D
enver voters have overwhelmingly approved a ballot measure that will allow the city to borrow $847 million for downtown projects. The measure, known as 6A, was leading by a wide margin late Tuesday, with Mayor Mike Johnston declaring victory. Eligible voters in the district include residents, landowners, and lease holders.

    The funding will enable significant investments in the central city, including new housing, revitalized public spaces, and economic opportunities. The measure will also allow Denver to expand its financing means, which enabled a $480 million renovation of Union Station. This expansion is expected to leverage another $500 million for downtown projects.

    City leaders say applications for projects should open this winter, pending approvals from the City Council on special district governance. The council must also approve a development plan that outlines the types of projects the money might fund. The new financing district's boundaries will stretch from Union Station south to Colfax Avenue along Speer Boulevard and as far east as Grant Street.

    Mayor Johnston said the measure will help Denver revitalize its downtown area, which has struggled to recover from the pandemic. "We're facing this challenge head-on and betting on our cultural, civic, and economic core," he said. The funding will allow for new opportunities in downtown and beyond, including housing, public spaces, and economic growth.