Sakura Square

Description

Sakura Square has a unique story and holds an important cultural place in the history of Denver and Colorado. It is also a reflection of the history of the Japanese-American experience in Colorado. More than forty years after its creation, the block is undergoing a resurgence of cultural significance while reinvigorating its residential and commercial assets. Since its dedication in May 1973, Sakura Square has been a multi-generational, multi-cultural community and a destination for those seeking Japanese goods and services. Sakura Square is an example of a truly successful multi-use project in the heart of downtown Denver. In the early 1970s, when Denver Urban Renewal Authority began transforming what is now known as LoDo, Denver's Japanese community was forced to change. Without the efforts of the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple, the businesses that had been part of the approximately 9-square block community would have been forced to divide and relocate. Instead, they were given the opportunity to move into the one-block area that already housed the Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple, preserving the Japanese-American heritage of the area. The Tri-State Denver Buddhist Temple, originally built in 1947, anchors Sakura Square and provides a spiritual center. A small garden plaza on the site provides a respite from the su