Urban Renewal Expansion
Status: In Progress Lead Body: Boulder Urban Renewal Authority Related Bodies: City Council, Planning Board, Downtown Management Commission First Active: April 2026
The Boulder Urban Renewal Authority was restructured in early 2026 per state law changes, with a new 12-commissioner board sworn in at the April 2 inaugural meeting and City Manager Nuria Rivera Vandermide serving as executive director. The newly reorganized Office of Cultural and Economic Development (OCED) now staffs BURA. With governance reset, BURA is actively evaluating four preliminary urban renewal areas — a significant expansion from existing districts — while City Council simultaneously explores a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) formation that could be placed on the November 2026 ballot.
Urban renewal uses Tax Increment Financing (TIF): when an area is designated, the tax base is frozen and any increase in assessed value ("increment") flows to the authority for up to 25 years to fund infrastructure, housing, and redevelopment. A DDA operates similarly but adds a voter-approved mill levy and can absorb existing General Improvement Districts (GIDs). State law requires a condition survey and urban renewal plan before BURA designation; community engagement and council approval are required throughout.
DDA Formation (March–November 2026)
A planning group of business leaders, property owners, and community groups has been developing a potential DDA for downtown Boulder + the Hill neighborhood. Staff presented three funding options to Council in March 2026:
| Revenue Source | Year 1 Est. | Year 10 Est. |
|---|---|---|
| TIF only (1% growth) | ~$300K | ~$3M |
| Mill levy + TIF | ~$2.1M | ~$5M |
| + Parking assets | Roughly doubles above |
Three potential November 2026 ballot questions:
- Create the DDA
- Authorize property/sales tax TIF
- Authorize mill levy
Staff recommends "coordinated model" (all three). Existing GIDs would dissolve over time, assets transferring to DDA. 30-year initial term with 20-year extensions.
BURA Candidate Urban Renewal Areas
| Area | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Boulder Junction Phase 2 | Condition survey presented | First statutory step completed Apr 30, 2026 |
| 55th & Arapahoe | Preliminary | In discovery phase |
| East Bookend of Civic Area | Preliminary; overlaps DDA interest | Pacific Area (13th–14th, Arapahoe Canyon); may be in DDA boundary |
| North Boulder Arts District | Preliminary | In discovery phase |
Timeline
| Date | Body | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-01-01 | City | Office of Cultural and Economic Development created; BURA restructured per state law |
| 2026-04-02 | BURA | Inaugural meeting; 12 commissioners sworn in; Nuria Rivera Vandermide confirmed as exec director |
| 2026-04-16 | City Council | Approved Ordinance 8748 — Metropolitan Districts Regulatory Framework: Boulder's first local process for approving commercial metro districts (≥90% commercial assessed value); 50-mill debt levy cap; 3-mill BARRI regional levy; Resolution 1378 (Model Service Plan) deferred one meeting |
| 2026-04-30 | BURA | Condition survey for Boulder Junction Phase 2 presented; four candidate areas identified |
| 2026-03-12 | City Council | DDA formation study session; staff presented funding models; council gave directional guidance |
| 2026-06-?? | City Council | Staff to return with draft Plan of Development; council to decide on ballot referral |
| 2026-11-?? | Voters | Potential DDA ballot measure (3 questions); potential BURA area designations to follow |
Key Decisions
- 2026-04-16 — Council approved Ordinance 8748: first-in-Boulder Metropolitan Districts regulatory framework for commercial development financing; companion Resolution 1378 (Model Service Plan) deferred one meeting for compounding-interest amendment
- 2026-04-02 — BURA restructured; new governance structure; City Manager as executive director
- 2026-04-30 — Condition survey for Boulder Junction Phase 2 presented
- 2026-03-12 — Council study session on DDA formation; staff targeting June return with draft plan; November 2026 ballot possible
Open Questions
- Will Council proceed with November 2026 DDA ballot measure?
- How will East Bookend be treated — BURA designation, DDA boundary, or both?
- Base year for TIF modeling (2026 vs. 2027) unresolved
- Intergovernmental coordination needed with Boulder County and BVSD on property tax TIF impacts
- Community engagement for each BURA candidate area not yet designed
- North Boulder Arts District: arts zoning and cultural programming goals not yet defined
Process Notes
Urban renewal designation requires:
- Condition survey (documenting blight/economic conditions)
- Urban renewal plan (required community input)
- City Council adoption
- TIF base freeze; 25-year increment capture window
DDA formation requires:
- Plan of development (community-driven)
- Council referral to ballot
- Voter approval
- 30-year initial operating term