I’m happy to announce that I’ll be offering three special DenverInfill Walking Tours over the first three weekends in April to benefit Doors Open Denver, the city’s premier annual urban exploration event.
Those of you who read DenverUrbanism know that I’m on the Denver Architectural Foundation board of directors and serve on the Doors Open Denver planning committee. We’ve been featuring at DenverUrbanism a daily “building preview” post to promote Doors Open Denver 2015.
The three different walking tours (nine tour dates in total) will help raise funds for Doors Open Denver and build excitement heading into Doors Open Denver weekend on April 25-26. The tours are:
The City Transformed: Expert Tour of Denver’s Civic Center District
This two-hour walking tour explores the ongoing transformation of Denver’s historic Civic Center area and the nearly $1 billion in new investments in the district over the past few years. From new justice centers and museums, to park and plaza improvements, to building renovations and infill developments, Denver’s Civic Center is booming! Learn how the Civic Center has evolved over the past century from a quaint 19th Century neighborhood to a City Beautiful Era planning masterpiece to the cultural and civic heart of Denver and the region today, and what lies ahead for this area rich in history, symbolism, and iconic architecture. The Civic Center tour will be offered:
Friday, April 3, 10:00 AM – Noon – Register Here
Saturday, April 11, 1:00 – 3:00 PM with a Social at Cap City Tavern from 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Register Here
The City Transformed: Expert Tour of Denver’s 14th Street
This two-hour walking tour spans the 0.7-mile length of Denver’s thriving 14th Street, from the modern public art in the Wellington Webb Municipal Building Plaza to the historic bell in the tiny Old Denver City Hall Plaza at the foot of Larimer Square. In between, 14th Street offers big-city facilities like the Colorado Convention Center and the Denver Performing Arts Complex along with a mix of hotel, office, residential, and educational uses in an eclectic array of historic and modern structures and a snazzy new streetscape. Learn how 14th Street will continue to transform through high-rise developments and transportation investments in the near future. The 14th Street tour will be offered:
Saturday, April 4, 1:00 – 3:00 PM with a Social at Edge at the Four Seasons from 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Register Here
Sunday, April 12, 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Register Here
The City Transformed: Expert Tour of Denver’s LoDo and Union Station Districts
This two-hour walking tour explores Downtown Denver’s oldest and newest districts—the dynamic duo of LoDo and Union Station. The historic preservation and restoration of over 100 century-old brick warehouse and mercantile buildings into restaurants, shops, offices, hotels, and residential lofts transformed LoDo from skid row into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. Add a major league baseball stadium, $500 million in new transit infrastructure, new parks and plazas, a renovated Denver Union Station, and $1 billion in new office, hotel, and residential projects, and what you get is an international model for urban revitalization. Learn how this all happened and what’s still to come for the LoDo/Union Station area. The LoDo/Union Station tour will be offered:
Sunday, April 5, 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Register Here
Friday, April 10, 10:00 AM – Noon – Register Here
Friday, April 17, 10:00 AM – Noon – Register Here
Saturday, April 18, 1:00 – 3:00 PM with a Social at Terminal Bar (Union Station) from 3:00 – 5:00 PM – Register Here
Sunday, April 19, 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Register Here
Tickets are $25 each and all proceeds benefit Doors Open Denver. Each tour is capped at 20 people maximum, so REGISTER TODAY!! A couple of the tours are almost sold out and once a tour is sold out, it’s sold out. The links above take you directly to the Eventbrite registration page for that specific tour date where you can purchase tickets with a credit card.
I’m excited about these tours and I’m looking forward to sharing with you the many exciting things that are happening in Downtown Denver from an urban planning, development, and architectural perspective! Tours will happen rain or shine and don’t forget to bring your camera!
April 3 Edit
Please note: Due to popular demand, we switched the Civic Center tour on Friday, April 17 and the 14th Street tour on Sunday, April 19 to LoDo/Union Station tours. Now, all three tours on the weekend of April 17, 18, and 19 are LoDo/Union Station tours! The lists above have been edited to reflect these changes.
Neato, wish I could go! You’re up late!
Hi Dan!
Ken,
I just signed up for the Union Station/Lodo walking tour April 10th. Where’s the meeting point?
At Old City Hall Bell Plaza at 14th and Larimer. The start time and location for all tours is noted in the “When and Where” box on the right side of the Event web page.
Power wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the tour routes are all via public sidewalks.
I walked around LoDo and Union Station with Ken and about 20 others today, and it was wonderful! This walk is a real tune-up on Denver’s unique beginnings and its future, hosted by Ken’s remarkable grasp of the city’s history. In two great hours, on a perfect Spring day, we got a strong sense of Denver’s robust entrepreneurial roots, and the powerful momentum of our city. Ken, this was fun — awesome! Thanks!
Please continue these tours into May! I would like to do more!
Tried to register for April 19 but Eventbrite says “I don’t have permission”.
Sold out?
Hi David,
I’m not sure why the wording says “no permission” but the 19th (and 18th) are both sold out. Tickets are still available for the Friday (17th) tour.