorado Sueann Ambron, University of Colorado Denver - Business School Holly Barrett, LoDo District, Inc. Ray Bellucci, TIAA-CREF Ferd Belz, L.C. Fulenwider, Inc. Peter Bowes, Bowes and Company Marvin Buckels Frank Cannon, Union Station Neighborhood Company Dee Chirafisi, Kentwood City Properties Cheryl Cohen-Vader, Stapleton Development Corporation Gene Commander, Polsinelli Shughart PC Gary Desmond, NAC Architecture Kelly Dunkin, The Colorado Health Foundation Greg Feasel, Colorado Rockies Baseball Club Patty Fontneau, Colorado Health Benefit Exchange Mac Freeman, Denver Broncos Football Club Michael Glade, Molson Coors Brewing Company
Jerry Glick, Columbia Group Limited, LLLP Tom Gougeon, Gates Family Foundation Tom Grimshaw, Grimshaw & Harring, P.C. Beth Gruitch, Rioja Ismael Guerrero, Denver Housing Authority Randy Hammond, JPMorgan Chase Rus Heise, RBC Capital Markets Doug Hock, Encana Corporation Gene Hohensee Don Hunt, Colorado Department of Transportation John Ikard, FirstBank Holding Company Jennifer Johnson, Gensler Stephen Jordan, Metropolitan State University of Denver Brian Klipp, klipp Greg Leonard, Grand Hyatt Roland Lyon, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Colorado Evan Makovsky, NAI Shames Makovsky Bill Mosher, Trammell Crow Company Gene Myers, New Town Builders
Cindy Parsons, Comcast Bill Pruter, The Nichols Partnership Sarah Rockwell, Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell LLP Trinidad Rodriguez, George K. Baum & Company Ken Schroeppel, University of Colorado Denver College of Architecture & Planning Tim Schultz, Boettcher Foundation Chip Schweiger, Grant Thornton LLP Glen Sibley, Fleisher Smyth Brokaw Mark Sidell, Gart Properties David Sternberg, Brookfield Office Properties Jean Townsend, Coley/Forrest, Inc. David Tryba, Tryba Architects Meg VanderLaan, MWH Global, Inc. Joe Vostrejs, Larimer Associates Elbra Wedgeworth, Denver Health Wendy Williams, Vector Property Services, LLC
Downtown Denver Business Improvement District 2012 Board of Directors
Information Sources
eGo Carshare Hertz on Demand History Colorado Center LED On the Map Longwoods New York Times Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross Occasional Car Regional Transportation District VISIT Denver
Josh Comfort, Real Estate Development Services Ed Blair, The Embassy Suites Susan Cantwell, The Gart Companies Josh Fine, Focus Property Group Kevin McCabe, Newmark Knight Frank Frederick Ross Mike Zoellner, Red Peak Properties Myra Napoli, REIT Management & Research Rick Kron, Grimshaw & Harring, P.C.
DDP Staff Contributors / Editors
The State of Downtown Denver report is created by the Downtown Denver Partnership Research Department. Staff contributors and editors include: Cole Judge, Aylene McCallum, John Desmond, Jim Kirchheimer, Brian Phetteplace, Aneka Patel, Susan Rogers Kark, Ryan Sotirakis, Beth Warren, Bonnie Gross, Amanda Jimenez and Tami Door.
ACS Census Data Apartment Realty Advisors Auraria Higher Education Center Brookings Institution Certifiably Green Denver City and County of Denver Claritas Clyfford Still Museum Colorado State University CoStar Denver Art Museum Denver B-cycle Denver Business Journal Denver Center for Performing Arts Denver Museum of Contemporary Art Development Research Partners Downtown DC Business Improvement District Downtown Denver Area Plan Downtown Denver Business Improvement District Downtown Denver Partnership Downtown Seattle Association
Photography
Photography by Larry Laszlo, CO/Media.
Graphic Design
Megan Moye Zacher, Zebra Incorporated
For errata
Please visit www.downtowndenver.com
“ Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are CREATED BY EVERYBODY.” - Jane Jacobs
For errata, please visit www.DowntownDenver.com. DOWNTOWN DENVER PARTNERSHIP • 511 16th Street, Suite 200, Denver, Colorado 80202 • 303.534.6161