“” listen to the podcast Produced by Leon Neyfakh of Slow Burn. Tenth episode of 5-4 Podcasd. Kelo v New London 21 April 2020. Five Points Business Improvement District (FPBID) is a quasi-government that has the power of eminent domain within its boundaries.
“When in doubt, blame gentrification. That seems to be the reflex among some who hunt for the source of urban problems that are difficult to explain. The latest example: linking gentrification to a rise in violent crime. This was the case made by an assistant professor at Metropolitan State University in The Denver Post’s … [Read more…]
“A quasi-governmental organization that works to spur redevelopment of blighted areas in Denver has sued a former grant recipient. The Denver Urban Renewal Authority filed a lawsuit against EJ Thompson and two entities he controls last week, accusing the developer of fraud and breach of contract. Thompson did not respond to a request for … [Read more…]
“Kellie Plessinger lives in Aurora now but she grew up in Denver around a notorious strip of East Colfax that, back in the day, may have inspired conservative columnist George Will’s infamous line comparing this street to a warzone. Plessinger works at the Ranch House Cafe at Colfax and Syracuse Street. In the late … [Read more…]
“Since Eric Sutherland first stepped into a courtroom about five years ago, he’s represented himself in at least nine lawsuits for pennies on the dollar compared to his taxpayer-funded opponents. Through mid-June, those government agencies have spent more than $910,529 on litigation involving the Fort Collins community activist since 2014 — and those costs … [Read more…]
“The 2019 Colorado General Assembly has only been in session for a few weeks, but bills are already pending or in the works that may affect real property and development. Here, we discuss a few of the most impactful. For more information, you can always contact one of our government relations or real estate … [Read more…]
“In June, a south suburban Denver fire district filed suit against the urban renewal authority (URA) in Parker, Colorado over the diversion of property taxes to subsidize redevelopment projects. Also in June, news broke that the URA in Arvada, Colorado in the north metro Denver area sold a 9-acre parcel of land to a … [Read more…]
“In a marathon meeting that stretched into the early morning hours Wednesday, Littleton City Council eviscerated its urban renewal program but stopped short of abolishing the authority that administers it. The council voted 4-3 to keep alive its authority — Littleton Invests for Tomorrow — and with it, the Columbine Square shopping center as … [Read more…]
“Municipalities have been overtly abusing the broad authority given them under Colorado’s urban renewal law for decades. What was originally intended to address the problems stemming from people living in sub-standard housing amidst squalor is now almost exclusively used by politicians and planners to give public subsidies to private interests for preferred economic development … [Read more…]
“Tax-increment financing use by the Denver Urban Renewal Authority has been good overall for Denver, according to a new white paper by the Denver auditor’s office. The sometimes controversial urban-renewal tool has been used to redevelop many areas in Denver. An audit shows that 42 tax-increment financing districts in place between 2004 and 2014 … [Read more…]