Denver Development

Denver has had a spectacular three years. The latest census data shows that there were nearly 50,000 new residents from 2010 to 2013, or an 8 percent increase. The population growth in the entire metro area was 170,000, or a 6 percent increase. The 7-county metro region’s sales tax was up 9 percent last year.

All this growth is a boom for Denver, possibly one of the nation’s most successful core cities. But, it has generated an anti-development and, in some cases, anti-business attitude, which is showing up at city planning meetings, letters to the editor and municipal politics.

Out of the six Denver City Council Districts open for new candidates due to term limits or job switches, several have anti-development candidates. Denver and its growth strategy may be in for a few tough years if the candidates win.