Expanding police presence, enforcing building-code violations and reducing illegal liquor sales are among strategies being considered by a newly formed task force charged with improving the downtown Denver experience.
And the Revitalizing the Core task force, formed to address increasing concerns over the quality of the experience in the urban core, is considering recommending condemnation to handle some of the most problematic properties downtown – the rundown Fontius building on the 16th Street Mall and the old Republic Hotel across from the new convention center hotel.
“Property owners need to understand that we need to keep moving to create a great environment in downtown,” said Don Hunt of Antero Group, co-chairman of the task force. “It’s no different than a run-down house next door to you. It can start a downward scale that harms investment.”
The group is focused on the area along the 16th Street Mall between Welton and Curtis and California Street between 14th and 18th.
“There’s been so much investment both in the public sector and the private sector in the last decade that we need to make sure we shore up the investment that’s already there and encourage future investment,” said Tami Door, president and chief executive of the Downtown Denver Partnership, which convened the task force.
Other initiatives could include enhancing the shuttle experience and lighting, as well as installing security cameras.
Developer Bill Mosher, formerly president of the downtown partnership, cautioned that condemnation should be used only as a last resort in situations where owners are holding out. He also has concerns about security cameras on the mall.
“When we do cameras in office buildings, the first thing we ask is who’s going to watch them, who’s going to monitor them,” said Mosher, who is not a member of the task force. “People think they’re safe, but if no one is monitoring them, are they?”
Staff writer Margaret Jackson can be reached at 303-954-1473 or mjackson@denverpost.com.
