The City of Denver and the Downtown Development Authority have announced plans to purchase the Denver Pavilions for $37 million, marking a major step toward reimagining the heart of Upper Downtown.

Just months earlier, the city invested another $23 million to acquire two parking lots next to the mall, creating a rare opportunity to transform an entire city block at the center of the 16th Street corridor.

Once known as “the mall on the Mall,” the Pavilions has long been a familiar landmark, home to a movie theater, bowling alley, restaurants, and shops. In recent years, it has also been defined by empty storefronts and untapped potential.

Now, the Downtown Development Authority plans to bring in an international retail expert to help develop a new master plan, envisioning the space as a lively retail, entertainment, and community hub that could spark the revitalization of Upper Downtown, much like Union Station did for LoDo a decade ago.

The city’s broader investment strategy for downtown, supported by voter-approved funds allowing up to $570 million for improvements, includes redevelopment of nearby parks, public spaces, and underused lots to create a connected, walkable downtown experience. With the Glenarm Place lots now publicly owned, long-term plans could see them evolve into mixed-use projects combining housing, hospitality, retail, and vibrant public areas that bring new life to 15th and 16th Streets.

To imagine what that future could look like, our team created a series of AI-generated visual concepts exploring how the Pavilions and surrounding lots might be re-envisioned.

These creative renderings showcase possibilities for green rooftops, art-forward facades, and layered mixed-use designs that blend urban energy with local character. They are not official plans but inspiration pieces meant to spark ideas about how this space could evolve into a new kind of urban destination.

As the city moves forward with the purchase and begins shaping its redevelopment vision, the Pavilions stands at a turning point, poised to transform from an aging retail complex into a symbol of Denver’s downtown renaissance.