News Sheet

Denver Spends Millions on a Motel, Doesn’t Use It

Written by Scott K. James

Denver bought a motel for millions to house homeless folks, then left it empty for months. Meanwhile, local contractors and city budgets mysteriously keep getting fatter.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration just gave us another glittering jewel of government idiocy, like an overpriced motel that no one stays in. The Denver Post uncovered this delightful tale of fiscal lunacy: the city dropped millions on a Peoria Street motel in hopes of converting it into a homeless shelter. Admirable mission, right? Only one problem – they haven’t actually used the damn building. While people sleep on sidewalks, this taxpayer-funded flophouse sat vacant. Classic.

The Bullet Point Brief

  • Denver spent millions of your dollars buying a rundown motel to house the homeless, and then forgot to house anyone.
  • For months, it sat empty while people slept on sidewalks.
  • The Peoria Street property currently looks less like housing help and more like a crime scene from Dateline.
  • Johnston’s team now claims they’ll retrofit it soon, but there’s still no timeline or clue what they’re doing.
  • All signs point toward yet another backroom contractor payday wrapped in virtue-signaling red tape.

My Bottom Line

This is what happens when feel-good politics smash headfirst into bureaucratic incompetence and then roll around in taxpayer cash like pigs in slop. Denver didn’t just buy a motel; they bought themselves into another grift-riddled government boondoggle. Of course they did! You think these political masterminds know how to fix homelessness? Hell, they can’t even coordinate a ribbon-cutting without three consultants and fifteen press releases.

Let’s be real: Colorado doesn’t have a government gap, we have a gospel gap. We’ve turned homelessness into an industry where politicians play savior with your money and churches stay silent from their pews. Where’s the faith community that used to feed people physically and spiritually? Instead, we’ve got multimillion-dollar buildings collecting dust while souls rot in alleyways. This isn’t compassion, it’s disgraceful mismanagement with a halo filter slapped on top.

“Don’t worry,” says the city. “We’ll get around to using it!” Sure ya will, right after every contractor cousin-in-law gets their cut. Johnston might’ve majored in virtue signaling but failed Urban Planning 101. You can’t solve spiritual decay with social programs alone – the soul of the matter needs fixing first. And spoiler alert: God does that better than zoning codes ever could.

About the author

Scott K. James

A 4th generation Northern Colorado native, Scott K. James is a veteran broadcaster, professional communicator, and principled leader. Widely recognized for his thoughtful, common-sense approach to addressing issues that affect families, businesses, and communities, Scott, his wife, Julie, and son, Jack, call Johnstown, Colorado, home. A former mayor of Johnstown, James is a staunch defender of the Constitution and the rule of law, the free market, and the power of the individual. Scott has delighted in a lifetime of public service and continues that service as a Weld County Commissioner representing District 2.