Downtown’s most distressed office buildings are also some of the region’s largest. Built during an oil and gas boom in the 1970s and 1980s, most are located in the Upper Downtown and Skyline Park areas, which had multiple blocks scraped to make room for taller buildings.

READ THE FULL PROJECT: At a crossroads: Downtown Denver is waiting for its rebound

Tenants are increasingly favoring smaller leases in the LoDo, Central Platte Valley and Union Station areas if they aren’t leaving for other districts. Denver has designated at least 30 of downtown’s towers as distressed, meaning they have a higher vacancy rate or have been emptied out for renovations or a new use. Click circles for details. Only buildings larger than 100,000 square feet are included.

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Originally Published: May 29, 2025 at 6:00 AM MDT

Metro Denver commuters can look forward to faster trips on the Regional Transportation District’s light rail after the agency lifted the last of 31 speed restrictions that have slowed trains for almost a year.

RTD lifted the final slow zone on a 400-foot southbound segment near the Southmoor Station on Tuesday morning, officials said in a news release.

Transportation officials found minor issues and “track imperfections” in May 2024 and added 10 mph speed restrictions to sections of the D, E, H and R lines in June and July until workers could finish repairs.

Over the next 11 months, nearly 100 employees removed and replaced more than two miles of track and finished grinding 50 miles of rail to remove surface defects that could cause cracks, according to RTD.

The delays caused frustration among customers and drops in ridership, with some people reporting more than double the amount of time to take their regular route to work.

Temporary speed restrictions will return as needed after rail inspections because of RTD’s “aging rail infrastructure,” the agency said.

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Originally Published: May 28, 2025 at 11:48 AM MDT

DENVER- Denver International Airport (DEN) employees are questioning CEO Phil Washington over expensive business-class flights for executives. The trip to a conference in Madrid cost the airport over $165,000, with one United Airlines (UA) ticket priced at $19,194.21.

Workers expressed concerns about the ethical implications of such high spending while frontline staff face budget constraints. Washington defended the decision, calling it an investment in leadership development.

Denver Airport CEO’s $19,000 Flight

At a quarterly town hall meeting for Denver International Airport (DEN) employees, an anonymous worker challenged CEO Phil Washington on the decision to approve expensive business class tickets for a three-day conference in Madrid.

The employee highlighted a $19,194.21 ticket, noting it “creates a rift in sentiment between frontline and senior leadership.”

The trip, attended by Washington and eight executive staff members, cost approximately $165,000, averaging $18,000 per person for flights, conference fees, hotels, and meals on United Airlines (UA).

Washington defended the expenditure, emphasizing the conference’s value for professional development.

He attributed high ticket costs to late bookings, stating, “Some travel requests came in a little later,” causing prices to spike.

However, records from a CBS News investigation revealed most tickets were purchased months in advance, contradicting claims of last-minute bookings.

Travel consultant Robert Laney expressed disbelief at the costs, suggesting that waiting could have reduced fares to $8,000–$9,000 per ticket.

Policy Under Review

Amid the growing backlash, CEO Washington announced that Denver International Airport (DEN) is reassessing its travel policy.

“We are reviewing our policy. There are some revisions we could make to that policy,” he said, although no immediate changes have been finalized or disclosed.

An airport spokesperson confirmed that the current review will cover the entire travel procedure, from initial requests and booking to reimbursement processes.

The aim, according to Washington, is to ensure future decisions reflect fiscal responsibility without compromising professional development goals.

Despite the controversy, Washington maintained his position, stating, “I stand by the professional development opportunity as an investment in our people that will pay off in the long run.”

Bottom Line

The controversy has sparked broader discussions about transparency and equity at Denver International Airport (DEN).

Frontline workers, who often face tighter budgets, expressed frustration over the perceived extravagance of executive travel.

The issue underscores the need for clear, equitable travel policies to maintain trust between staff and leadership.

As the airport reviews its policies, stakeholders await changes to ensure responsible use of revenues derived from public-facing operations like concessions and rentals.

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