16th Street Mall

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

It wouldn't take a ton of effort to clean up 16th street mall and really improve the city for tourism.
But no…
I think it is sad, really. Years ago it was the place to take out of town guests.

[yz9890]

Take them to the Zoo. It's a blast

We did the Zoo Lights again this year. Kids loved it.

We avoid downtown whenever possible. Certainly when we're the ones making the plans.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Skip]

In all seriousness is it getting worse or are we seeing it for what it is? I haven't been to the 16th st mall in years but I just returned from a trip to Vegas and LA. I use to enjoy walking the Vegas strip but this time left an impression on us and we will probably never go again, what a shit hole!!! Homeless people everywhere, so much pot smoking that I thought I was In colorado. I don't remember it being that bad, and the panhandling and Venice beach style shows in downtown at Fremont street, it was pretty bad. Even Hollywood was worse then I remember for panhandling and impersonators bugging us for money. Then their was Elmo with his costume head off causing a seen and scaring little kids yet asking for money to get your picture with him. I do believe it's getting worse but maybe I used to look past more of the trash?

I lived in downtown for two years (2004 - 06) and I can say it's getting worse.

We used to go out, drink, have a nice dinner. Now I won't drink so I can CCW. Larimer square and certain parts are still okay. 16th St seems to be the worst and for some reason it's concentrated in that area. You used to see DPD cruisers parked on the median every couple of blocks and now you don't. In the summer they were on Harleys. Don't see that either.

I wonder if we aren't seeing some of the Ferguson Effect in Denver. They know any interaction can be very negative (and not just on a race basis).

[funkymonkey1111]

And it's not just the 16th st mall, and instead the problem leaches onto side streets.

I work at 17th/California, and the block on California between 16th and 17th is a virtual homeless encampment. You can walk by and see 15-20 people there, grooming, sleeping, sitting around, whatever.

[Doc45]

DPD's "Mall Unit" is kept very busy, often called on to handle assisting other District 6 cars on calls. I too spend a lot of time in downtown during the work week, can't get me to go any where near there on the weekends. The last time I spent a night on the mall was when the Leap Frogs were in town a number of years ago to jump before a Broncos game. We had dinner at Rock Bottom, hit a "few" places on the mall, they left their stickers on a couple bars haha.

Was actually stuck working near the mall Thursday night, the number of homeless camped out was disgusting. I do believe the extreme cold kept the true trouble makers away. I only take out of town visitors there during the day for a short period of time.

I do go to Rockies games in the summer (even though they suck lol). I take light rail to Union Station and walk to the park. That's the only way to get me downtown on my off time.

[KevDen2005]

I remember when the 16th street mall and surrounding area were fun, we'd walk to watering holes from one end to the other, you could be out all night, no fights, not too much begging.

Now all I hear is what a shithole it is, nice job Denver city council.

I do too. I remember always going down there. Hitting up restaurants or bars at least once a week. I used to have tons of fun with friends down there and never really worried. I noticed a couple of years ago that I got really tired of going down there and realized every time was a nightmare with panhandlers and unsavory characters. The worse I have seen in my time. I know there were times that were worse but jeez it has gotten bad. I dread downtown. I took my wife to the Nut Cracker on Thursday night. What a nightmare. There used to be a time that weeknights meant plenty of parking downtown and no issues and being to your location on time. Nope, can't find a place to park, we were there 30 minutes early and ended up 20 minutes late for the show. The same thing with the parade of lights several weeks ago. Just a nightmare to deal with. And after the black lives matter fiasco last year I stopped really wanting to go to the parade, this year solidified it.

I have the shittiest work hours and I complain because it used to mean if you worked shitty hours you would be able to run errands and do things on the week days/nights without issues, traffic, or long lines. Definitely not the case anymore.

Maybe I need to move to Idaho with everyone else.

[buffalobo]

No reason for me to be downtown on my time.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

[hurley842002]

I have the shittiest work hours and I complain because it used to mean if you worked shitty hours you would be able to run errands and do things on the week days/nights without issues, traffic, or long lines. Definitely not the case anymore.

Maybe I need to move to Idaho with everyone else.

Yup, shitty schedule used to have it's perks, but that's not even the case anymore.

[yz9890]

We see several concerts or events every year. The ones in the city are either at the Pepsi Center or at the performing arts center. We also go to several Rockies games and also a couple of Bronco games a year. Very rarely do we get hassled much walking from the train or parking to the event. It always seems to be near that crappy mall. I went to my nephew's hockey banquet at the Westin by the 16th St Mall last year and we had to fight them off with a stick getting back to our car afterwards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Ah Pook]

Last time I was on the 16th St. mall was about five years ago. Smelled like piss. Lots of homeless types. Not any shops I was interested in. Why go back?

There is a diner and sushi place I'd go back to but nothing else.