SPECIAL REPORT: 2015 STUDY MISSION
Collaboration & Vision —
Keys to Creating Thriving Urban Cores
What makes a great city?
Is it the buildings and architecture that leave
a lasting impression on visitors? Is it the
walkability of a city’s downtown? Or is it the
sense of place and local pride that resonate?
How do cities work together with community
organizations, non-profits and private
companies to ensure the success of their
urban cores? How do cities manage urban
growth, homelessness and economic growth
(or loss)?
Each year, the San Jose Silicon Valley
Chamber of Commerce Study Mission
attempts to place our delegates in cities and
conversations applicable to the shaping of
San Jose’s future.
On Sept. 16 through 18, a group of more than
50 public and private sector delegates from
across Silicon Valley came together to travel
to downtown Denver with the sole purpose
of answering these questions and coming
back home with fresh perspectives on what
worked and, in some cases, what didn’t.
The SJSV Chamber had visited Denver back
in 2004 and was eager to return to the Mile
High city more than 10 years later.
Before we can discuss the learnings, however,
we have to look at the history—for context. In
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Silicon Valley Business Quarterly | Fall 2015
1983, with the economy in severe recession
and Denver on a sharp decline, newly elected
Mayor Federico Peña, the city’s first Latino
Mayor, challenged Denver’s then roughly half
a million residents to “Imagine a Great City.”
Now, 30 years later, Denver’s current
population of 663,000 (an 11 percent
increase since 1983) lives in that imagined
urban landscape. Our own newly elected
Mayor, Sam Liccardo, has asked our residents
to come together and recognize that “We are
San Jose.” These two visions came together
on this Study Mission, as we asked our
delegates to “Imagine a Great Downtown” for
Silicon Valley’s urban core.
What we believe stood out most about
Denver’s vibrant downtown is how it is
seemingly planned—top to bottom—to flow
together into one cohesive place. Over the
last 30 years, Denver decision makers stayed
the course and kept laser-focused on their
vision: transform Denver into a great city.
The stops on this year’s visit highlighted this
dynamic.
Study Mission attendees visited Commons
Park and explored the walking bridges
placed over the South Platte River that
seamlessly connect the Lower Highlands, or
LoHi District, and its housing to the rest of
Denver. This focus on connectivity was key
to decision makers in order to seamlessly
bridge the urban core with the surrounding
neighborhoods. These suburban communities
now have easy access to the downtown core,
making it their prime choice when looking for
things to do, places to shop, eat and play.
Another standout project that thrilled our
delegates was the Denver Union Terminal.
This historic building, which had been
underutilized as simply a train station, was
transformed through historic restoration;
converting static attic space into a 112-room
boutique hotel; the addition of shopping
and dinning establishments as well as
reconfiguration of the waiting room; all to
encourage public use. The results: a key
destination, for locals and tourists alike. This
model resonated with many of the delegates,
painting the possibilities for our very own
Diridon Station.
The last stop on our trip was an in-depth
look at the Denver Center for Performing
Arts, and how the area around it has been
transformed to produce one of the most
impressive private-public partnerships for
urban art amenities in the nation. From the
LED and static oversized signage connecting
the area with visitors to the Interactive Kiosk
Experiences—or IKE—found in multiple
locations, this successful convergence of art
and community left a lasting impression …
and a desire to replicate this in downtown San
Jose.
Aside from the great opportunities to learn
from Denver’s development, delegates
were able to also see first-hand how Denver
gracefully wove the historical character of the
Mile High City into everything in the urban
core: from the red, white and gray granite
along the 16th Street Mall that resembles the
skin of the Diamondback snake—a throwback
to its Old Western past—to the restored
historic buildings sprinkled amongst new,
modern high-rises and structures throughout
the downtown.
More than 30 different companies and
organizations sent representatives on this
year’s Study Mission, including:
• Apple
• Arcadia Development Company
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California Apartment Association, TriCounty Division
Cisco Systems
City of San José
Comcast
Goodwill of Silicon Valley
Microsoft
Norman Y. Mineta San José International
Airport
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
San Jose Water Company
San Jose Downtown Association
What we learned from our short time in the
Mile High City is that Denver, through private/
public partnerships, strong collaborative efforts
and a passion for making their city great was
able to successfully carry a collective vision of a
great downtown over the last 30 years. San
Jose, and Silicon Valley for that matter, can
take a note from Denver’s book and find
success in its own downtowns by taking a
more collaborative approach that allows both
public and private organizations to come
together to reach the same goal: a vibrant
urban core where its community can live, work
and play.
PRESENTING SPONSORS
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
Hopkins & Carley
Repubic Family of Companies
San Jose Sharks
Willco Management
SILVER SPONSORS
CORE Companies
Santa Clara Valley Water District
Yellow Checker Cab Company
Silicon Valley Business Quarterly | Fall 2015
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