DENVER — In a busy district downtown, under the shadows of Coors Field, neighbors are noticing change. Homeless encampments were crowding some streets in Denver's Ballpark neighborhood. One of the city's largest encampments was at 20th Avenue and Curtis Street until last winter, when Mayor Mike Johnston's office offered people a place to stay indoors.
"We saw a massive investment from the mayor's office and city council in cleaning up this part of town," said Stevenson Farnsworth, a Ballpark resident.
Farnsworth wants to see the improvements continue. It's why he is a part of a community-led effort to create a "General Improvement District" (GID) in Ballpark.
The purpose of the GID would be to create an advocacy group for the community to invest in safety, security, and infrastructure. It would create a funding mechanism by levying a tax on residential and commercial property owners as well as renters.
"We will be able to have our own group of people advocating for us – picking up trash, watering trees, removing graffiti," Farnsworth said. "This would be services on top of what the city is already providing."
If approved by city council and passed by voters in the district on the November ballot, the GID's budget in the first year is expected to be $1.3 million. Most of it – $750,000 – would be allocated to safety, security, navigation and community ambassadors.
As part of the effort, the GID would have a team helping the unhoused when city resources become limited.
"We do not have a shortage of beds in this neighborhood for individuals who need help," said Meghan Shay, executive director of Step Denver. "We need more people making those connections."
Step Denver is a men's residential recovery program in Ballpark. She believes more connections will protect her residents who are overcoming addiction.
"They won't have to face as many of those encounters that are dangerous for them and can be triggering," Shay said.
The Ballpark Community submitted more than 200 petitions support in May for the formation of a GID. The advisory board would consist of a commercial property owner, business owner, residential property owner, a resident, Colorado Rockies representative, a social service provider, a representative of Denver's Department of Infrastructure and Transportation and the city councilperson representing the area.
The neighborhood feels different to those who call Ballpark home and work. They want positive change to stay.
"This is just the beginning for Ballpark," Farnsworth said.
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