What a great Summer Kickoff Weekend Celebration! It was so amazing to see 40,000 residents and visitors enjoying the 16th Street Grand Opening and all the activities. UpDoNA was there with great music (Sal Tripodi), professional dancers from Dancesports, art activities for the kids (Carolyn Benton), and thanks to Bimbo Bakeries USA (Jeff Pope), we gave away 1,000 bags of Takis and 400 packs of Marinela cookies. Hundreds of people visited our booth and learned about UpDoNA. In addition, we got several new members, including a new business member. Thanks to all our amazing UpDoNA volunteers who helped make the event so successful! Check out this video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKVN-Vlvf_I/?igsh=NjBsNGl5ZTJkd2kw
Thanks to everyone who attended UpDoNA’s first Alfresco Annual Meeting on Glenarm Plaza. We had a wonderful evening despite threats of storms and rain. Thanks to West Kitchen and Saloon, a family business, for catering our event and for providing delicious food and beverages. The staff was amazing, drying off chairs when needed and helping us tear down tables and chairs at the end. Thanks to the Social Committee for selecting our menu and for the beautiful table settings. Also, thanks to everyone who helped us set up and tear down. We couldn’t have done it without you. Our special guests were Mayor Johnston and Council Member Hinds who spoke to our members and answered questions. What a great inaugural event on Glenarm Plaza – the new gathering space for Upper Downtown!
Mark your calendars now for the third annual Downtown Denver National Night Out on Tuesday, August 5th, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., at Skyline Park 1. We are expecting an even larger crowd this year since all the fencing is down and 16th Street is officially open. Mayor Johnston, Council Members Hinds and Watson, DPD Chief Thomas, RTD Chief Martingano, and other city leaders will be attending. Once again, there will be fire trucks, ambulances, the Copsicle, informational booths, games, food, raffle prizes, and several giveaways. Michael Spencer from Colorado News 4 will be this year’s emcee. Make sure you stop by and thank those who serve and protect us! We need volunteers, so contact me at lisapope@updona.org if you’d like to help.
City Council Member Flynn is proposing a Denver Charter Amendment to change the way that At-Large City Council Members are elected. The Denver City Charter requires that Denver’s Mayor, City Council District Members, Auditor, and the Clerk and Recorder must be elected by a majority of the votes cast for their respective offices. Currently, at-large candidates are not required to be elected by a majority of votes. The candidates with the highest and second highest number of votes are elected. City Council Members Watson, Alvidrez, Sawyer, and Gilmore are co-sponsors of the proposed legislation. To learn more about the proposed amendment, please use this link: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Agencies-Departments-Offices-Directory/Denver-City-Council/Council-Members-Websites-Info/Kevin-Flynn-Council-District-2/Electing-at-large-candidates-by-a-majority-of-the-vote?transfer=de3490f3-
Recently, I spoke before Denver City Planning in support of Home2 Suites’ application for rezoning into the Theater District. The rezoning was approved, and now it goes before City Council’s Land Use Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on July 18th. Orange Barrel Media (“OBM”) hopes to install an electronic billboard onto the Stout Street side of the hotel at garage level. Before the rezoning application was filed, Gil and I met with OBM to discuss the billboard and its lighting impact on the surrounding area. Originally, OBM had planned a wraparound sign on 15th and Stout Streets. However, after our request that they meet with the Aloft Hotel owners, the decision was made to remove the 15th Street side sign.
Currently, the Theater District covers 16 blocks of downtown. However, it is expanding with Home2 Suites’ approval. Rezoning applications have also been filed by the Aloft Hotel and Block 162 at 15th and California. A portion of the revenue generated from the electronic billboards goes to the community to add art in downtown.
Thanks to everyone who emailed our city leaders regarding the impending budget cuts. It is extremely important that funding levels be maintained for services and programs that improve safety in downtown. Recently, City Council sent a letter to Mayor Johnston outlining its priorities for the 2026 budget. To learn about City Council’s priorities, use this link to read the letter: https://denvergov.org/files/assets/public/v/2/city-council/documents/central/press_room/2026-city-council-budget-priorities-letter-to-mayor-johnston.pdf If you haven’t done so yet, it’s not too late to send your email.
I’ll talk to you again in August!
Lisa L. Pope
President
Thumbnail attribution: Leo Marce
