Denver has received high praise from Forbes magazine which includes Denver on its list of 15 U.S. cities with emerging downtowns.
The article is highlighted by a picture of
development around Union Station.
Forbes says that one of the main factors
businesses consider when deciding on where to relocate or expand is the
available pool of college-educated workers. And that has cities competing for
college-educated young adults.
"And there's one place this desired
demographic, college-educated professionals between the ages of 25 and 34, tends
to want to live: tight-knit urban neighborhoods that are close to work and have
lots of entertainment and shopping options within an easy walk."
"Take Denver. Civic and business leaders
began work on the city's Lower Downtown neighborhood in 1989 with the issuance
of $240 million in bonds. Today LoDo is a trendy 'hood of over 100 restored
Victorian warehouses and buildings filled with art galleries, boutiques, local
eateries and nightclubs. Now Denver is in the midst of a 20-year, seven-mega
project plan to expand and the revitalization efforts through the rest of
downtown."
The article quotes Tami Door, chief executive
of the Downtown Denver Partnership, as saying the partnership carefully
evaluated what future workforce is looking for and "we incorporate those demands
into what we are building."
Those demands, the article said, span
pedestrian walkways, a bike path grid, and "green" housing complexes comprised
of smaller units, typically rentals. "This group doesn't want to necessarily
come into the development and lock themselves in at night; they want to be out
connecting with the community so they want amenities near their homes," the
article quotes Door as saying.
Other cities include Birmingham, Ala;
Philadelphia, Pa; Louisville, Ky.
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