Denver’s downtown skyline tells a complicated story right now. Beautiful buildings. Prime locations. Too much empty space.
In his 2026 economic agenda, Mike Johnston is putting that challenge front and center-rolling out a plan aimed at tackling office vacancies head-on while reshaping how the city uses millions of square feet of underutilized space.
Rather than waiting for traditional office demand to magically rebound, the city is leaning into adaptive reuse and business incentives as practical, near-term solutions.
Turning Empty Offices Into Opportunity
Remote and hybrid work permanently changed how companies use office space, and Denver is no exception. Instead of fighting that shift, the mayor’s plan embraces it by encouraging:
- Office-to-residential conversions, especially in downtown corridors
- Incentives for businesses willing to lease and activate vacant buildings
- Public-private partnerships that lower redevelopment costs
- Streamlined zoning and permitting to speed up conversions
The goal isn’t just to fill buildings-it’s to bring people back downtown. More residents and active businesses mean stronger street-level retail, safer public spaces, and a healthier tax base for the city.
Why This Matters for Denver’s Economy
Vacant office space doesn’t just hurt landlords-it impacts the entire local economy. Empty buildings reduce foot traffic, strain city services, and slow momentum for surrounding neighborhoods.
By focusing on conversions and incentives, Denver’s 2026 strategy aims to:
- Stabilize commercial real estate values
- Support job growth and small business expansion
- Increase housing supply without new ground-up construction
- Re-energize downtown as a place to live, not just work
It’s a shift from waiting on market recovery to actively shaping it.
A Long-Term Vision, Not a Quick Fix
This plan won’t transform Denver overnight-but it signals a clear direction. Cities that adapt their real estate strategies to modern work patterns are the ones most likely to stay competitive.
If successful, Denver could become a model for how urban centers across the U.S. rethink office districts in a post-pandemic economy-turning vacancy into vitality instead of letting it linger.
