Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s first major initiative toward reviving downtown from its pandemic downturn got strong support from eligible voters.

More than 81% of voters chose to expand the Downtown Development Authority — created to fund Union Station’s 2014 restoration using tax-increment financing — to cover the rest of downtown Denver and generate nearly half-a-billion dollars for funding projects across the city core.

“As cities across the country struggle to bring their downtown back to pre-pandemic levels, Denver has decided to face this seemingly unsolvable challenge head-on and bet on our cultural, civic, and economic core by passing 6A with more than 80% support,” Johnston said in a statement Wednesday.

City estimates showed about 2,500 individuals were eligible to vote on expanding the boundaries. State law only allows voters who live, own property or operate a business within the current boundaries of the Downtown Development Authority to vote on the expansion.

Preliminary voting turnout fell short of estimates, totaling 807 votes counted as of Wednesday morning. More than 650 voted yes and 150 voted no, according to preliminary results.

Denver’s election results won’t be certified by the Clerk and Recorder until Nov. 22.

“I am cautiously optimistic that our Ballot issue will PASS,” Regional Transportation District board member and Downtown Development Authority Chair Doug Tisdale posted Tuesday night on LinkedIn.

A Downtown Development Authority is a public financing tool, which uses future tax revenues expected from development projects to pay off debt or finance new projects.

Denver’s DDA — created in 2008 for the iconic transit hub’s major renovation — currently generates about $40 million annually and was at risk of being dissolved as it was close to paying off Union Station’s loans, City Planner David Gaspers told the Denver Planning Board in September.

The city worked on an expedited timeline to preserve the DDA and the $40 million it already generates as downtown struggles with rising office vacancies, lagging foot traffic and disruptive construction on 16th Street Mall.

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Johnston announced the expansion plan in May in front of Union Station, saying it would help downtown get out of an economic “doom loop” many downtowns across the U.S. are facing. The expansion is expected to generate about $570 million over the next decade.

“The successful expansion of the Downtown Development Authority gives us the resources we need to invest in the transformative projects that will revitalize Downtown Denver. The funding will help bring new opportunities for downtown and beyond – from new housing to revitalized public spaces to economic opportunity and growth,” Johnston said in his statement Wednesday morning, thanking City Council, local partners and residents for helping push the expansion through.

In a statement, Downtown Denver Partnership President and CEO Kourtny Garrett said the organization couldn’t be prouder of getting 81% of voters to vote yes on the expansion.

“As we engaged with the electorate to educate on the measure, we were heartened to not only find strong support for 6A, but also widespread optimism for downtown from residents and businesses alike,” Garrett said. “The passage of 6A represents both an exciting milestone for the renewal and expansion of the Downtown Denver Development Authority and a vote of confidence in our future from our downtown community.”

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The Downtown Development Authority still needs approval from City Council to amend its “Plan of Development,” a document setting the parameters for what the tax revenues can be spent on. Currently, it focuses on supporting growth around Union Station and an amended plan draft shifts focus toward economic revitalization post-pandemic.

City Council is expected to vote on the draft at the Dec. 9 meeting.

Once approved, the mayor’s office said the city will open applications for downtown revitalization projects and funding is expected to begin rolling out in 2025.