Aurora has officially opened the door for locals to help decide what East Colfax looks like in the years ahead. On Tuesday, the city began accepting applications for the inaugural East Colfax Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board, a new group that will guide long-term revitalization along the Colfax corridor.
The board is set to adopt the draft Colfax Community Vision & Action Plan and use it as a roadmap for public-space upgrades, housing efforts, and support for small businesses. Applications are due Feb. 28, with public interviews expected in March and mayoral nominations for City Council confirmation slated for April.
Applications Are Open: Where To Find Materials
The city has posted the full application packet, an informational flyer, and a set of FAQs on its DDA page, and the form is also available through Aurora’s boards and commissions portal. According to AuroraGov.org, translation and ADA accommodations will be available throughout the process. Applicants can submit letters of support, and the interviews themselves will be open for the public to watch.
Who Can Serve On The Board
This is not a citywide open call. State law and city rules limit the seven seats to people directly tied to the DDA district: residents, property owners, or business operators who are at least 18 years old and located inside the boundaries.
The DDA territory runs roughly from Yosemite Street on the west to the Fitzsimons area on the east, and from East 14th to East 16th Avenues. The draft Colfax plan was built after a lengthy community process that included 24 public events and more than 870 participants, according to EngageAurora.org.
Selection Timeline And Public Process
A city-appointed nomination committee will handle the first round of vetting and interview candidates in March. Mayor Mike Coffman is then expected to nominate six people for City Council consideration at a public hearing in April, the city says.
Once those nominees are confirmed, they will join at-large Councilmember Alli Jackson, who will serve on the board as well. Together they will form a seven-member body that is expected to start holding open meetings later this spring, according to AuroraGov.org.
What The Board Will Oversee And How It’s Funded
The board’s first big assignment will be to fine-tune and formally adopt the Colfax Community Vision & Action Plan as the DDA’s legally required Plan of Development. That document will guide which projects and priorities get funding.
Under state law, the DDA can use tax-increment financing (TIF) to reinvest future growth in property and sales tax revenue back into the district. TIF does not create a new tax; it redirects a portion of future increases. Current priorities outlined in the plan include public safety, support for local businesses, housing stability, and improvements to public spaces, according to Colorado Politics.
Local Reaction: Support And Skepticism
The rollout has sparked a mix of optimism and unease along East Colfax. Some business owners say the DDA could finally channel serious resources and foot traffic back into a corridor that has seen years of disinvestment. Others are more wary.
“I’m concerned about the DDA; there has been no transparency,” resident Ellen Woo told the Aurora City Council during the rollout. Those transparency concerns came up repeatedly during council discussions about outreach and appointment rules, as reported by Sentinel Colorado.
On the other side, business owners such as the owner of Bahn and Butter told local news they feel hopeful the DDA will bring more support for small businesses and improve safety along the corridor, according to Denver7.
How To Apply And Next Steps
Anyone who lives, works, owns property, or runs a business inside the DDA boundary is encouraged by the city to throw their hat in the ring. Translation services and ADA accommodations are available during the application and interview stages, according to the city.
Applications will be screened to ensure candidates meet the legal requirements. Interviews will be held in public, and the inaugural board will be expected to refine the draft Colfax plan before sending it back to the City Council for a formal vote.
With a Feb. 28 deadline and a relatively tight schedule over the next few months, city leaders say they want the board to reflect the corridor’s diversity and to include renters, longtime residents, and small-business voices from up and down East Colfax.
