𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 10-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐞-𝐍𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 🌆

Arriving in City and County of Denver on a scorching Saturday afternoon in July for the ACM SIGGRAPH conference 🌞, Sibylle Wälty's first impression of downtown was striking: wide roads, towering office buildings, and an emerging skyline of mid- and high-rise residential structures. Yet, the streets seemed unusually empty, with few shops and pedestrians 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️.

Data from Downtown Denver Partnership revealed some interesting facts about downtown Denver:

𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 📈: Downtown Denver’s population density is approximately 13 000 residents per square mile, with an overall city average of 4 600 residents per square mile. Despite this significant increase since 2000, Downtown Denver still falls short of the 30 000 residents per square mile typically associated with 10-minute neighborhoods 🏙️.

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐲𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐮𝐛 💼: With nearly 150 000 jobs downtown, Denver far exceeds the minimum density for vibrant urban areas, boasting around 60 000 jobs per square mile. 

𝐔𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 🏛️: Denver appointed its first Chief of Urban Design in 2020 to spearhead efforts in sustainability, livability, and equity. This role was crucial in transforming Denver's urban landscape by enhancing functionality, creating walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods, and promoting inclusivity 🌿🏙️.

𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 🚀: Overall, it appears that Mayor Mike Johnston is making bold moves to tackle the challenges of a city experiencing rapid business growth while facing a housing shortage. A key focus is ensuring that secondary teachers and other vital professionals can find housing within walking distance, addressing both current and future needs 🏠👩‍🏫. See the rise of Denver CNBC 👇.

Despite the impressive numbers, the second impression remained unchanged: even on weekdays, downtown streets are surprisingly quiet with minimal traffic and pedestrian activity 🚗🛣️. Could the quiet streets on weekdays be a result of remote work trends? 🤔

Fun fact: Colorado is recognized as the best state for women entrepreneurs! 🌟