Aurora council advances Colfax downtown development authority referral to November ballot

Aurora City Council members on July 14 agreed without objection to move an ordinance forward that would place two questions on the November ballot asking qualified electors within a proposed downtown development authority whether to form the DDA and whether to allow tax‑increment financing in the Colfax core. Council Member Wagner introduced the presentation and consultant Brad Siegel and project manager Naomi Lacewell briefed council on the draft plan and outreach to date.

Why it matters: If voters in the DDA boundary approve both questions, a governing board appointed by the council would be formed to invest captured future tax revenue — tax increment financing — in corridor improvements the plan identifies as priorities over a 10‑ to 20‑year horizon, including public safety and security, small‑business support, housing…