Downtown Development Authority
(Authoritative)
Established:
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) was created in 1976 after a vote. The creation ordinance specified a maximum of 5 mills of property tax within the boundary. There are over 700 properties in the DDA boundary.
Mission/Purpose:
By Statute, the purpose of DDA is to halt or prevent the deterioration of central business districts by assisting municipalities in the development and redevelopment of such areas.
The DDA primarily focuses on capital development within the downtown. The DDA receives tax increment funding which must be used toward capital investment through debt financing. The tax increment financing was originally approved in 1982 by a special election. In 2007, it was extended by another vote and additional bonded indebtedness was authorized up to $18,000,000.
The DDA is also responsible for events that take place in the Downtown Shopping Park (DSP) which is from 2nd Street to 8th Street on Main, 2nd Street to 7th Street on Colorado, and 7th Street from White Avenue to Colorado. The permitting goes through the City but the DDA authorizes the event to take place as well as sponsoring a number of the events through the Downtown Partnership (a partnership between the DDA and the Downtown Grand Junction Business Improvement District).
The outdoor dining leases in the DSP are also administered by the DDA.
The DDA board also serves as the Board for the Downtown Grand Junction Business Improvement District (DGJBID).
Membership/Terms:
The DDA board is a nine member board serving four year (staggered) terms. Eight of the members must be a resident, business lessee, or own real property within the boundaries of the DDA. The City Council appoints one City Councilmember that is exempt from these qualifications. If the applicant qualifies as a business or real property owner, they do NOT have to be a City resident.