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Boulder staff outline four economic‑development tools to address vacancies, including a downtown development authority and CHIPS zone
Summary
City staff asked council for feedback on four initiatives — exploring a downtown development authority, updating the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority, applying for a CHIPS zone, and expanding an economic‑development incentive program — and provided timelines for further study and potential voter or council actions.
City staff asked the Boulder City Council on July 24 for guidance on four proposed economic‑development initiatives designed to address commercial vacancies and support business vitality: continued exploration of a downtown development authority (DDA), restructuring the Boulder Urban Renewal Authority (BURA), applying for a CHIPS zone designation, and an expanded, criteria‑based economic‑development incentive program.
The presentation, led by Assistant City Manager Mark Wolf and economic vitality staff, framed the measures as tools the city can use to support commercial vibrancy, help recruit and retain businesses, and align investments with local equity and sustainability values.
Why it matters: Council identified economic vitality as a priority earlier this year and asked for concrete, actionable steps. The initiatives discussed would create new legal and financial mechanisms that could be used to fund streetscape upgrades, maintenance, programming, and incentives…
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