This month, downtown Denver will be transformed for the holidays – hundreds of thousands of holiday lights will illuminate the 16th Street Mall, the Mile High Tree will be lit, the Christkindl Market will open, both at Civic Center Park, there will be people ice skating at Skyline Park 2, and we’ll celebrate the nearly 100-year-old tradition of the City and County Building Christmas lights. A new addition this year is Denver’s first Mile High Holidays Drone Show. Each night at 7:00 p.m. from 11/22-12/31, 400 drones will create holiday-themed animations. One of the best spots to watch the nightly show is at our own Sculpture Park!
UpDoNA Survey – Thanks to everyone who participated in UpDoNA’s first survey. The Board has reviewed the results, and actions will be taken to ensure that we continue the work that is important to our members. For a summary of results, please read Vice President Gil Vondrasek’s article in this newsletter.
Block Opening Celebration – Thanks to everyone who came to the My Denver Block Opening and helped us celebrate the unveiling of the Sister Cities sign! UpDoNA, and its partner Denver Sister Cities International, was given half a block right outside of Skyline Park to showcase not only the commissioned Sister Cities sign, but also our activation of performers representing Denver’s ten Sister Cities. Channel 9 News documented the sign being assembled and interviewed the “signtologists.” If you couldn’t make it, please watch this time-lapsed video – https://vimeo.com/1019992097/3283dd2b9a?ts=0&share=copy For more information about the event, please read Jackie Bunce’s article in this newsletter. Thanks again to Sal Tripodi and the Arts & Beautification Committee for making this possible. What an amazing way for UpDoNA to contribute to our community.
Downtown Area Plan – During the second Downtown Area Plan meeting, we considered daily life in downtown and discussed what residents need and are looking for in their neighborhoods such as: shopping, groceries, services, recreation, family-friendly amenities, gathering spots, etc. We also talked about areas of high activation – Union Station and the Theater District – and areas of low activation – Civic Center Park, Sculpture Park, and the Auraria Campus, now considered opportunity areas. In the weeks ahead, we will consider ways in which opportunity areas can become high activation areas and how we can provide more for residents’ daily lives. Please let me know what you would like to see in our neighborhood by emailing me at lisapope@updona.org. I will share your comments with the Advisory Committee. In addition, the Downtown Area Plan now has a store front on the 16th Street Mall at 918 16th Street, the former Ana’s Norwegian Bakeri location. Please stop by to ask questions and to provide comments.
Downtown Police Patrols – Members often ask me why we don’t have more police officers patrolling downtown. Not only do patrols reduce crime, but a police presence gives the perception of safety, something that downtown definitely needs. In recent meetings with Chief Thomas, Lt. Albi, and our CRO Glenn Main, I asked them about the police presence, or lack thereof, in downtown. What I learned is that there are many police officers patrolling downtown streets every day. For example, five days a week the Motorcycle Patrol is downtown. Usually, you see them riding their motorcycles up and down the 16th Street Mall. However, during construction, they park their motorcycles and walk. There are also Walk the Beat police officers patrolling the streets. They stop to check in on businesses and talk to people on the streets. Undercover gang units and undercover officers are also stationed downtown. Finally, there are off-duty police officers providing security at hotels, drug stores, etc. Those officers can also respond to criminal activity and emergencies in their area. Most shifts of the various patrols overlap each other. So, while you might not see police officers, you can be assured that there is one close by keeping a watchful eye on downtown.
Finally, the Populous Hotel is now open for business. Let’s support this new Upper Downtown hotel. Stop by Little Owl Coffee in the hotel lobby for your morning coffee or grab some friends and head to the roof-top bar, Stellar Jay, for dinner and drinks. Don’t forget to let them know that you are a member of the Upper Downtown Neighborhood Association!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I’ll talk to you again in December.
Lisa L. Pope
President
Thumbnail attribution – Lisa Pope
