How we do this:
- Provide current and future business owners with relevant training and education for increasing community ownership opportunities and resilience
- Provide idea-incubating-forums for small businesses such as cottage industries, food trucks, food production and artisan manufacturing business operations so businesses can stay and thrive
- Host community events, develop shared Cultural District marketing materials and install place-making features on the corridor to reflect and promote the brand
Cultural District Steering Committee
Are you a community-driven East Colfax resident or business owner? The East Colfax Cultural District steering committee will be an opportunity to contribute your ideas and help shape the future of the District. Steering committee meetings will begin in the fall.
Interested in becoming a part of the steering committee or learning more? We are now accepting applications for the steering committee!
Meeting Minutes
2022 C-District meeting minutes
Events & Announcements
No updates at the moment.
What is East Colfax Cultural District?
The East Colfax Cultural District runs along Denver’s East Colfax corridor from Monaco Street Parkway to Yosemite Street. The purpose of a Cultural District is to celebrate and support East Colfax’s diversity of people, businesses, food, and events, by claiming and preserving the rich history and cultures of the people and businesses along the corridor. The idea for a special district came out of community input to the City and County of Denver’s East Area Plan, approved by City Council in 2020.
The boundary of the Cultural District is between Monaco Parkway and Yosemite Street, along East Colfax Avenue.
Timeline of East Colfax Cultural District Creation:
Phase 1: Name and Mission Statement
In early 2022, The Fax Partnership began extensive community engagement for the development of the Cultural District. The Fax held business breakfasts, conducted online and in-person surveys, gathered resident input at community meetings and events, and made presentations at neighborhood organizations. Through this process, the ideas and vision of local residents, business owners, and other stakeholders came together to co-create the initial framework for the district.
After many months of community engagement and input, the official name of “East Colfax Cultural District” was chosen in August 2022 – changing the name from “international district” to “cultural district” to be more inclusive of the full range of diverse businesses and people represented along the corridor. The final mission statement (in the green box above) was also co-created with extensive community input, and the vision statement (“how we do this”) was developed.
Phase 2: Treasure Mapping
During the second phase of the East Colfax Cultural District project, The Fax engaged with local businesses and residents to create a “treasure map” of the East Colfax corridor. Community members identified their favorite destinations as well as desired amenities for East Colfax through a survey and a collective map creation exercise.
Survey results of the Treasure Map are shown below:
The East Colfax Cultural District Treasure Map was created:
East Colfax Cultural District Treasure Mapping
First sketch of the ECCD logo
Phase 3: Designing a Logo
Once the name, mission statement, and treasure map were completed it was time to select a logo!
The Fax contracted with a local graphic designer and illustrator, Samantha Hutchinson-Ouranos, to develop a logo to truly represent the East Colfax neighborhood and commercial corridor. The Fax gathered community feedback from business owners, residents, and other community members through meetings, online and in-person surveys, and interviews and at local events including The Fax health fairs.
The community wanted a colorful, fun, approachable and modern logo. They also said they wanted it to be clear that East Colfax is a safe neighborhood where people come to experience culture, diversity and delicious food. Several logos were created based on this input, then narrowed down to two final choices following community guidance. Another final round of community voting took place in early 2023 to choose the winning logo!
Phase 4: Logo Selection
The East Colfax Cultural District logo is a celebration of the history, present, and future of East Colfax. Incorporating a neon sign, bright colors, and buildings with cultural significance, the logo is an important step to making the Cultural District a reality. This image is now being proudly displayed on business windows, on branded tote bags The Fax is distributing and even on coffee mugs. Stay tuned for other ways the East Colfax Cultural District logo will be featured throughout the corridor!
Phase 5: What’s Next?
Now that the mission statement and logo have been selected, The Fax is launching the next phase of community outreach and engagement to move the East Colfax Cultural District forward. Goals of this phase include development of a community steering committee, with meetings open to all, to guide decisions for the district’s development; creation of a website to promote small businesses within the district; and more…A marketplace? A pocket park? Public art? A festival or other events? To be decided by the community! Together, we will continue working to create a shared vision for the district and co-create its development.
