16TH STREET GRAND REOPENING SET - FINALLY

16th Street will officially reopen on Oct. 4, exactly 43 years after the pedestrian mall's inaugural debut in 1982, the Denver Downtown Partnership announced.

An all-day celebration is planned. 

The historic boulevard through the central city underwent three years of reconstruction of sidewalks, street lighting and shuttle bus lanes, with hopes of reviving commerce and tourism in the downtown district.

The project ran behind schedule. Costs increased.

Businesses moved out during the work while street people and drug addicts moved in. Violence jumped. Downtown office tower vacancies soared after the pandemic, robbing restaurants and shops of revenue.

The mall was also the scene of rioting and looting during protests against the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

Denver police have since established a special patrol of the area.