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City Cast Denver

The Denver Broncos officially announced this week that they have chosen the vacant 

 as their preferred location for a new stadium, a massive project that reportedly will be privately funded. So, what does the move mean for the city and its beloved football team? Here’s everything you need to know.

There’s been a national trend of sports teams looking to expand their prospects with entertainment districts surrounding state-of-the-art stadiums, and it sounds like Broncos ownership is no different. Plus, the average lifespan of a sports stadium is only a few decades – Empower Field at Mile High opened in 2001 and while it is less than 30 years old, newer arenas of this size offer retractable roofs, better seating, and other amenities Denver doesn’t currently have.

The West side was once the epicenter of Denver's Chicano Movement and is already in a fight to preserve that history, so a development of this magnitude would have some serious implications. Broncos ownership currently owns around 100 acres in Burnham Yard — considered part of the historic West side as well as being a place of significance in 

 — and is looking to acquire more land for what it hopes to develop into an entertainment district with retail and housing around the new stadium.

As with any growing community, some neighbors are excited at the prospect of new amenities and better walkability, but others say they feel somber and fear 

 to live in the neighborhood. For their part, the Walton-Penner ownership group see themselves as a community partner looking to build their vision with input from folks who already live there. Much like the community-involved negotiations happening at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment’s neighboring redevelopment around Ball Arena, Broncos ownership says it is “fully committed to a strong and inclusive 

There’s a collective sigh of relief that the team plans to stay in Denver. 

 had been rumored as potential relocation options, but the most excited Denverite was perhaps Mayor Mike Johnston, who touted his administration’s efforts to keep the team within Denver proper during his latest State of the City Address.

Mayor Johnston told Denverite that the city would get possession of the 80 acres around Mile High when the team moves, and that 

 to make way for future development like parks and housing.

The short answer: it’s projected for 2031. The team is obviously keen on making it happen, but there are a lot of things that must be done before the new stadium becomes a reality — more on that below.

CU Denver professor of public affairs Dr. Geoff Propheter told us “everyone is just speculating up the wazoo,” adding that the team’s announcement is all about political momentum.

Councilwoman Jamie Torres — whose district includes the proposed stadium site — 

 that City Council would have four key decisions to make in the coming years: an approval of the small area plan for Burnham Yard, rezoning of the land, possible tax incentives for the urban renewal plan, and a development agreement. The team will also have to hash out a community benefits agreement with the current residents of the La Alma Lincoln Park neighborhood.

In the short term, expect a lot of town hall meetings and community engagement. The project has a lot of energy, but it’s nowhere near the goal line.

RE: New Broncos Stadium

What Do You Think About the Broncos Moving? 💬

What You Need to Know About The Broncos Move to Burnham Yard

What Denverites have been wondering. We break down why things in Denver are the way they are and how they work.

Denver, Explained

The City Cast Denver team recently hosted a members-only event at the new-ish Schoolyard Beer Garden in the Golden Triangle neighborhood and it got me thinking. If you’re a 

 and joined us — or you’ve stopped by Schoolyard for a beer — you might have wondered about the gorgeous building. Yes, it used to be a school, but what’s the story behind this beautiful piece of Denver architecture?

The building at 1115 Acoma St. was built in 1904 and designed by architect David W. Dryden as the prototype for Denver’s public schools. You can see Dryden’s other work in the Renaissance Revival design of local schools like North High and the Steele Elementary School. The Evans Elementary School opened in 1905 — named after then-governor John Evans, who donated the land for the project.

For much of its 69-year history as an educational space, Evans School was the only one in the Denver area serving children who were deaf, blind, or living with physical disabilities. The school’s enrollment took a hit after the white flight to the suburbs in the 1960s, eventually leading to its closure in the early 1970s.

There was a looming prospect of demolition after Evans School closed, so Denverites Richard and Alan Eber purchased the property at auction in 1974 for $620,000 in an effort to save the building, despite having no real plans for it. The Ebers renovated many parts of the old school, but it sat mostly vacant for more than 40 years until it was sold for $18 million in 2019 and immediately sold again for $11 million.

Before opening in its current form, the school was temporarily home to nearly 60 artists who utilized the freshly-remodeled building as studio space through RedLine Gallery’s Satellite Studio program. Eventually, the artists were uprooted to make way for the Schoolyard Beer Garden.

Schoolyard Beer Garden and Schoolyard Cafe opened in April 2025, repurposing the first floor and 5,000 square-foot outdoor patio into a casual food and beer hall. As for the rest of the vintage structure, developers have plans to add retail and offices on the second and third floors, and turn the 4,000-square-foot auditorium into an event space.

How this historic building went from an elementary school to a modern beer hall and event space.

The History of Denver's Evans School Building

Denver History

People, places, and scenes from Denver's past.

A Day In Denver History

There’s been a lot of news about Business Improvement Districts, or BIDs, throughout the city lately. RiNo 

 for 10 years; Broadway is looking to create a General Improvement District; and the Downtown Denver BID is part of the efforts to revive 16th Street, including 

 of commercial property owners and the approval of City Council. A majority of the owners of commercial property in the designated area must petition for the BID.

Once formed, a BID can collect fees from businesses or ask voters to levy special taxes on consumers to fund improvements and services within the designated area in an effort to benefit the community. Some areas with BIDs include RiNo, Cherry Creek, Colfax, and Downtown.

BIDs are led by an elected board and executive director.

BIDs can use the funding they raise to pay for services like security, marketing, additional trash collection, snow removal, and event management. The funds can also pay for capital improvements like sidewalk enhancements, crosswalks, signs, and wayfinding.

The services and improvements are in addition to regular services and maintenance provided by the city.

In addition to BIDs, neighborhoods can implement 

 (GIDs), which work similarly, but include residential property owners as well as commercial.

GIDs levy taxes on all property owners within the district to pay for local improvements — think 

Another example would be if a Broadway GID is formed, it could help finance the annual neighborhood Broadway Halloween Parade by covering parade barriers and event security.

: An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified the type of special district that the Broadway neighborhood is trying to implement. The Broadway area is hoping to create a General Improvement District. We apologize for the error.

A break down of what business improvements districts are and how they work.

Denver's Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Explained

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Explained

Led by IMA Financial CEO and local sports booster Rob Cohen, the ownership group behind Denver's still-to-be-named professional women's soccer franchise 

 today to build a new 14,500-seat stadium and entertainment district at Santa Fe Yards, according to 

Set to open in 2028, the stadium is set to occupy the site of the old Gates Rubber Factory near the I-25 and Broadway interchange, per 

. It will reportedly be the first purpose-built stadium for women's sports in the state. Plans for the entertainment complex include "restaurants, bars, shops and potentially housing."

“It’ll be a design where there’s a benefit to the community,” Cohen told The Denver Post. “Where you can ride your bike around Washington Park and then transfer over to the South Platte bike trail without having to navigate across I-25, Santa Fe and Broadway, in the way you’d cross them today. It would be a more pedestrian, bike-friendly approach.”

NWSL stadium

What do you think about the plan?

It will be "transformational" for the Denver community, according to the mayor

Denver Announces New NWSL Stadium

Massive New Stadium Complex Announced for SW Denver

Everything to know about Denver neighborhoods: Where to go, eat, shop, drink, and more.

Denver Neighborhood Guides

Neighborhood Guides

It’s easy to point to something in your community you want to see changed. It’s not so easy to know what to do about it. Who do you call? What do you say? We chatted with Robert Austin, the communications specialist for the Office of City Council, to get his tips for tapping into the conversation.

Understanding What City Council Does — and Doesn’t — Do

 and who is involved. In short, City Council is the legislative arm of the city — the members of council propose, pass, and amend local laws. They also help guide the city budget, lead internal investigations, and shape decisions on housing, transit, business, and public safety policies.

What City Council doesn’t do: Offer immediate assistance for inquiries and complaints related to city services like trash collection or potholes. It’s better to 

The city is divided into 11 geographical districts with a specific City Council representative assigned to each one, plus two at-large members who represent the whole city. You can check out this 

interactive map to find your representative

 to stay up to date on what’s happening in your neck of the woods. Each member also has public office hours.

, you can keep up with exactly what topics council is focusing on and when. It goes out every Thursday and lays out what’s on the discussion agenda for the following week, including public input opportunities and links for tuning in virtually.

Civic engagement doesn’t mean you have to schlepp all the way down to the City and County Building — 

all City Council meetings are available via livestream

By the time Council makes its final vote on a matter, the chance to weigh in has long passed. Following along with City Council’s weekly agendas will offer ample opportunities to make your voice heard and engage in dialogue with fellow community members.

What issues do you care most about? 

Tell us what topics facing council you want to hear more about so we can bring you the news that matters most to your community!

It’s easy to point to something in your community you want to see changed. It’s not so easy to know what to do about it. 

How to Get More Involved With Denver City Council

How to Make Your Voice Heard By Denver City Council

Life Hacks

Tips and tricks for living your best Denver life, by locals, for locals.

Denver Life Hacks

It’s Colfax Week here at City Cast Denver, and we’re zooming in on all aspects of this complex and intriguing main street, including the recent movement to convert many of the corridor’s dozens of iconic old motels into things like nonprofit shelters and housing. 

Why Are There So Many Defunct Motels on Colfax Anyways?

If you’ve ever ventured down Colfax, you’ve likely noticed the many 

 that dot the strip. Relics from another time, they were originally built to serve visitors to the Mile High City along Route 40 (Colfax Avenue) which, prior to the interstate highway system being built, was the main way to get into Denver. Once I-70 was constructed, the traffic from out-of-towners slowed down substantially, changing — perhaps even eliminating — the need for Colfax’s many family-owned motels.

In the ensuing decades, to adapt to the needs of the business, some motels began to offer weekly rates, 

 for people as the city’s swelling population put pressure on the local real estate market. Still, some of the buildings 

So what was to be done with these old neglected once-bustling businesses along Denver’s 26-mile commercial mainstreet? Convert them into something else entirely — like long-term housing and artist studios. This process, known as 

, takes an existing structure and renovates or incorporates it into a totally new use. This can mean zoning changes, like transitioning from a commercial use (a rent-by-the-night motel, for instance) to a residential use (such as a permanent home for a person or family).

adaptive reuse is happening all along the Colfax strip

, with developers, nonprofits, and other groups buying up the old motels, investing in renovations, and often changing their use to better suit Denver’s current needs.

Here are just a few examples of adaptive reuse on Colfax:

 In 2017 the former 7 Star Motel closed, was remodeled, and reopened as 25 small artist studios in 2020. Catering specifically to creatives looking for an affordable place to live and make art, the small rooms have been retrofitted with kitchenettes and murphy beds to free up space.

Branding Iron and Ahwahnee (8500 and 8600 E. Colfax)

 After renovator Alison Shunneson bought these old neighboring motels, she kept their names but fully remodeled each room. Offering studio, one-, and two-bedroom units all with kitchenettes, these former motel rooms rent for between $800 and $1,300 a month.

The Westerner and Sand & Sage (8405 and 8415 E. Colfax)

 Purchased by The Fax Partnership back in 2022, the nonprofit first ran these motels as affordable by-the-night rentals; then Volunteers of America took over, running them as shelters for families. The Fax Partnership now has plans to completely redevelop the properties’ combined 33,000 square feet of space into a multi-story building for brand new affordable housing.

Monica Martinez from The Fax Partnership joined the City Cast Denver podcast back in 2022 to explain why and how a neighborhood-centric nonprofit 

Why are there so many defunct motels on Colfax anyways? And how can we put them back to good use?

How Denver is Reusing All Those Old Colfax Motels

How Denver is Breathing New Life into Old Colfax

It’s no secret that downtown has seen better days. Restaurants keep closing, office buildings are emptier than ever, and yet another “clean and safe” initiative has launched to combat negative perceptions. So what is there to be done? Well, we have a few 

Simple — provide a place for people downtown to go to the bathroom. Offering multiple clean, safe, and accessible restrooms would take the pressure off businesses to offer bathrooms to the public, and hopefully, well, lead to less sanitary concerns.

Downtown is plagued by abandoned storefronts. Imposing a “vacancy tax” on landlords who are allowing storefronts to sit empty could be just the nudge they need to find that next great tenant — or sell!

Miss wandering around the ‘80s-era Tabor Center when it was a mall? Have a hankering to go ice skating on the downtown rink in front of the long-demolished May D&F? Wish you could time travel back to the Brown Palace’s opening day in 1892? An immersive, virtual reality version of “Old Denver” is ripe for invention!

Denver’s internationally known for our big blue animals — see 

. What’s stopping us from adding another to our public art ranks? Picture this: A big blue dragon peering at you from the top of, say, Union Station or the Cash Register Building.

How many times have you missed your turn or passed up a prime parking spot, only to find yourself driving blocks out of your way before circling back to where you began? Plus, two-way streets can slow traffic (yay for pedestrian safety!) and increase visibility for businesses. A win-win for everyone.

Innovative, interesting, out-there, and completely free ideas that could be the magic solution to downtown’s ongoing woes.



5 Big Ideas to Fix Downtown Denver

Find the best of everything that Denver has to offer.

Denver’s Best

Denver's Best

Last week, Mayor Mike Johnston released his 

 — which is kind of a big deal, since it’s Denver’s first spending plan coming from someone other than Michael Hancock in 12 years. In his budget letter to the city, Johnston listed his priorities as affordability, safety, downtown revitalization, climate protection, and housing for all. Out of the 770-page, $4 billion plan, here are some of the big numbers you should know:

$242 million for transitional housing and support services

$100 million to build permanent affordable housing

$39.2 million to get another 1,000 unhoused Denverites off the streets in 2024

$14.6 million for rental assistance and legal defense for people facing eviction

$58 million to finish renovations on the 16th Street Mall and the Convention Center, plus creating incentives for attracting local businesses

$15 million for bike lanes, transit projects, and new traffic infrastructure

$9 million to expand staff and operating hours for police alternative programs (like 

$8.2 million to recruit new police officers

$7.6 million for electric vehicles, e-bikes, and charging stations

City Council is conducting hearings all week to discuss the budget. After council gives its recommendations next month, the mayor is expected to release his final draft by Oct. 16. Council plans to hold a public hearing where community members can comment on Oct. 23. Council should pass a final budget Nov. 13.

Last week, Mayor Mike Johnston released his 2024 budget proposal — which is kind of a big deal, since it is Denver’s first spending plan coming from someone other than Michael Hancock in 12 years.

city planning

What You Need to Know About The Broncos Move to Burnham Yard

The History of Denver's Evans School Building

Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Explained

Latest articles

What You Need to Know About The Broncos Move to Burnham Yard

The History of Denver's Evans School Building

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Massive New Stadium Complex Announced for SW Denver

How to Make Your Voice Heard By Denver City Council

How Denver is Breathing New Life into Old Colfax

5 Big Ideas to Fix Downtown Denver

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Massive New Stadium Complex Announced for SW Denver

How to Make Your Voice Heard By Denver City Council

How Denver is Breathing New Life into Old Colfax

5 Big Ideas to Fix Downtown Denver

Breaking Down Johnston’s 2024 Budget Plan