Denver Mayor Mike Johnston touted what he described as successes in reducing homelessness and crime and cited voters’ approval of a $570 million investment and expansion of the Downtown Development Authority as fueling new interest in the heart of the city. 

Johnston admitted that some areas need improvement.

Most notable on the list was Johnston’s pledge to move 2,000 homeless people off the street and into shelters by the end of 2024. At the end of the year, 2,233 people were brought indoors into various forms of housing.

That effort has been expensive.

Notably, Denver councilmembers did not know how much the city spent on its homelessness response until they received a briefing from the city’s Department of Housing Stability last June.

As it turned out, the city was on track to spend $155 million between July 2023 and December 2024 — $65 million more than Johnston previously said it would cost.

The city made major strides in affordable housing, from new construction and permitting to rental subsidies, according to the mayor’s 20-page report. The city aimed to open 3,000 affordable units and surpassed that goal with 3,022.

Next year, things may be a bit more challenging, according to Johnston. 

Historically, the city has leveraged millions of American Rescue Plan Act and other federal dollars to help with its affordable housing programs, but those funds have now concluded and the city anticipates losing up to $100 million dollars.

In addition, voters in November rejected Ballot Issue 2R, which would have raised the city’s sales tax to pay for affordable housing.

“So, this year will be tougher for us on that goal,” Johnston said. “But in 2025 we, there are still a number of things we can do and plan on doing, and we think there is a path to continue to target something somewhere in the 3,000 (affordable housing unit) range.”

“At this stage, we’re gonna look at every creative resource we have to both use public-private partnerships, use public land, and use the ability to do rental subsidies on some units to make them affordable,” he added. 

Affordability will remain a top focus, Johnston said.

“We’ll just have to do it without those (federal) resources,” he said. 

On public safety, the city saw a reduction in violent gun crime, with the number of people shot in the city down 23% and gun homicides down by 25%, Johnston’s office reported. 

Johnston pointed to 77% of voters approving the expansion of the Downtown Development Authority. Part of that effort, Johnston said, is the 16th Street Mall, of which four blocks are now open and more slated for Memorial Day.

Johnston anticipates the 16th Street Mall construction wrapping by Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, requests for proposals for the $570 million in downtown projects will be open later this month.

Johnston admitted the city’s permitting process needs improvement. While Denver fell short of its goals to reduce city review time by 30%, Johnston said efforts will continue to look for more efficient ways to deliver better service, notably in the area of business licenses.

“It may seem like a small thing, but if you’re trying to get a business license, it was hard to know when you’re going to get it back, how long you have to wait,” Johnston said.

Additionally, new online tools would reduce permit review time by 37% for single-family homes and duplexes and by 17% for commercial projects, his office said.  

Johnston said he will be releasing goals for 2025 on Jan. 29.