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He Loved This City. Then It Nearly Killed Him.
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

He Loved This City. Then It Nearly Killed Him.

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Nico Francis had spent the early part of the evening on April 3 at the First Friday ArtWalk on Santa Fe, and with friends waiting on Colfax, he grabbed a Lime scooter just after 11:30 p.m. and took what he called the scenic route. It was a night like dozens of others for the Ohio transplant, who moved to Denver in 2020 — a man who had long been something of a downtown defender, someone who pushed back every time a friend called the area dangerous.  "I love 16th street. I love downtown. I like just riding through there and seeing what's going on — seeing all the people, seeing everything going on," Francis said. That comfort level would not survive the night. Then something felt off  A white SUV conta...
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Petroleum Building Secures $14M To Help Revitalize Denver’s Downtown Core
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

Petroleum Building Secures $14M To Help Revitalize Denver’s Downtown Core

By: Bernadette Berdychowski | The Denver Gazette Another office-to-apartment conversion project secured a loan from the Denver Downtown Development Authority on Wednesday. The DDDA Board of Directors approved $14 million in funding for a project to convert 12 floors of the historic Petroleum Building into 178 new apartments. The five-sided office tower is located across the street from the Civic Center Station and next to the former Denver Post office building at 101 W. Colfax Ave. The development is projected to begin construction in mid-2026. The building at 110 16th St. will feature a range of apartments from studios to three bedrooms. It’s also set to include a yoga and fitness center, spaces for gardening, a penthouse, dog park and lounge. Upper Downtown has especially ...
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‘No Kings’ 2.0 Protest Brings Arrests and Tighter Security
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The Denver Gazette, Approved, Local

‘No Kings’ 2.0 Protest Brings Arrests and Tighter Security

By: Noah Festenstein | The Denver Gazette Denver police on Sunday morning confirmed authorities arrested 12 people during follow-up demonstrations Saturday, after tens of thousands flooded downtown streets for the “No Kings” afternoon protests. Some charges include assault to a peace officer and aggravated assault, according to a Denver Police Department spokesperson, who confirmed arrests with The Denver Gazette on Sunday morning. The first incident reported happened at around 3:30 p.m., when many “No Kings” protesters left the downtown area after a peaceful protest, according to the police. Lincoln Street remained closed at 14th Avenue and Colfax. Broadway and 14th Avenue, including other roads near the Capitol, were reopened at the time. The “No Kings” protest was scheduled ...
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Denver’s Spending Grew 60% in a Decade, But Revenues and Population Lagged Far Behind
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Local, Top Stories

Denver’s Spending Grew 60% in a Decade, But Revenues and Population Lagged Far Behind

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Denver’s budget has grown sharply over the past ten years, far faster than its population and its ability to bring in tax dollars. A new analysis from the Common Sense Institute shows inflation-adjusted spending per resident rose about 60 percent since 2015. During that period, revenues grew more slowly, at about 40 percent, while the city’s population increased by less than 7 percent. The mismatch is why Denver now faces a projected $250 million gap over the next two years, even as officials push a $950 million bond proposal for housing, roads, and other projects. Spending Priorities Have Shifted Where the money goes has changed dramatically. Construction and infrastructure costs have ballooned, climbing more than elev...
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As businesses flee downtown Denver, Johnston points to falling homicide rate
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Approved, Local, Top Stories

As businesses flee downtown Denver, Johnston points to falling homicide rate

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mayor Mike Johnston has been pointing to a 44% drop in homicides in the first half of 2025, calling it proof his crime plan is making a difference. The figure is a sharp improvement from last year, but it’s recent and doesn’t show where things stood before the pandemic. In the city’s core, the gains are harder to find. A report from the Common Sense Institute shows murders in District 6, the downtown police district, have risen 133% since 2020. Aggravated assaults, drug crimes, public disorder, and larceny are also up. While some neighborhoods have seen improvement, downtown has not kept up the same pace. Citywide Gains, Downtown Losses Data from DenverCrimes.com shows citywide violent crime down more than 30% from last...
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Cap City Tavern Becomes Latest Victim of Denver’s Homelessness and High Costs
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Local, Approved, kdvr.com

Cap City Tavern Becomes Latest Victim of Denver’s Homelessness and High Costs

By Hanna Powers | KDVR Fox 31 DENVER (KDVR) — After nearly 20 years in business, a beloved Capitol Hill restaurant and bar is preparing to close its doors for good. Cap City Tavern, located at 13th and Sherman, will pour its final round this Sunday. Owners Dino and Piper McTaggart say the decision comes after years of financial struggles brought on by rising costs, city fees, and declining foot traffic downtown. “This was my lifelong dream,” Piper McTaggart said. “We haven’t taken a salary in a year and a half, and we just got a huge tax bill. The writing was on the wall.” The owners say they feel let down by city leaders, citing ongoing issues with safety, homelessness, and a lack of support for small businesses in the downtown corridor. “There are people defecating and liv...
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