By Matthew Van Deventer

“Pedestrian friendly” is not a phrase typically used to describe West Colfax Avenue. However, the West Colfax Business Improvement District (BID) is tackling that challenge and making changes to their stretch of Colfax that will improve the lives of walkers and cyclists and benefit business. 

Dan Shah is the executive director of the West Colfax BID and the guiding force of Re-Imagining West Colfax, the BID’s project to transform the corridor with new development, art, bus shelters, and pedestrian accessibility.

“Historically, transportation engineers have been reluctant to do anything besides accommodate the automobile,” explains Shah. “There has been a shift in the way [Denver] thinks, and it’s an evolution, but you can definitely see evidence of it around town.” 

Story and Photo by Chris Cuddihy

“Look. This pepper is eight centimeters tall,” announces Jovial Garden’s horticulturist Seth Moon while holding a small ruler against a seedling. Inside the recently revamped greenhouse at Edgewater Elementary, second and third graders inch forward for a closer look. 

Jovial Gardens is part of Jovial Concepts, a nonprofit inspiring the public to take part in activities that will improve the safety and the beauty of their communities. In 2013 Jovial Concepts initiated its gardening project in Edgewater. Overseeing 40 young children nurture vegetable seeds into seedlings that will later be transplanted onto nearly 10,000 square feet of gardening area—all donated by Edgewater and vicinity residents—is just one component of Jovial’s multi-tiered agenda. 

16th Street Mall Tour

By Sarah Ford
Photos by Chase Doelling

Thousands of people pour through the 16th Street Mall each day.  The mix of working Denverites and visitors means the Mall is full of chain stores, restaurants, and tacky souvenir shops. But dotted along the street are hidden gems of the city’s culture and history, and the hidden lives of some of the city’s poorest citizens.

RiNo/Five Points Tour

By Tessa Cheek
Photos by Sarah Harvey

An industrial neighborhood wedged between the South Platte River and the historic neighborhoods of Five Points and Curtis Park, RiNo (River North) is Denver’s newest arts district. Curtis Park and Five Points are some of the oldest residential neighborhoods in Denver, and many of the service agencies serving those experiencing homelessness are located here.

South Broadway Tour

By Sarah Harvey
Photos by Giles Clasen

A century ago this little stretch of Broadway was called the Miracle Mile; more recently it’s been renamed SoBo. South Broadway is home to dive bars, trendy new restaurants, and some of Denver’s most eclectic local shopping (you can find everything from vintage ball gowns to bondage gear here).

Colfax Tour

By Sarah Ford, with Abby Templeton-Greene and Nache Greene
Photos by Kacey Coffenberry

Colfax Avenue is the spine of Denver, home to much of the city’s history as well as some of its newest and hippest locations. With diversity in businesses, restaurants, and bars, Colfax reflects each of Denver’s unique personalities. 

Capitol Hill Tour

By Abby Templeton-Greene and Nache Greene
Photos by Chase Doelling

Denver’s most densely populated neighborhood has seen one hundred fifty years of boom and bust cycles. Former residents include both Molly Brown and Allen Ginsberg. A diverse cast of characters still inhabits the area today.

By Chris Krovatin

Denver residents and downtown businesses should prepare for a busy summer as Meet in the Street returns to the 16th Street Mall this month. 

The outdoor event series, which is run by the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) and based off of similar happenings like New York Summer Streets and Ciclovia in Bogotá, includes small business participation and street performances, and will take place over five Sundays this year—June 28, July 5, July 19, August 2, and August 9. On those dates, the Free Mall Ride will be detoured to 15th and 17th Streets for the entire day.

Launched as a way to get locals to go outside, walk, bike, and enjoy the outdoor beauty of downtown Denver, Meet in the Street has become a chance for local eateries and performers to interact with large groups of people who may not consider the center of a busy city as a place to spend a day outside. 

By Sarah Harvey  |  Photos by Giles Clasen

Although Kenneth Cooley is one of the newest Denver VOICE vendors, he’s quickly become one the top vendors in sales. 

New vendors often struggle when they first venture out to sell the VOICE. There’s a lot to learn: how to deal with rejection, where the best sales turfs are. But within his first month, Kenneth sold over 300 papers.