DENVER (KDVR) — As construction on the 16th Street Mall project reaches its second year, frustration is growing among local businesses.
The project will be completed in April 2022 with the goal of improving safety and mobility by addressing aging infrastructure and creating more opportunities for people living in and visiting Denver. started. But businesses in the area told FOX31 that ongoing construction is making it difficult to attract customers.
Esteban Murguia, owner of 3 Margaritas, said sales are down 25% to 30% from last year.
“We have a lot of customers who know what's going on and come out to support us, but we don't have as much foot traffic as we used to,” Murguia said.
Just down the road, Sierra Davis and her team at Gelato Boy said their store is barely breaking even.
“It has a huge impact on foot traffic. We're a gelato and we're a weather-based business. But especially in the last eight months or so they've built a wall here, so from across the street… It took away some of the incoming foot traffic,” Davis said.
Construction has been delayed, but the city said it is moving forward as quickly as possible.
When will construction on 16th Street Mall be completed?
Since the project's inception, the 16th Street Mall Business Support Program has awarded 177 grants to 103 businesses, totaling more than $1 million.
The city of Denver said it understands the businesses' frustrations and is committed to working closely with them.
The city announced that fencing will be installed on the first two blocks from Market Street to Lawrence Street by late spring. By the end of 2024, more than half of the blocks under construction will be unfenced and open to the public pending minor finishing touches.
Murguia said she just hopes to keep the lights on until then.
“We'll just have to wait. Once that's over we'll be busy again, but for now it's just a matter of time,” Murguia said.
The project is expected to be fully completed by 2025.
The City of Denver's full statement is reproduced below.
“We are working as quickly as possible to complete the 16th Street Mall project. This is the first major renovation of this important downtown corridor in more than 40 years since its opening in 1982. A key driver was the need to address aging infrastructure, particularly the granite pavement system, which causes disruption to the transportation system and annual maintenance costs of more than $1 million.
In addition to addressing aging infrastructure and improving mobility and safety, this renovation will add new design features that will make the space a more inviting, welcoming and appealing destination. Venue amenities, play equipment, and fun moments will be distributed up and down 16th Street in relation to activity areas and adjacent land uses (see attached rendering).
Access to businesses is maintained as the City of Denver works to breathe new life into this iconic pedestrian destination and protect the future of 16th Street Mall for future generations. We have wayfinding signs on every block with your business logo/name to direct people to where they want to go. We have set up a web page and send out regular emails to keep the public informed of our progress.
We understand the frustration of businesses. We are committed to continuing to work closely with them and look forward to celebrating several important milestones in the coming months.
- By late spring, fencing will be installed on the first two blocks from Market to Lawrence. This will be followed by smaller works such as installing seating areas and play areas, which will not be too disruptive.
- The first four blocks of the 16th Street renovation project are expected to be completed and operational by Labor Day, and the free MallRide shuttle will also be back in service from Market to Curtis Street.
- By the end of 2024, more than half of the blocks under construction will be unfenced and open to the public pending minor finishing touches.
- The project is expected to be fully completed in fall 2025.
business support
Since the project's inception, as of mid-March 2024, the 16th Street Mall Business Support Program has awarded 177 grants totaling more than $1 million through two grant programs to eligible businesses.
- The Mitigation Grant is an initial $2,000 grant to help businesses prepare for construction by increasing the marketing and promotion of their operations.
- Stabilization grants are late-stage grants of $7,500 or $15,000 to offset demonstrated revenue losses due to project impacts.
- The program also provided a toolkit with a self-assessment to ensure companies are ready for construction.
- Information on eligibility for each grant and a list of award recipients can be found on the project website.
Going forward, the $1.15 million contract, managed by Denver Economic Development Opportunities (DEDO) and managed by the Downtown Denver Partnership, will use ARPA dollars to:
- 16th Street branding, positioning, and marketing (including rebranding, 16th Street Business Toolkit, and reopening celebration)
- Business recruitment and retention (aimed at increasing neighborhood amenities to support the resident population, as well as developing a strong retail environment with a strong mix of local concepts and large national anchors). This includes supporting Pop-Up Denver and working with key employers and leaseholders.
- Public Realm Activations and Experiences: Free Mall Ride Refresh, Evolution of Kiosk Program (Supporting Emerging Entrepreneurs), and Visual Placemaking Elements
The 16th Street Mall project is funded through a combination of local, state, and federal funding, including the voter-approved Elevate Denver Bond Fund and contributions from partners such as the Denver Urban Renewal Authority, the Colorado Department of Transportation, and the Federal Transit Administration. Funded. The total project budget is currently $172.5 million. ”
