Denver’s Downtown Makeover: Office-to-housing bets aim to revive a sleepy core

Downtown Denver is undergoing a coordinated revival led by the Downtown Development Authority, converting underused offices into housing and reviving areas like the Denver Pavilions, funded by a $570 million TIF and supported by low-interest loans and grants. While foot traffic is rebounding, office occupancy remains far below pre-pandemic levels due to remote work, prompting a surge of conversions (e.g., High Fidelity Plaza, Petroleum Building, University Building) and private investments to stimulate life in the core.