Denver committee backs Broadway Bark property-tax exemption
The 3-2 recommendation sends the request to the full City Council, which must decide by Aug. 24 whether the district-leased property meets the public-purpose standard under HB 25-1289.
Denver’s Finance and Business Committee voted 3-2 Tuesday to recommend a property-tax exemption for Broadway Bark, sending the request to the full City Council for a decision by Aug. 24.
Official committee minutes show Council members Paul Kashmann, Diana Romero Campbell and Darrell Watson voting for the recommendation and Amanda Sandoval and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez voting against it. Stacie Gilmore and Chris Hinds were absent. The full council had not voted as of July 17.
The exemption would cover the 44,675-square-foot property at 363 South Broadway, where the dog park operates. The assessor put the property’s 2025 actual value at $4.11 million and estimated the exemption at slightly more than $160,000 a year — about $88,000 in Denver taxes and $71,840 in metropolitan-district taxes. In the committee meeting video, the assessor said the exemption was partial in 2023 and full in 2024, but was removed for 2025 after a new state law took effect.
Broadway Park North Metropolitan District No. 1, formerly BMP Metropolitan District No. 1, leases the parcel from BMP Northwest LLC for $1 a year and operates the fenced park. The facility has separate areas for smaller dogs and general use, along with lighting, benches, shade, waste bags and play equipment. BusinessDen reported that D4 Urban partners own the land and lease it to the district. The meeting record says individuals connected to the district board own part of the property, prompting the review under House Bill 25-1289.
The law established a process for reviewing leased property when a metropolitan-district director has a disclosed interest. The district must explain the property’s use and whether it involves private use; the governing body then decides whether it serves a public purpose. The assessor said the city’s 63-day review clock began when the district submitted its statement June 26, making Aug. 24 the deadline.
Supporters said Broadway Bark provides a public service that ordinary parks do not. Caitlin Braun of the Broadway General Improvement District called it a major asset and said the model could be replicated in vacant spaces. Janet Namcong said Denver has 13 off-leash parks totaling about 15 acres and that south Denver is underserved. Council Member Flor Alvidrez cited nearby Washington Park but said residents do not want dogs running freely there.
Opponents focused on precedent and city finances. Sandoval said she was uncomfortable forgoing $160,000 for one privately owned property during a budget deficit and would oppose similar requests from other entities. The discussion did not identify a comparable recreational property or estimate how many future properties might seek the same treatment. The assessor said staff would verify that the qualifying public use continued rather than bring the exemption back to council annually.
The committee’s action is only a recommendation. The full City Council must still decide whether the leased property meets the law’s public-purpose standard before the Aug. 24 deadline.