Why LoDo Still Leads: Historic Charm, Modern Living & Denver’s Best Lifestyle Investment

By Randy Burgess | Denver Realtor, Market Strategist & LoDo Enthusiast

If you want to understand how Denver transformed into the vibrant, livable, walkable city it is today, you need to start with LoDo—Lower Downtown. Once filled with abandoned warehouses and empty streets, LoDo is now one of the most desirable places to live, work, and invest in the Mile High City.

The Vision That Changed Everything

Let’s talk about Dana Crawford, one of the true visionaries behind the revival of downtown Denver. Known for projects like Union Station, Larimer Square, and The Crawford Hotel, Dana saw what many didn’t in the early 1990s—a future where historic buildings could be reimagined as thriving residential, commercial, and cultural destinations.

One of her most iconic projects? The Flour Mill Lofts. This former grain mill sat empty for years until Crawford led its transformation into high-end industrial lofts—vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, panoramic mountain views, and all. It became a blueprint for what LoDo could become: a place where preserved history meets modern luxury.

From Forgotten to Flagship

The revitalization of LoDo in the late ’90s and early 2000s wasn’t just cosmetic. The neighborhood underwent an urban renaissance—spurred by the construction of Coors Field in 1995 and later the expansion of Union Station into a full-fledged multimodal transportation hub.

This shift ignited a wave of redevelopment, turning LoDo into a mixed-use, pedestrian-friendly district filled with upscale condos, art galleries, rooftop restaurants, and green space. Once-empty warehouses now host chef-driven food halls like Milk Market and boutique hotels like The Oxford. You can go from morning coffee at Little Owl, to a Rockies game at Coors Field, to dinner at Tavernetta, all within a 10-minute walk.

Work Hard. Live Well.

LoDo is at the center of what makes Denver such a compelling city for young professionals, tech talent, and creative entrepreneurs. With easy access to light rail at Union Station, professionals working in DTC, the CU Auraria Campus, or the University of Denver can live downtown and still keep their commute under 30 minutes. More and more people are trading car keys for bike tires, walking shoes, and train passes—and LoDo supports that lifestyle better than anywhere else in the metro area.

Here, work-life balance isn’t aspirational—it’s the default. Take a morning jog on the Platte River Trail. Grab a bite at Snooze. Knock out emails in a sunny corner of Commons Park or a quiet loft terrace. Then head to a Rockies game or an art walk at Dairy Block. This is what urban living was meant to be.

A Neighborhood Built to Last

What makes LoDo different from other Denver neighborhoods isn’t just location—it’s character. You’ll find:

• True industrial lofts with exposed brick, steel beams, and vintage freight elevators
• New construction condos with rooftop lounges and resort-style amenities
• Landmark buildings like The Ice House, Waterside Lofts, and The Flour Mill—each telling a story

This isn’t cookie-cutter real estate. This is investment-worthy property in one of Denver’s most resilient and sought-after zip codes.

Over the last five years, LoDo home values have steadily increased, driven by limited inventory and sustained demand. With Denver’s population growing and more companies returning to in-person collaboration, the appeal of walk-to-everything neighborhoods is only going up.

A Legacy of Culture and Connection

LoDo isn’t just a place to live—it’s where Denver celebrates its history and leans into its future. From the stunning red brick buildings that echo the past to the high-speed trains connecting you to DIA or Boulder, LoDo is the crossroads of heritage, innovation, and lifestyle.

So whether you’re a young professional looking for your first city home, an investor seeking a foothold in one of Denver’s most iconic neighborhoods, or just someone who loves the energy of a city with a soul—LoDo delivers.