“Vibrant Denver” Heats Up

On July 24th, the temperature was climbing inside the Montbello Branch of the Denver Public Library. By 1 pm, the library had to close. This would be the first of 14 days with unexpected closures due to excessive temperatures in the building over a four week period this summer.

Montbello residents were feeling the impact. “The library is inaccessible because the air conditioning isn't working. It’s a recreational space, and the community needs it,” wrote Judith Padilla, a library user, in a google review during closures.

There have long been concerns about the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system in the Montbello library. The current system has been in place since the 1970s, one of many challenges facing the aging building. According to Erika Martinez, the Director of Communications and Community Engagement for the Denver Public Library, “...our Facilities Management team has been tracking the aging system and its increasing reliability issues for several years.”

Now, relief is on the horizon for patrons of the Montbello library. Renovation of the Montbello library, including an HVAC overhaul, is one of the projects included in the Vibrant Denver Bond, a general obligation bond passed by Denver voters last year. But when will Montbello library-goers actually experience these improvements?

The Montbello Branch Library

Montbello residents depend on the library for reliable access to computers, outdoor spaces, meeting rooms, and fax, print and copy services. It is also home to the ideaLAB, a maker-space open five days a week providing 3D-printers, embroidery machines, sublimation printers, and a recording studio. According to Martinez, the Montbello Branch Library averages 238 visits, 54 checkouts, and 64 computer users daily. In 2025, the library hosted 674 events and programs, serving 11,285 participants.

In 2022, Denver Public Library (DPL) repaired parts of the cooling system and added new swamp coolers. This temporarily improved the situation; however, Martinez said, “there are limitations on what can be done to the existing HVAC system without addressing the broader infrastructure.” Older HVAC systems may be strained by current conditions; this July was the city’s second hottest on record. In reporting this story, I was unable to reach sources on multiple days due to unanticipated closures.

Vibrant Denver to the Rescue?

On February 12, 2025, Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced plans to pursue the Vibrant Denver Bond, a general obligation bond package designed to fund public improvements across the city.

At the beginning of the process, city officials identified potential projects to include in the bond. They solicited proposals from the public, and made efforts to include all areas of the city. Over 6,200 people responded to Vibrant Denver Bond online and print surveys. Montbello was one of 55 self-identified neighborhoods with at least five survey responses.

In addition to public solicitation, proposals were identified through nominations from City Council or from city agencies. The Montbello Branch Library renovations were sponsored by the Denver Public Library.

This bond was an opportunity for the Denver Public Library to make their case to the city and acquire the money for a long-term solution for the Montbello Branch. According to Martinez, “The data we now have regarding the closures and what we’ve temporarily done to keep the doors open demonstrates the need for a permanent solution. DPL advocated for including Montbello in the Denver Vibrant Bond…”

The Montbello Branch renovation proposal was reviewed by the Recreation Centers, Libraries, Housing, and Other City Facilities Subcommittee, and placed into tier one (the highest of three tiers) based on its importance. Of the 55 projects reviewed by the City Facilities subcommittee, 31 were placed in the top tier. After being ranked by the subcommittee, these projects were reviewed by an Executive Committee. The final bond included 18 projects from the City Facilities category. In November 2025, Denver voters passed the bond.

What is in the Montbello project?

This project has a $10.9 million budget. It could include several features, such as outdoor seating and “space modernization,” but the most notable improvements will be those to the infrastructure of the library, including the HVAC system. Martinez said, “the HVAC issue is one of several longstanding infrastructure needs at the Montbello Branch that the project is intended to address.”

In total, the Vibrant Denver Bond will fund 58 projects with a combined budget of roughly $950 million. The Transportation and Mobility section is the largest group of projects, accounting for nearly half of the budget, $441 million for 14 projects. Notably, two large transportation projects totaling almost $140 million are designated for the area where the Denver Broncos are planning to build a new stadium.

The City Facilities section is the 2nd-largest category, totaling $244 million for 18 projects. The Montbello Library project represents roughly 1% of the entire Vibrant Bond budget. For a community like Montbello, this relatively small investment will go a long way. Other projects in this section, such as the Green Valley Ranch Library ideaLAB and the Decker Branch Library renovation, are similar in scope.

From Approval to Reality

Denver has set a goal of completing all 58 bond projects within six years. The Montbello Library project has progressed on schedule. A contract went out for bids on May 14th, and proposals were submitted on June 18th. On July 15 the project was awarded to Handprint Architecture Inc. Patrick Riley, Vibrant Denver Bond Program Manager from the Denver Department of Finance, explained that the mayor’s office tries to award contracts to a range of contractors. He said, “We didn’t want to see everything go to a handful of contractors or consultants.”

The Montbello Library project is scheduled to enter the design phase in the fourth quarter of 2026. Riley said, “We have an ethos that we do these projects with the community, not to the community.” About the Montbello Library, he said, “I think it’s important that the community has their voice heard pretty clearly in this one.” However, Martinez, from Denver Public Library, noted that there may be less community engagement needed for this project. She said, “For projects focused primarily on deferred maintenance…there are generally fewer decisions that require customer input.”

Construction is set to begin in 2028. Riley said, “We really want to try to limit that to impact the school year the least… There are kids there that use Montbello Library to get their homework done.”

As much as the city may work to include the community, many people remain unaware of this project. This summer, library patrons were reluctant to speak on the record, because they reported being unaware of planned improvements or the Vibrant Bond project itself. When closures are anticipated, Martinez said “DPL typically notifies the community approximately six weeks in advance.”

In one of the hottest summers on record in Denver, the unreliable HVAC at Montbello Library created a barrier between a community and its resources. Even though the impact of the HVAC problems are ongoing, the project is on track to fix this problem in a way that considers the community. But facing a summer of closures, with no work on the HVAC yet, that may not be soon enough for the community. Although there is a plan in place, Riley said, “No plan survives contact with reality.”