For many years, the Denver Urban Renewal Authority’s website was a modest effort based on the generic denvergov.org template. Now that’s all changed. DURA recently launched a spiffy new website that is a major improvement over the old one. Check it out at: www.RenewDenver.org
The new website has a ton of information about how urban renewal and tax increment financing works and an overview of the Authority’s housing rehabilitation program–a big part of DURA’s mission that a lot of people don’t realize. Also, take a look at the “DURA’s 50th Anniversary Report” document available at the bottom of the home page. It’s well done and very interesting.
Of note is the section that presents an overview of all of DURA’s redevelopment projects since the 1990s. A lot of people may still think of the old Skyline wrecking-ball days when they think of DURA, but it’s amazing what DURA has accomplished in the past 20 years. In particular is how DURA is responsible for saving a bunch of historic buildings downtown that were in rough shape and facing probable demolition. DURA came to the rescue by providing funding assistance that made the restoration and conversion of these historic buildings pencil out for developers.
Imagine how different Downtown Denver would be if these buildings weren’t there and were vacant lots instead:
All six of these buildings are now in the Downtown Denver Historic District and will be around for generations to come. Thank you DURA!
