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Denver council approves $1.9 million contract add-on for 16th Street Mall activation after split vote
Summary
The Denver City Council adopted a late-filed resolution adding $1.5 million to an existing Downtown Denver Partnership contract for activation activities tied to the Sixteenth Street Mall reopening. The vote followed a debate over budget priorities and downtown revitalization, passing 10–3.
The Denver City Council voted 10–3 on March 17 to adopt Council Resolution 25‑0191, approving an amendment that adds $1,500,000 to a contract with the Downtown Denver Partnership Inc. for activation activities tied to the reopening of the Sixteenth Street Mall, bringing the contract total to $1,900,000.
Council President (sponsor) Flynn moved to suspend the rules to allow the late filing of the resolution and later moved for its adoption. Councilmembers raised sharply contrasting views about the city’s role in downtown activation and whether the expenditure was the best use of limited funds.
Why it matters: Supporters said a revitalized Sixteenth Street Mall generates citywide tax revenue and supports small businesses across Denver. Opponents said the city should prioritize direct basic needs spending and noted recent voter-approved downtown funding that, in their view, made this supplemental allocation difficult to justify.
Councilmember Parady, who opposed the resolution, said the decision came down to priorities: “I don’t feel like this is a use of funds that I can vote yes on tonight…we have to spend scarce dollars on very direct needs,” she said. Councilmember Hines described downtown as an economic engine for the region and urged support for the measure, saying downtown tax receipts fund services across the city. Councilmember Watson, who also supported the resolution, noted his long career downtown and said the contract is “part of that” effort to ensure downtown “not only survives, but it thrives.”
Councilmember Lewis, while acknowledging downtown’s importance, warned that downtown today differs from earlier eras and urged a broader strategy to attract people — including housing — rather than relying solely on activation spending. Councilmember Alvarez said he could not support the amendment given recent voter-approved funding for downtown.
The council first voted unanimously (13–0) to suspend the rules to allow the late filing of the resolution so it could be introduced that night. On final adoption, the roll call recorded 10 ayes and 3 nays; council members recorded as voting nay were Gonzales Gutierrez, Parady, and Alvarez.
The resolution directs the City to amend the contract with Downtown Denver Partnership Inc. to provide activation activities related to the Sixteenth Street Mall reopening; the resolution text was introduced as a late filing and voted on at the March 17 meeting.
