Lower Downtown District, Inc.

How Long Does it Take to "Do" LoDo?

Jun 15, 2000

I could have guessed it would happen. Every time I embark on a project pertaining to LoDo, I'm eventually reminded that the neighborhood has a spirit far bigger than any 25-square block area can contain and the predictability of a Kansas twister in July!
Let me explain. I agreed to write this story with the intention of showing just how easy it is to walk form one end of the district to the other in an efficient, timely manner. Really, the purpose was to sell you on walking as an alternative, "LoDo-friendly" form of transportation. And after doing my research, I'm still convinced that walking is the preferred method of getting anywhere in the neighborhood.
I've changed my mind, however, regarding the efficiency and timeliness. I've discovered that if you're in a terrible rush to be someplace in LoDo, you haven't yet discovered the two best-kept secrets of living and working here.
Those who have chosen to roost here have done so, at least in part, because of the special brand of insulation that keeps the "rat race" out and that prevents LoDo from being like every place else in the urban world. That's the first secret. Being in an antacid hurry here violates the code of the LoDo lifestyle. LoDo insiders have discovered that there are, indeed, more important things in life than deadlines and Day-Timers. So searching for the fastest, most efficient walking rout through LoDo leads to a mismatch of values.
The second secret? Well, people who know LoDo understand that there is no reason any clear-thinking person would want to get through the neighborhood quickly and efficiently. You see, the best way to appreciate LoDo and discover its true beauty is to treat it as a destination rather than just a wide spot in the road on the way to somewhere else.
Most of LoDo's treasures can not be realized through the window of a speeding car, but only by close and personal observation. From architectural styles and exposed cobblestones to artwork in store front windows and names carved in sidewalks, nothing will bring out the nuances of Lower Downtown like a stroll from one corner to the other. A good example is the animal artwork on the brick wall in the alley between 14th and 14th and Wynkoop and Wazee. Now there's a treasure you can't appreciate from behind a steering wheel!
Or what about the VW "High Tech" bug which sometimes resides on Market Street? To grasp that work of art, you just have to stand on the sidewalk and look for a few moments. I think you get the point?…
Now for those of you who are purists, I have to admit I didn't get an accurate timing of how long it takes to walk from one end of the district to another?…there were too many distractions. The best time I could arrive at was just about 15 minutes from 14th to 20th on Market.
One thing to consider, though: the time will vary depending on what street you walk down. The distractions will certainly differ. Think about the range of things you'll see if you walk from 14th to 20th on Blake or Market Streets compared to Wynkoop. On Wynkoop, you'll find more subdued, service-oriented establishments like the post office, a train station, a bookstore, bank and delicatessen amidst residential buildings whereas on Blake and Market you'll find everything from a medical clinic, a paralegal school and a Cystic Fibrosis Foundation to a "Hooters" sports bar, a former red light district and a rock concert hall.
Ahh?…the beauty that is LoDo! May it never fail to astound simple minds like mine and may your walking shoes never collect dust!