Denver adds downtown properties to authority, subjecting them to future taxes for its benefit
The boundary change covers public sites and parcels whose owners petitioned to join. The ordinance does not impose a tax.
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Denver City Council expanded the Denver Downtown Development Authority’s boundaries to include public sites and downtown properties whose owners petitioned to join. The change makes those properties subject to any city taxes later imposed for the authority’s benefit. Council passed the measure Oct. 5, 2026, and the mayor approved it Oct. 7, according to the ordinance. The ordinance does not itself impose a tax or authorize a development project.
The added properties are grouped by petition period. The September 2025 group includes 600 and 622 16th St.; 1500 Blake St.; and 1505, 1518 and 1600 Glenarm Place. The October 2025 group includes Civic Center Park, the McNichols Building, Skyline Park and 500 16th St. The August 2026 group includes the Denver Post Building, 1530 16th St., 444 17th St. Unit 100, 900 16th St. and 1514 17th St. The ordinance provides legal descriptions and parcel identifiers; these addresses are a shorter guide to the listed locations.
The ordinance says the properties “shall be subject to any taxes thereafter imposed by the City for the use and benefit of the Authority.” It sets no specific tax or rate.
The ordinance does not specify an effective date. Denver’s charter says ordinances take effect after final passage and publication unless they specify otherwise; the council docket does not state when publication occurred, so the effective date is unclear.