A committee backed by dozens of downtown Boulder businesses has launched a formal campaign to oppose a ballot measure that would close a two-block stretch of West Pearl Street to most vehicles.
The group, Keep West Pearl Open, reflects growing tensions over the future of one of the city’s busiest commercial corridors. Supporters of the measure want to transform the street into a pedestrian-focused public space. But business owners say the closure could deter customers and saddle the city with costly infrastructure changes at a time of economic uncertainty.
The proposed measure would bar most private vehicles from Pearl Street between 9th and 11th Streets. Commercial and emergency vehicles would still be permitted. The measure does not specify whether the HOP bus could continue running on the stretch.
Proponents say they want to bring back the open-street atmosphere that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the city closed the area to cars and allowed restaurants to expand outdoor dining into the road. The closure, enacted in May 2020, was lifted in 2022, with city officials citing concerns from struggling businesses and a desire to restore the HOP bus route.
A city survey conducted after the pandemic-era closure found that most respondents believed it improved the “overall appeal” of West Pearl. But business owners have said the closure hurt their bottom line, especially during the colder months when outdoor dining declined. Several said that removing parking in front of their restaurants drove customers elsewhere.
More than 100 representatives of Boulder businesses have signed onto the Keep West Pearl Open campaign, according to the group’s website. Among them are Cedar & Hyde, Jungle, Pasta Jay’s, Hapa Sushi, Wonder Press, Salt, University Bicycles, Zoe Ma Ma and My Neighbor Felix. A majority of Boulder City Councilmembers also support the opposition campaign, including Taishya Adams, Matt Benjamin, Tina Marquis, Nicole Speer, Mark Wallach and Tara Winer.
“This is going to create a problem rather than solve one,” Peter Waters, owner of the Mexican restaurant T/Aco and co-chair of the opposition campaign, told Boulder Reporting Lab. “It will divide the community to some degree at a time when we need nothing more than to come together.”
Also co-chairing the campaign is former City Councilmember Rachel Friend, development director for Community Cycles, who supported keeping the street closed in 2022 while on council. She says the new proposal would divert limited city resources away from higher-priority pedestrian and cycling safety projects.
“On a straight equity basis, you would not pick the two [West Pearl blocks] that are adjacent to where you already have four blocks closed and ideal access to the creek path,” as priorities for closing, Friend told Boulder Reporting Lab. “There are some pedestrian deserts in this town.”
The proposed ballot measure text calls for supporting “public use, outdoor dining, and street activities including art installations, green spaces, and community activities.” But the measure does not include a specific design.
City officials estimate the closure would cost the city roughly $325,000 per year in lost on-street parking revenue. The city has not estimated the financial impact of the proposed measure. But any investment in the street would come as Boulder faces slowing sales tax growth and potential reductions in federal funding due to changing policies under the Trump administration.
Kurt Nordback, a city Planning Board member who is chairing the pro-closure ballot measure campaign, Pearl For You, said people would still pay to park nearby and that improvements to the street could be made incrementally.
Nordback said no businesses have publicly endorsed the measure, but some have privately said they could manage with the street closed. He acknowledged the economic uncertainty under the Trump administration. But he said that the street closure could enable more people to organize protests and connect.
“We also need gathering space for people to come together at this very troubling time,” Nordback told Boulder Reporting Lab.
Efforts to broker a compromise between the petitioners and opponents of the measure, including the Downtown Boulder Partnership, have stalled. Nordback said the petitioners want the street changed to allow for more people to sit outside and accommodate more healthy trees. But the opponents of the measure say they won’t support proposals that require major city investments.
To qualify for the 2025 ballot, organizers must collect 3,401 signatures from registered Boulder voters by May 28.
Clarification, April 18, 2025 10:27 am:
This story was updated on April 18 to clarify that the city survey results reflect the views of respondents, not all city residents.
Amen. Leave it open. This City Council has caused enough harm. It’s a thinly designed move to get people out of cars, which is pure folly. Give our local businesses a chance to survive.
So true. And, to think one needs an additional two blocks for space to organize protests and help save trees is well with all due respect, INSANITY…you can protest and gather on the existing mall, no problem. And, you can plant street trees on any street though they require some expertise and maintenance, but I agree the trees are very important. Thx Mike Short.
Put it on the ballot, and let the voters decided! As it’s not for businesses nor a shameless lobbying campaign to decide how public spaces such as Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall is utilized. In fact, they’re the ones responsible for creating the kind of monoculture of restaurants, banks, and Big Brand spaces that already have turned it into a place locals don’t really frequent as much….driven behind-the-scenes of by the greed of corporate property owners wanting rents so high, few places can afford the overhead. Moreover, I’d love to know how many full-time employees these suffering restaurants have, versus part-time wage slaves who get no health benefits. Because I’d bet good money these same 100 supposed representatives would line up to oppose establishing a livable minimum wage, and parade out the same contrived blame game or point to the extraordinary conditions the pandemic created as a convenient justification for why things can’t change.
I’d also like to know exactly what dark money sources are funding this effort, because there is a loooong history in Boulder of coordinated astroturf advocacy campaigns by monied interests. Because it’s important to also keep in mind, in a supposed “free-market”, these businesses can surely choose to operate elsewhere in town where paid-parking more freely accessible and deference to community interest protecting Pearl Street as a public space first-and-foremost isn’t so oppressive to hawking expensive food/clothes/etc to tourists. In fact, if the City Council really care about commerce or maximizing revenue in this district; they’d tax all those monopolstic Pearl Street property owners who let spaces sit vacant for years for the tax-write off rather than reduce rents to let a business actually succeed. Because otherwise, this campaign look like a blatant effort to usurp community interests and opinions on how this areas should be best used…because the City has certainly been complicit in letting it backslide into becoming merely shopping district for tourists no better than 29th Street.
You know, urban design and planning is a professional discipline that is taught in universities. People get Masters Degrees. Letting the voters decide ignores the seriousness of this. There are some things that shouldn’t be decided by majority vote. Let the experts figure this out.
The experts of urbanism are on the side of pedestrians here, not more space for cars. And since when does a community not get to have input on how their spaces are designed?
Profit over community. I’m sure many of the things we cherish today would be political anathema had folks with bold vision not been in charge in the 60s/70s. What a shame.
I own Grassroots Landscape Inc in Boulder. I have several accounts on or near the Pearl street mall. I was in Boulder in the 60’s and 70’s when Pearl street was a complete drive through space. This would effect the businesses that are already struggling in a very tight economy. I believe many would be forced to close their doors. Parking is the issue, as is there is very minimal parking near the Pearl Street Mall. If people have to pay for parking and walk blocks to get to the mall they will go elsewhere to pop in for take out orders or stroll with the family. Listen to the business owners. They have their fingers and knowledge tapped into the pulse of the mall. Larimer and 16th in Denver is a dead zone and they have attempted the same theme of closing the street. Also, the majority of the disability parking (which sadly is not much) is in the proposed closed area. This will also effect the small businesses that service the shops in this area.
April, thank you for that reality detail. There are numerous studies on the outdoor Traditional motor vehicle Commercial Street transitioned to a 100% Pedestrian Street, and four blocks length is about the sweet spot. Some of us rely on our autos and busses to get Downtown, and if you take that away, we will go elsewhere. The Complete Street Concept where all modes of movement are equally respected and acommodated are the most lively. Just my opinion, and thank you.
Remember when Grand Junction closed its main street and made a pedestrian mall? It was a total flop and has long since been reopened to traffic. Same in Greeley.
I’m sad to see some of my favorite businesses supporting the opposition campaign. For what it’s worth, I spend money at businesses that align with my values and I’m paying attention. Some of these businesses aren’t even on West Pearl and would not be impacted at all.
I don’t want to live in a city dominated by cars. That’s not why I moved here and not the future of Boulder that I envision. I want more bike and pedestrian friendly areas. I want more community spaces.
Is a ballot initiative like this the best way to run city government, perhaps not? Is this the best place to close, I have no idea, but I know I want more spaces in Boulder that are community focused. Why not work to find an alternative rather than spend money fighting against giving people a choice? The city government shouldn’t be surprised by this. When people are ignored they take matters into their own hands.
Lastly, it’s total nonsense to say that Boulder has a parking problem. I can pay a few dollars and park right near where I need to go or a bit further away for free. We also have several parking garages!
The problem is that I need to drive to Pearl at all!
All very valid points Mike! This is what I love about Boulder. We all can share our thoughts and honestly they usually meet somewhere in the middle. Thanks for your input. I too would LOVE to have fewer cars in Boulder. I grew up with no car living in Boulder and did just fine! Our environment counts on us to be it’s voice. I wonder if a free small bio diesel shuttle would help? I know that sounds a tad overkill but my concern is allowing the mall to stay viable for seniors and those who are not as easily mobile. Keep the conversation flowing. It’s how change in a community works. Like minds weaving together to create viable change.
Why do people think Bio Diesel is better than any other IC engine? Most Diesels are dirtier than gasoline IC engines. The fact that the Bio Diesel fuel is made from bio waste doesn’t make it clean.
Love Rachel, and most of the boycotting businesses (led by Big Red F, and Pasta Jay’s), but Rachel has it wrong on this one. While we have many priorities, the symbolic and literal heart of Boulder, once a town of inspiration to other towns and cities, matters. Keep Boulder Open…to people, not cars. That says it all.
We’re talking about 58 parking spots, max. Cars circle the block, looking for parking. Instead give folks a code for free hours of parking garage or lot, many of which are close by and accessible, get folks in the habit of using parking lots for cars, not pedestrian-friendly areas in this era of increasing heat, pollution, and traffic congestion.
When I ran for Council, I didn’t talk about this as businesses vs. the public, which is seems to be. There’s a third way, that’s good for businesses, too. That means investing in making West Pearl fun, a magnet, a destination. Not the concrete desert it was during Covid. Not the parking lot it is again, thanks to a cowardly Council.
PS: surprised to see University Bikes on this list.
There is nothing good about limiting downtown business activity and parking. Without the businesses there would be no downtown social gathering. If you live within walking or biking distance of the mall it is not a significant problem, but a lot of downtown dinners/shoppers come from the surrounding communities. It is not practical or efficient to bike. Additionally, the Boulder area population is aging, which makes alternative transportation a bigger challenge. DO NOT SIGN THE PETITION! It is bad for Boulder and our struggling business community!
Do you drive down there, and park? If you did, you’d know those lots are OFTEN full and, talk about driving around the block? Have you ever driven up four flights of a parking structure looking for one too tiny spot? In a line of cars, going up and down. Sure, we should have better mass transit. But we don’t. You talk about other communities – I’ve been in many where the central city has just died. Let’s not make it harder for businesses to stay alive downtown (for example, we lost R-Gallery and numerous food/bev biz).
Give small business the power to conduct business without more interference from the city.
There are enough places in Boulder to protest.
If we only had a viable transportation system in Boulder instead of spotty, infrequent bus service with poor coverage, this would be a moot point because we wouldn’t be so car dependent. For those of us not living near the city center, there are not good options. If you miss a bus by 30 seconds, you will wait another 40 minutes, then have to transfer to yet another infrequently running bus or two to get to your destination, and the same thing back. If you need to go to several places this can easily take an entire day and is exhausting. And if you do actual shopping? Absurd and draining. We are decades behind the times. We should have light rail everywhere by now; it should be top priority, but we let political leaders gaslight us that we can’t afford it. Sure, it’s super expensive, and I get it’s politically fraught, and it gets more expensive by the day as we sit by and wring our hands. If we are not willing to do what it takes to embrace 21st century solutions to transportation, climate change, and allowing people to have feasible options that work for them as they age in place, nothing will change for the better.
$325,000 in lost parking meter rev is a bad start. Parking is awful down there, especially after a Buffs game but really most times. In the winter you want those close in spots to get into your destination quickly, and no one is sitting outside. The businesses make the destination. Why hurt them when they are paying the rent for the property owners and collecting sales tax revs to boot? They should be the ones to decide if this is a good idea and seems like none of them like it.
Considering the crises we are currently facing on many levels not the least being the accelerating climate catastrophe, this whole fixation around two blocks downtown where people can imagine they are on vacation strolling in Rome seems ludicrous.
I always hope that the Boulder Progressive Party would show leadership that would more align it with the Congressional Progressive Caucus such as stands against excessive military spending. The excessive military spending means we are always short of funds for projects that would elevate the society.
Agree with some of your points. However, disagree with the military part. Military spending is now less than interest on the national debt. The excess federal spending is on social programs, SS, Medicare, Medicaid and others . We’ve made promises to ourselves that can’t be kept.
Close it during the summer months only, open back up to traffic from October to March. During those warm months, the businesses will fill up their additional outdoor dining space.
What about Boulder’s future? Many of today’s vocal opponents just won’t be there in 2050 which is what we should be planning for today. Businesses open and close regularly and that’s part of what makes a city vibrant. Sure, I miss Juanita’s on West Pearl that closed around 2011, the Med that closed in 2020, the Boulder Cafe that closed around 2015 but at the same time it’s exciting to see new places open, and people visit those with great anticipation ready to try something new. Change is natural and inevitable and should be celebrated.
Very strange to see Jungle and T/aco as opponents considering they have outdoor seating on parking spots!
What about closing it from May 1 until Labor Day?
Opponents to my knowledge have yet to offer a data driven rationale for their position that controls for decline in revenue during the COVID pandemic. Why? They have certainly had plenty of time to do so. All I have read is either pure conjecture (“we know this will hurt business”) or just insulting to both locals and logic.