Golden Downtown Development Authority Business Meeting

The Golden Downtown Development Authority (DDA) held its regular business meeting on April 20, 2026, at 911 Tenth Street, Golden, Colorado, beginning at 5:30 PM per the posted agenda. Chair Chris Ball presided. Commissioners Tim Gerhold, Sandra Knecht, Brad Miller, George Riffel, Jeff Merenkov, and Tamara Munroe participated, along with Executive Director Steve Glueck, Economic Development Manager Tim Dwyer, and Economic Development Specialist Baxter Richardson. The board unanimously approved two capital improvement grants (Toad & Co and Confluence Coffee), received a detailed schedule and infrastructure update from the Clayworks development team, reviewed the results of the December 2025 PSPS relief program, and discussed a range of DDA and joint City projects. No formal conflict-of-interest announcements were made.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Susan Ganter of the Golden Mill submitted an emailed public comment expressing support for the proposed undergrounding of overhead power lines on Ford Street between her business and the Clayworks project.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously approved the minutes of the March 16, 2026, business meeting as part of the consent agenda.

Discussion Items

Toad & Co Capital Improvement Grant — Toad & Co (1213 Washington Ave.), an outdoor retailer in Golden for nine years, requested an $8,875 capital improvement grant (50% of the $17,750 project cost) to replace its failed heating, HVAC, and air conditioning systems. Owners David and Smonna told the board the system failed after the grant application was submitted but before board review; they had already paid a deposit and work was scheduled to begin the next day. Staff noted the grants subcommittee was in favor and landlord approval had been provided. Commissioner discussion noted the improvement is a long-term capital investment that remains with the space. The board approved the grant unanimously.

Confluence Coffee Capital Improvement Grant — Andrew and Paige McCrumb, former Baltimore residents who moved to Golden two years ago, requested the maximum $25,000 grant toward an approximately $52,000 remodel of the former Pangea Coffee Roasters space at 1205 Cheyenne St. The scope of work includes exterior painting (quotes of $4,900 and $4,389.80), electrical improvements ($14,500 from Salzano Electric), and a new ADA-compliant bathroom with a general contractor buildout ($38,765 from Johnson and Johnson Construction Group; $32,659.37 from DT Construct). They signed a three-year lease, plan to use Golden-based contractors, and aim for a July 1, 2026, opening. The 450 sq ft garage space will be used for seating and community events. Staff noted the grants subcommittee had not formally reviewed the application due to last-minute additions. The board approved the grant unanimously.

Clayworks Schedule Update — Darden Coors (CEO), Dan Conegni (CFO), and Sarah Marvez of AC Development updated the board on the Clayworks project. The first building—the CORStech headquarters—has a certificate of occupancy for the core and shell; tenant improvements are underway, and approximately 150 employees are expected to relocate from Denver West Business Park by September 2026. The building includes roughly 10,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail and 170,000 rentable sq ft of office space, with ~110,000 sq ft committed to family entities and the balance being marketed. Future phases include a ~260-unit apartment building (pre-application meeting held; no site plan submitted; expected start April 2027, delivery around April 2029), a boutique hotel with conference space (construction expected to commence spring 2027 with a 24-month build), and a publicly accessible ~600-space parking garage (two levels below grade, six above; targeted February 2027 groundbreaking with about one year of construction). The team reported that demolition of the vacant building at 7th and Washington is pending asbestos testing and abatement. Commissioner Knecht, a Golden City Council member, explained quasi-judicial process rules and noted she may need to recuse herself if discussion delved into upcoming rezoning applications. Regarding the TIF agreement, 2024 eligible expenses totaled approximately $8,610,000; 2025 eligible expenses are estimated at approximately $16,000,000. The DDA expects a small TIF rebate payment of about $65,000 in 2026, with significant rebates not beginning until 2027 or later. Staff proposed jointly investigating—with Clayworks—undergrounding the remaining overhead power lines on Ford Street from 10th Street south to just south of Water Street, noting a potential DDA share in the range of up to ~$150,000 (the Clayworks frontage budget magnitude) with savings from combining the stretches. Board members indicated informal support via head nods; staff clarified this was not a commitment to spend, only to investigate jointly with Xcel.

PSPS Relief Effort Summary and Review — Staff presented the results of the relief program created in response to the late December 2025 Xcel Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS). The program received approximately 150 applications and disbursed roughly $177,000, with a handful of applications still being processed before the May 31, 2026, deadline. The retail/restaurant program drew approximately 70 applications and issued $167,050 in grants (average just under $2,500), with the majority of recipients in the Small Business category. The residential/service program issued $9,750 across 83 applications. Survey results showed most residents were without power for 24–48 hours, and the second-largest group reported outages exceeding 48 hours—reflecting wind-related damage beyond the PSPS itself. Xcel's communication during the event was rated "Somewhat Clear" or "Not Clear" by most respondents. The most commonly cited impacts were food loss and work disruption, with roughly half of applicants also reporting health, safety, or accessibility concerns (e.g., medical devices, elevators, garage doors). Related ongoing efforts: EdComm expanded its Small Business Support Grant program to include generators and backup power supplies (with no double-dipping between DDA, GURA, and EdComm grants); GURA authorized $30,000 to engage a consultant to study Golden's grid sensitivities citywide; and a business-focused Power Resiliency event is planned for Wednesday, June 3rd, at Gnarly's Theater from 10 AM to 1 PM. Staff noted recipients were generally grateful; a few residents declined the $125 grant, stating they did not need it or only wanted to provide survey input.

Detailed Review of DDA and Joint City Projects — Staff provided updates on numerous projects. Miners Alley String Lights: the contractor is preparing an estimate to install one row of lights along the parking lot side between 12th and 13th Streets using existing poles and cable, with a summer/early fall schedule and power to the north half of the lot to be provided under a separate city multi-project electric contract. Arch Santa: staff is soliciting local vendors for repainting and resurfacing. Parfet Park electrical improvements: staff is working with an event production consultant and awaiting selection of the city's multi-project electric contractor for cost estimates. Washington and SH 58 Gateway: renamed the Washington Avenue Streetscape and Gateway effort; staff will coordinate with Planning and Engineering on the full corridor. East Zone Preliminary Construction Plans: the RFP closed with submittals due April 27, with a June kickoff in the field with the DDA and Parks Board. Ford and 14th Street Improvements: the Ford/Jackson project was awarded in March and is under construction; DDA contributions typically transfer at year-end. Prospector Alley (14th–15th): the City began budgeting for alley improvements in 2025, with $300,000 in the current year; the 2026 inspection placed the alley's north half on the "orange" list, making it eligible for consideration of City funding this year. Staff was still awaiting a definitive answer on whether the City will request a DDA contribution. Wayfinding: Community Marketing is evaluating changes to the downtown maps; QR codes on existing maps are heavily trafficked and a DDA financial contribution toward updates is possible. Staff also noted the City has directed staff not to take on new projects due to capacity. A Business Power Resiliency event is planned for Wednesday, June 3rd, at Gnarly's Theater from 10 AM to 1 PM, with a possible DDA co-sponsorship.

Commissioners' Comments

• Two new commissioners will join the board next month.
• The board agreed to transition to digital meeting packets beginning next month.
• Board officer elections are expected in May or June under the updated Boards and Commissions handbook, which includes guidance discouraging council liaisons from seeking chair positions unless necessary.
• A commissioner suggested exploring photo-op placards near the Washington Avenue arch, similar to installation posts on Boulder trails.

Subcommittee and Liaison Updates

• Development Subcommittee: Met April 15. Two new tenants were announced: Stay Golden (owner Claire, relocating her business from Morrison Mercantile) will open next to Bjorn Honey, and Call Your Mother Bagels (a DC-based chain with a Denver location) will open nearby. A sign grant for Stay Golden of approximately $5,000 may be processed administratively. The committee also discussed a strategy for staff to engage owners of underdeveloped downtown sites.
• Grants Subcommittee: No new updates.
• Special Events Review Committee: No update; the liaison was unable to attend the committee's meeting.
• 12th Street Plaza Ad Hoc Committee: Miller and Merenkov are developing an action plan to move beyond the nearly unanimous stakeholder and community support gathered so far; they will share the plan with staff and may bring a more solid proposal to the next meeting.

Staff Report

• 2026 Budget Tracker: approximately one-third of property tax increment and levy revenue has been received; first-quarter sales tax revenue is expected next month. Grants—including the PSPS relief program—are the largest expenditure to date.
• Police Department visit: Interim Chief Hendershad requested the visit be deferred to summer when officer staffing improves.
• The DDA Priorities Tracker was updated; Golden Hotel exterior work is proceeding, and Clayworks' first building occupancy is scheduled for this spring.
• The ad hoc public health subcommittee reported that roughly half of the black bait stations were replaced with rock-styled stations; the number of stations was not increased, per contractor recommendation.

Items That May Affect Another Board or Commission

• Staff recommends close coordination with the Parks Board on the East Zone preliminary construction plans. Washington Avenue work will involve the Mountain Transportation Advisory Board (MTAB) and City Planning and Engineering staff.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Toad & Co capital improvement grant of $8,875 (unanimous).
• Approved the Confluence Coffee capital improvement grant of $25,000 (unanimous).
• Approved the March 16, 2026, business meeting minutes (consent agenda, unanimous).
• Board members indicated informal support—without financial commitment—for staff and Clayworks to jointly investigate undergrounding Ford Street power lines from 10th Street south to just south of Water Street.
• Staff will coordinate with Planning and Engineering on the Washington Avenue streetscape and gateway, and will return to the board with options.
• The board agreed to go digital with meeting packets starting next month.