DDDA Board Approves Purchase of Denver Pavilions

DDDA Board Approves Purchase of Denver Pavilions

Published on September 30, 2025

Mayor Mike Johnston, in partnership with the Denver Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Board announced an intent for the DDA to purchase the Denver Pavilions, with a goal of revitalizing the property as a central hub of Upper Downtown.

The DDA, approved by voters in 2024, unlocked $570 million in funds that can be invested in downtown economic development projects without raising taxes. The funding does not impact the city's budget.

"If you grew up in Denver, you have a great memory of going to the Denver Pavilions," said Mayor Mike Johnston. "We want the next generation to experience that same joy, not through clinging to what worked in the past but by restoring a sense of place that is uniquely Denver with a dynamic blend of local stores, restaurants, and community. Over the next several months we will be coming together as a city to bring the Pavilions into a new era and to reinvigorate it as a vibrant hub of Upper Downtown."

The DDA Board has approved a $37 million acquisition of Pavilions with up to $8 million in additional DDA funds available for property improvements, leasing and redevelopment planning. The DDA then intends to sell Pavilions to another buyer who can implement the new, mixed-use redevelopment vision for the site.

"The truth is, the Pavilions has been a central gathering point for Denver," said Council President Amanda P. Sandoval. "That means it's more than just a site; it's a shared history of priceless moments families making memories and friends connecting. We can, and must, reactivate that heart. Doing so translates directly into hundreds of new jobs and millions of dollars in revenue for our city. The vitality of our downtown depends on it."

"Just as the revitalization of Union Station brought new life to Lower Downtown, a reimagined Pavilions will change the landscape of Upper Downtown," said DDA Board Chair Doug Tisdale. "Investing in the Pavilions is an incredible opportunity to not only support 16th Street but the core of our city, and we fully expect to see results sooner rather than later."

The DDA will retain operating revenues from existing retail and parking operations, including parking revenues captured through the previous purchase ofparking lots on Glenarm adjacent to the Pavilions. These acquisitions help realize a long-term goal of consolidating the lots with the Pavilions property into two entire city blocks that could attract new housing, hotel, office, retail, restaurants, and lifestyle amenities for the people who live, work, and visit Upper Downtown.

"This purchase represents more than a real estate transaction. It's a bold commitment to restoring the vitality of our city center," said Councilman Chris Hinds. "By bringing Denver Pavilions under public stewardship, the DDA can unlock private investment, activate ground-level uses, and preserve this pivotal block as a place where neighborhoods, commerce, and culture converge. As voters approved the DDA expansion and a $570 million investment pool to revitalize downtown without raising taxes, we have the means and the mandate to act decisively. The unanimous board vote signals that this is the kind of catalytic move that defines a city's future."

Background information:

The DDA will move forward with renewing leases for current tenants and working to attract new tenants, while a public process to reimagine Pavilions as a thriving anchor for Upper Downtown is underway.

In April, the DDA Board approved the first DDA project after opening applications in March, funding part of Denver's Downtown Safety Plan that increased foot patrols and improved public safety and livability downtown. In July, the DDA Board approved a package that included millions for new retail space downtown, the conversion of two office buildings into housing, improvements to city parks and the McNichols Buildings, and the purchase of two parking lots on both sides of Glenarm Place near the Pavilions.

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