Since moving from Detroit last February to head the Downtown Denver Partnership, Tami Door has worked hard to become a presence in town.
Door has become a visible and vibrant face for the partnership, which represents more than 500 downtown businesses. She has done everything from campaigning for legislative initiatives such as Referendum C and the lodging- tax increase to launching an update of the 20-year development vision for downtown and raising funds for Mayor John Hickenlooper’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.
“She is a dynamic force, with a can-do attitude,” said Joe Blake, president of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. “And she certainly understands the economic development issues that are facing downtown.”
Door sat down with The Denver Post to discuss a year’s worth of on-the-job experiences.
Q: How has the year been?
A: It has flown by. I had a certain level of expectation of what downtown Denver would be, and my expectations have been exceeded.
I have been extremely impressed with the number of developers interested in building residential units downtown and the number of people who want to move downtown.
One market we’re going to focus on is the baby boomers. They’re all deciding where they want to retire, and we have 10 years at most to capture them. Many are interested in an urban environment because of the amenities and lifelong learning opportunities it can offer.
Q: When will the partnership open the Downtown Denver HomeCenter that is planned for the 16th Street Mall?
A: We’ve actually changed our focus there and are instead going to launch a comprehensive website. I think we’ll be able to reach a wider market than with a physical location. The way people are choosing where to live is by looking on the Internet. We’ll have info on all the different characteristics of the downtown neighborhoods, links to developers, Realtors’ and lenders’ websites.
We’re also going to have a moveable kiosk that we can take to trade shows or office buildings … . We hope to launch the website by the end of April and have the kiosk out there by this summer.
Q: How is work going on the Downtown Area Plan update?
A: We’re off to a great start. We’re hearing a lot of common themes – such as the desire for a stronger connection to Auraria campus and making sure the amenities we do have downtown are seamed together, that we’re pedestrian- friendly. There is a lot of land down here. We want to plan it well so it all ties together.
Q: Do you think last year’s stricter ordinance on panhandling by the City Council is helping curb the problem?
A: We’re definitely seeing a difference. We have fewer panhandlers on the mall because of it, and we’re hearing positive feedback from downtown businesses. But we’re still in the educational phase.
Q: What has been your biggest challenge so far?
A: The biggest challenge in coming into a new community is to quickly gain an understanding, in a holistic manner, of all the important social and business issues, and then using that information to prioritize where the partnership can make the biggest impact. You have to take time to understand multiple layers, not just what seems apparent on the surface. But that kind of stuff really energizes me.
Q: Do you think there are too many hotels being built in downtown Denver?
A: People are asking that question, but these developers have done their research. People only make these types of investments when they’re positive on the future of a market.
Denver is on the verge of nationally and internationally getting its due. We’re really coming on the radar – as a place to work, a place to live and a place to visit. There is a lot of buzz out there about us.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-820-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
