Denver, CO
Denver City Council votes to put sales tax measure aimed at growing affordable housing on the ballot
In November Denver voters will decide on whether or not to increase the city’s sales tax in an action aimed at growing affordable housing in the city. The Denver City Council approved the measure that put the question on the ballot in a 9-4 vote in their meeting on Monday night.
Denver Mayor Mike Johnston has been pushing for the tax increase. He says it’s greatly needed in Denver because it would provide funding to building thousands more affordable housing units in the city.
Proponents say the .05% sales tax increase would raise $100 million to support 20,000 affordable units over 10 years.
The area media income — or AMI — in Denver is $91,280 for a single person. For a family of four, it’s $130,400.
Council member Shontel Lewis debated the council on what percentage of that income should have this money directed to them, while others said that there is a difference between market rate apartments and rates reflecting the median income, and that fewer and fewer people are not able to afford market rent nowadays.
One Denver resident said he believes more affordable housing is needed if the money is being directed properly.
“I think most people have no issues paying a little more and doing their fair share to help everyone else, but I absolutely want to see results and not just lining some politicians’ pockets,” said Blake Malone.
Voters will have the final say in November.
If approved by voters, the affordable housing tax would be the eighth dedicated tax in the city and the largest to date.
Voters have also approved sales taxes for parks, college scholarships, mental health care, healthy food for kids, climate change action and ending homelessness.
Last week former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb said he thinks now is not the time to be putting this issue before voters.
Denver, CO
Rockies beat reporter Patrick Saunders to leave Denver Post

Denver, CO
Pedestrian dies after hit by car on southbound E-470, Aurora police say
AURORA, Colo. — A pedestrian died Thursday morning after he was hit by a car on southbound E-470, the Aurora Police Department said.
The crash happened around 6:19 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority, shutting down the highway between 48th and 56th Aves. for approximately three hours. The stretch of road reopened around 9:24 a.m. Thursday, according to the E-470 Toll Authority.
A 34-year-old man intentionally jumped in front of a white Chevrolet Silverado driving on southbound E-470, according to the initial Colorado State Patrol (CSP) investigation.
- Watch the full Denver7 traffic report in the video player below.
Deadly vehicle, pedestrian crash shuts down stretch of SB E-470: Aurora PD
The driver of the Chervolet was not injured and stayed on scene to assist law enforcement with the investigation, CSP said.
Traffic was diverted off E-470 at 48th Ave. during the closure, the E-470 Toll Authority said, advising drivers to find alternate routes. Northbound E-470 remained open during the fatal crash investigation led by CSP.
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Jayson Luber
Denver7 traffic expert Jayson Luber knows Colorado roads like the back of his hand – but he’s always looking for stories impacting transportation in our state for his Driving You Crazy podcast and beyond. If you’d like to get in touch with Jayson, fill out the form below to send him an email.
Denver, CO
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
Higher mortgage rates are discouraging buyers and sellers, and slowing market activity along the way across the Denver metro, according to a Denver Metro Association of Realtors May market trends report.
“There’s a lot of fatigue going on, and specifically due to interest rates, Denver has seen a pretty typical 6% average price appreciation, but the last couple of years it’s been relatively flat. However, that’s just kind of made up for the fact that during the pandemic we saw huge appreciation gains,” said Heather O’Leary, a realtor and a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors market trends committee.
Watch more of Micah Smith’s interview with Heather O’Leary on the current housing market in the video below.
New report finds Denver metro home buyers and sellers experiencing ‘unattainability fatigue’
O’Leary said from May 2017 to May 2026, the median sale price grew from $382,000 to $615,000, a 6% average annual increase that mirrors the market’s long-run historical norm.
“A median home in the Denver metro area could cost 87% more than it did in 2020 and so buyers are exhausted. That’s where we get the term affordability or unattainability fatigue, because it’s just difficult for them to jump into something. And then sellers are honestly exhausted as well, because they don’t want to have to drop their prices,” O’Leary said.
According to the report, closed sales fell nearly 7% year-over-year, attached-home sales dropped almost 18%, and new listings declined more than 17%.
However, the report found the luxury market is outperforming the broader market.
“Luxury buyers are definitely less affected by interest rates, and we’ve seen 3.1% increase year-over-year in pending sales, and about 5% in closed sales, and that’s really because luxury buyers are less affected by interest rates, because they have more flexibility, potentially more cash and equity in a home,” O’Leary said.
The DMAR Market Trends Committee releases reports monthly, including data for Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Clear Creek, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Gilpin, Jefferson and Park counties.
Denver7
Denver7 | Your Voice: Get in touch with Micah Smith
Micah Smith anchors Denver7’s 4 and 5 p.m. newscasts, and reports on issues impacting all of Colorado’s communities. She specializes in telling stories centered on social equity and hearing voices that are unheard or silenced. If you’d like to get in touch with Micah, fill out the form below to send her an email.
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