Residents raise funds to propose improvement district for South Broadway

In Denver, Colorado, local business owners and residents have come together to advocate for the creation of a General Improvement District (GID) for the South Broadway area. This initiative aims to improve the neighborhood while preserving its character and supports the businesses and community members who have been part of the area for years. With the support of business owners like Doris Yuen from MAKFam and Luke Johnson from the merchants association, there is a strong community sentiment that a GID could address a variety of issues, particularly those exacerbated during the pandemic. Since the pandemic, the turnover rate for businesses in the South Broadway area has been significant, estimated between 15% and 20%, prompting the need for a structured recovery effort. Local business owners have noted that the support from the city has not been adequate, leading them to pursue the GID as a means to generate funds through a small added property tax within the neighborhood. The collected funds would be reinvested into improvements for the area, thus working to repair broken aspects of the community and ensure that it flourishes. The initial step in this process has been the successful raising of $100,000, which is now being brought forward to the Denver City Council for consideration. If approved by the council, the proposal will be put to a public vote in November, allowing residents to have a say in their neighborhood's future.