Denver Urban Renewal Authority

06/18/2026

When Sam Salomon and Jason Haygarth launched their coffee cart three years ago, they envisioned transforming a former 1948 gas station-turned-tire shop near Sloan’s Lake into a welcoming neighborhood gathering place.

With support from DURA’s C-STAND grant program, Moonflower Coffee was able to invest in essential equipment, complete sidewalk improvements and cover unexpected final touches that helped bring that vision to life.

Today, Moonflower Coffee is a cozy community living room where neighbors connect, gather and build community.

DURA is proud to support local Denver businesses that serve as community anchors, fostering connection, belonging and vibrancy in our neighborhoods.

06/03/2026

A legendary Denver landmark is one step closer to its comeback.

Last night, Denver City Council approved a redevelopment agreement supporting the restoration and revival of the iconic Rossonian Hotel in Five Points through tax increment financing (TIF).

Once the heartbeat of Denver’s jazz scene, the Rossonian welcomed legends like Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. After sitting vacant for decades, this historic treasure is poised for a new era.

The $101 million redevelopment will restore the building while bringing 126 hotel rooms, a new restaurant, event space, public art and fresh energy to the Welton Corridor.

TIF helps make transformative projects like this possible by reinvesting a portion of the future tax revenue generated by redevelopment back into the project itself, helping offset the extraordinary costs of historic preservation and site improvements.

By helping bridge these funding gaps, DURA is proud to support projects that honor Denver’s history and encourage investment in neighborhoods across the city.

Read more from The Denver Post ⬇️

The building, once called the Baxter Hotel, was a popular event space for jazz performances between the 1930s and 1950s.

05/26/2026

Hold on to your dreams. 💨

“Hope,” the art installation outside The Hattie McDaniel Building, represents resilience, renewal and opportunity. Positioned in front of the home of 62 permanently affordable condominiums, the piece reflects the strength of a community that has faced challenges and continues moving forward with determination and optimism.

Debuted during the Grand Opening celebration in April, Hope quickly became both the heart of the event and a lasting fixture for the neighborhood, reminding all who pass by that brighter futures are built through perseverance, vision and community.

Thank you to the team at Superior Iron Works for creating this inspiring piece and for helping bring The Hattie McDaniel to life!

Visit Hope in person at 29th & Welton, or learn more ⬇️

We join the team from Superior Iron Works as they install their sculpture "Hope" in front of the new affordable housing construction, The Hattie McDaniel Bui...

05/21/2026

Workforce development starts with access.

For many, the challenge isn’t the ability to learn a new skill. It’s the barriers that make it difficult to show up. Time away from work, the cost of transportation or the reality of unpaid training can stand in the way of opportunity.

For years, DURA has supported GRID Alternatives' installation training program, helping remove those barriers and make participation possible. Through stipends, transportation support and hands-on training, participants are able to fully engage, gain real experience and build pathways toward something more stable.

Trainees earn industry certifications, build confidence and take meaningful steps toward long-term careers, and the results speak for themselves. A majority of trainees transition into full-time careers with many entering the growing solar industry.

This is what investment in people looks like. Not just training but long-term opportunity.

Learn more about the program here:
https://gridalternatives.org/get-training/installation-training-programs/ibt-program

05/21/2026

Creating space for community, healing and connection takes vision and support.

Through DURA C-STAND grant funding, Jamie Morgan of Little Bird Coaching & Consulting was able to expand her space, invest in long-term improvements and continue serving more people through her work centered on diversity, equity and inclusion. Natural light, updated gathering spaces, new windows and solar upgrades all helped bring the vision for the space to life.

Stories like this are why DURA remains committed to supporting projects that strengthen Denver’s neighborhoods, small businesses and community spaces.

04/23/2026

Investing in community means investing in the spaces that hold it together.

With $50,000 in funding from DURA’s C-STAND grant, Moyo Nguvu Cultural Arts Center in Five Points has implemented key upgrades that enhance safety, improve functionality and expand accessibility.

Founded in 1990, Moyo Nguvu was the first Pan-African cultural and healing arts center in Colorado, creating a space rooted in diversity, inclusiveness and cultural expression. For more than three decades, it has provided African-centered cultural arts programs and workshops to low- and moderate-income communities, serving participants from a wide range of backgrounds across the state.

C-STAND supports projects that help community-serving organizations remain anchored in their neighborhoods while strengthening the existing community fabric.

At Moyo Nguvu, that investment is helping sustain a long-standing cultural institution and ensuring it continues to serve the Five Points community for generations to come

04/20/2026

Shaping Denver’s future starts with investing in its people and places.

At the Bisnow Denver Metro Construction, Development & Design Summit, April, our Director of Community Investment, joined the panel What Defines the Mile High City? Designing Denver at a Turning Point, contributing to a conversation on creating distinctive, human-centered spaces that reflect Denver’s identity, foster connection and deliver long-term value.

Because the future of Denver is shaped by the intention behind every space we invest in.

04/16/2026

Denver’s Planning Board has unanimously recommended approval for the project to access Tax Increment Financing (TIF) — an important milestone that could help unlock funding for critical infrastructure and bring new life to this historic Five Points landmark.

This is just the beginning of the process, but it reflects continued momentum and a shared commitment to honoring the Rossonian’s legacy while investing in its future.

As DURA’s Interim Executive Director Bill Pruter shared, the development team has demonstrated a strong dedication to both the project and the surrounding community.

We’re excited to see this iconic space continue moving forward!

Read more:

The long-awaited project in Denver's historic Five Points neighborhood is finally gaining momentum.

04/13/2026

At the Hattie McDaniel Development in Five Points, DURA partnered with Shanahan Development and Elevation Community Land Trust to help deliver affordable, for-sale housing designed for Denver’s workforce.

Located along Welton Street and adjacent to light rail, this all-electric, mixed-use development transforms a former half-acre parking lot into a community-centered space with ground-floor activation, bike parking and homes built for long-term sustainability.

The project prioritizes two- and three-bedroom residences to support a range of household sizes, with homes designed for families earning below Area Median Income. Through thoughtful design, the building reflects the historic character of Five Points while introducing modern efficiency and livability.

By leveraging tax increment financing and collaborating with Denver Public Schools and the City and County of Denver, this development builds on past investments to create new pathways to homeownership.

A collaborative approach helping shape a more accessible and connected future for Five Points.