City is seeking residents, property owners, business owners and employees willing to help steer East Colfax's future
The city of Aurora is now accepting applications from eligible residents, property owners and business owners or employees who want to serve on the board for the voter-created Aurora Downtown Development Authority.
A Downtown Development Authority, known as a DDA, is a governmental entity separate from the city and defined by state statute. They are empowered to use future growth in property tax and sales tax revenues in a specified area over time to support economic development, infrastructure improvements and community revitalization efforts in that area.
Voters within the boundaries of the Aurora DDA in November overwhelmingly supported the creation of their own authority, which is now tasked with helping to bring about a new vision for the stretch of East Colfax Avenue often referred to as “Original Aurora.”
The process of launching the authority is taking a major step forward this week as the city opens up the application process for qualified volunteers who want to serve on the DDA board.
Applications opened on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The window to apply will close on Saturday, Feb. 28.
To be considered, applicants must be at least 18 years old and either live within the DDA’s boundaries, own property within those boundaries or be the owner or an employee of a business that operates within the district.
The boundaries of the Aurora DDA stretch along Colfax from Yosemite Street on the western end, East 16th Avenue to the north, the Fitzsimons Urban Renewal Area to the east, and East 14th Avenue to the south.
For additional information and to apply, visit AuroraGov.org/DDABoard.
After the application window closes, a nomination committee will conduct interviews in March. Mayor Mike Coffman will then bring six nominees forward for City Council consideration. The council will vote whether or not to confirm those nominees at a public hearing in April.
The six confirmed board members will join at-large council member Alli Jackson in constituting the seven-person DDA board. Council member Jackson was appointed by City Council earlier this month to hold the DDA board seat reserved for one local elected official. The board would then begin meeting later in the spring.
Residents who have questions, comments or would like to provide a public nomination letter supporting a potential board member can email [email protected].
While the DDA board will oversee the authority’s operations, the vision for the East Colfax corridor is being created with direct input from the public.
Over the last year, a draft Colfax Community Vision & Action Plan has been created to serve as a long-term roadmap for revitalizing East Colfax and the surrounding areas of Northwest Aurora. That plan was created following 24 public events engaging more than 870 attendees and with feedback gathered from conversations with more than 100 residents, business owners, property owners, and organizations in the area.
The DDA board would adopt this plan as its legally required plan of development, with approval by City Council.
That draft plan also sets the stage for creating a nonprofit Community Development Corporation (CDC) that would use different funding streams and cover a larger area. Together, these organizations would help create public improvements, support local businesses, and protect the area’s character while promoting economic growth that benefits everyone.
For more information about the planning process and to review the draft version of the Colfax Community Vision & Action plan, please visit EngageAurora.org/ColfaxPlan.
Once seated, the DDA board’s first task will be completing a final version of that plan to bring forward for City Council approval.