No-Snow February: BRT Updates, VA Developments & More Neighborhood News
Hilltop Neighborhood News & Updates for February 2026
Updates on Xcel’s Leetsdale-Monroe-Elati Transmission Project
Get the latest information on road closures.
East Cedar Avenue will remain closed to through traffic between S. Elm St. and S. Dahlia St. through the end of February, 2026, according to Xcel’s latest project update.
This is the only current closure in the neighborhood. Ongoing updates and information is available through our website and Xcel’s project page as work progresses.
Colorado Boulevard BRT Is Coming
What It Could Mean for Hilltop
Colorado Boulevard is being studied for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that could change how people move up and down the corridor—from traffic patterns and turn lanes to sidewalks and crossings. Hilltop sits right next to a key stretch of Colorado, so while the project could bring safety and transit improvements, it may also affect how we get in and out of the neighborhood by car, bike, bus, and on foot.
The Hilltop Neighborhood Association has not taken a position on the project and is currently focused on learning more and making sure our community has a voice. Board members are tracking the planning process, exploring the idea of hosting a Hilltop‑specific meeting with project representatives, and encouraging residents to stay informed and participate in upcoming public meetings and comment opportunities. Our full article on the project can be found here.
Cherry Creek West Redevelopment Breaks Ground
Expect Road Closures Around the Cherry Creek Mall
Work is beginning on Cherry Creek West, a long‑planned redevelopment of the 13‑acre surface parking and former retail area at 1st Avenue and University, just across the creek from the Cherry Creek Shopping Center. Over the next several years, this site will be transformed into a dense, mixed‑use district with new housing, office space, retail, underground parking, and significant improvements to the Cherry Creek Trail and public open space.
According to the project’s current timeline, asbestos removal and early site work are scheduled to start in late February 2026, and utility work and creek/road improvements will follow, with initial buildings and public spaces opening in phases through 2029. The Hilltop Neighborhood Association has been tracking this project through the city’s review process and coordinated neighborhood discussions, and will continue to share updates on construction timing, traffic impacts, and opportunities for public input as the build‑out continues over the next decade. Read more here.
VA Site Redevelopment On Going
Find out the latest about 9th & CO’s newest development
Denver city planners and GM Development are moving ahead with a major mixed‑use redevelopment of the former VA Hospital site at 1055 Clermont Street near 9th + CO, guided by a newly approved Large Development Framework and rezoning. The 8.3‑acre plan envisions new housing, retail, office, hotel uses, open space, and parking around the preserved historic hospital buildings, with rezoning to allow taller mixed‑use buildings consistent with Denver’s long‑range plans.
The framework commits to upgrading nearby streets (Bellaire, 9th, and Clermont), dedicating needed right‑of‑way, studying mobility impacts, and creating meaningful, publicly accessible open space with strong pedestrian connections, including better links toward Lindsley Park. It also highlights equity, climate, and neighborhood compatibility goals, documents community feedback to date, and outlines upcoming public meetings and technical reviews as the project moves into detailed design; readers can learn more here!
Denver Transitions to Online Property Tax Statements
Make sure you don’t miss any changes!
New in 2026, the City of Denver is moving their property tax statements online at denvergov.org/property. The city reports that this transition is more sustainable and offers a number of other benefits to residents including:
The ability to see multiple years of statements
Easily pay your taxes via the same webpage
Have a digital copy of tax statements, which makes saving and sharing with tax professionals easier
Denver saves some 500,000 pieces of paper and $100,000 in mailing costs.
Visit any Denver Library location for free internet and printers if you have trouble accessing your property tax statement online from home. For property tax rebate programs and help with taxes or statements, please visit denvergov.org/propertytaxes or call 3-1-1.
Taxes can still be paid online, by mail, or in-person at the Webb Building (201 W Colfax Ave). For questions, please call 311.
2025 District 5 Survey Results Live
Find out what D5 residents think are priorities, and how our councilwoman should prioritize
District wide, the 2025 District 5 survey drew 1,347 valid responses, with Hilltop among the top four most engaged neighborhoods, contributing 156 responses, comparable to Lowry, Mayfair, and Cherry Creek North and giving Hilltop residents a strong voice in the data. Across District 5, residents’ highest‑priority issues were crime/safety, traffic and mobility infrastructure, cost of living, homelessness, affordable housing, parks and open space, and development, in that order, with crime and traffic clearly topping the list.
See all of the survey results here.
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Explore Temple Emanuel, a landmark mid-century synagogue and the oldest and largest of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region. With a 130-year history and multiple earlier locations, the congregation settled into its current Hilltop home in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Designed by renowned modernist architect Percival Goodman, the building features Lyons sandstone, dramatic recessed windows, and vibrant stained glass—creating a striking blend of spiritual meaning and modern design.
Hosted by the Denver Architecture Foundation. Tickets here.
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A free gallery crawl in the heart of Denver's Art District on Santa Fe, happening on the last Sunday of each month.
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Denver Restaurant Week returns March 6–15, 2026. For more than two decades, it's been a much-anticipated experience for locals to dine at Michelin-recognized restaurants and eateries helmed by James Beard Award-winning chefs.
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Colorado's new women's professional soccer club, Summit FC, plays its inaugural match at Empower Field at Mile High on March 28, 2026.
For more events in our neighborhood, check out our events page!
Help Spot Neighborhood Issues With 311 Thursdays
Call or text in an issue, problem, or complaint every Thursday
Pothole on 6th you keep seeing and hitting? Graffiti in the ally? Report it to 311! Not only will this help the City know where problems are, it will generate needed data to show how the City can best allocate its resources to make our neighborhood safer!
You can use Denver’s online portal 24/7 or dial/text 311 Monday - Friday 7AM to 7PM.
Learn more about upcoming neighborhood projects or subscribe to the District 5 Newsletter courtesy of Amanda Sawyer.
Find the councilwoman’s latest newsletter here.
Want to Spotlight Your Business in Hilltop?
Have a business you want to promote? Looking to connect with your local community?
Become a Hilltop Neighborhood Sponsor! Get your brand in front of engaged neighbors.
We’re looking for local partners who want to give back, get involved, and grow visibility in one of Denver’s most vibrant communities.
Let’s team up and make Hilltop even better.
Contact us to learn how you can help.
