Voters to decide revitalization plan for Aurora’s East Colfax corridor

AURORA | For years, Aurora city officials have attempted to restore the East Colfax Corridor to its former glory as the city’s commercial center, but the efforts have failed.

Aurora officials say a new effort backed by a group with a successful track record in other cities may bring the transformation the community has long sought.

“Over the last 18 months or so, there has been a significant amount of community engagement with residents, with small business owners and others in the area,” Councilmember Curtis Gardner said. “What we have heard consistently from those businesses and those residents is they would like to see a way for crime and safety issues, transportation issues and others to be addressed.” 

The stakeholders, businesses, and residents recommended the establishment of a Downtown Development Authority (DDA), provided voters approve it. DDAs have been used effectively to revitalize places such as Denver’s Union Station since 2014, Downtown Littleton since 2022, and Glenwood Springs’ main downtown area since 2001. 

The two related proposals for the DDA, which are moving to the November ballot of residents within the boundary, aim to revitalize the East Colfax corridor.

The first question asked of voters in the area will be if they want to establish a Downtown Development Authority, which will serve as the legal and financial backbone to help revitalize that downtown area. 

The second question would be whether the residents in the area would want to finance the DDA with Tax Increment Financing (TIF), where future increases in property and sales tax revenue would be captured and reinvested within the DDA boundary.

“This is not a new tax, this is not a tax increase, but this will allow future increases in revenue from both property and sales to be captured and reinvested in the area,” said Brad Segal, Progressive Urban Management Associates.

The boundary encompasses the stretch of the Colfax Corridor between Yosemite Street and Oswego Street, and from East 14th Avenue to East 16th Avenue. 

The proposal is the result of more than 1,200 pieces of community feedback, multiple public meetings, and a project website that has attracted over 2,400 visitors, as well as extensive research and planning, according to Naomi Grunditz Lacewell of Progressive Urban Management Associates. 

A TIF is already used in many urban renewal areas and does not involve the immediate levying of additional taxes or fees. If the DDA were to consider a mill levy in the future, it would require a separate vote of the affected electors, according to Segal. 

“It’s not increasing a tax, it’s future revenue from taxes,” Segal said. “If revenue increases, it would be captured.”

Only people who live, own property and lease businesses within the boundary will be allowed to vote. Businesses’ lessors will be required to fill out forms to vote, while residents within the boundary will be automatically given a ballot. 

The election will receive the required outreach and education efforts to ensure that eligible voters understand the process and its stakes, according to Segal. They predict approximately 2,500 voters for the DDA.

The proposed Community Development Corporation, which will partner with the DDA but not appear on the ballot, will have more flexibility to work throughout the surrounding area and address broader community issues, while collaborating closely with the DDA to maximize its impact.

The Colfax Community Vision and Action Plan for the DDA outlines the goals for revitalization.

“This is a high-level plan,” Lacewel said. “It is meant to be a long-term plan to guide revitalization efforts along East Colfax over the next 10 to 20 years. It also serves as the legally required plan of development for the proposed Downtown Development Authority. It also supports and describes forming a complementary Community Development Corporation that would work with the DDA.”

The plan is based on public input and guided by a working group that includes residents, business owners and property owners. The high-level roadmap addresses six key areas identified through extensive outreach, including public safety and security, support for local businesses, housing and neighborhood stability, corridor cleaning and maintenance, arts and culture and public space improvements. 

Public safety and security will include environmental design changes to deter crime, as well as working with police and implementing a non-police “safety ambassador” program, which has been successful in other cities.

Support for local businesses includes grants, marketing assistance, support for filling vacant storefronts and programs to help businesses gain property ownership and remain in place long-term.

“Small businesses in the area were consistently held up as something that folks really loved and appreciated and were the backbone of this area,” Lacewell said. 

Housing and neighborhood stability encompass preserving and improving the existing housing stock, expanding housing options and providing access to wealth-building tools such as homeownership assistance and job opportunities.

Corridor cleaning and maintenance includes enhanced trash removal, power washing and tree planting. Services that would go above and beyond the city’s regular maintenance.

Arts and Culture will include providing affordable housing for artists and creative spaces, supporting the Creative District with branding and promotions, and enhancing cultural identity and economic opportunities.

Public space improvements encompass a range of initiatives, from central infrastructure projects to short-term upgrades, including park redesign and activation, as well as alley improvements. The plan proposes better signage, wayfinding and public amenities.

If the DDA is approved in November, city council would then appoint a governing board of five to 11 members. The board would be required to consist of local business owners, property owners and residents, along with one city council member. 

The board would be responsible for managing the budget and setting annual priorities that align with the community’s goals.

The DDA could start operating as early as spring 2026, once city council appoints the board. A second draft of the vision and action plan is already underway, according to Segal. Puma is collecting and incorporating ongoing feedback and preparing for the next round of public engagement.