Denver and Adams County officials on Wednesday launched a campaign asking voters in both counties this fall to approve a deal allowing commercial development on Denver International Airport property.
“The airport pumps more than $26 billion a year into the state’s economy, making it the leading economic driver in the region,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said in a news release. “1A for DIA will allow the airport to continue to be a catalyst for economic development for the metro area, giving us the opportunity to strengthen our economy, produce thousands more jobs, and attract new businesses into the region.”
The ballot measure requires approval from both counties’ voters Nov. 3 for an amendment to Denver’s 1988 intergovernmental agreement with Adams County, which allowed the annexation of the swath of land on which Denver built DIA. At the time, Denver had agreed to limit non-airport commercial development on airport land.
Since Denver now wants to reap the benefits of attracting aviation-related businesses and other industry to DIA property, it .
Denver and its Adams County neighbors will split new local tax proceeds from development on up to 1,500 acres as part of a pilot program. But first, the city will pay $10 million upfront to Adams County and its cities, including Aurora.
Joining Hancock at a kickoff event Wednesday near the airport were Adams County Commissioner Erik Hansen, Thornton Mayor Heidi Williams and DIA’s CEO Kim Day.
The “1A for DIA” campaign will focus heavily on the projected economic impact of the deal, including the potential attraction of 12,000 new jobs. It already , but backers are still working to build support among voters who, by and large, don’t know much about it, as Hansen .
Campaign spokeswoman M.E. Smith said the message will be unified in both counties, which each have given the measure the same “1A” ballot listing.
OnSight Public Affairs is handling the campaign.
You can about the other ballot measures Denver voters will decide.
