The Five Points Business Improvement District (BID), which runs along Welton Street from 20th to 30th and Downing Street, held its first BID renewal hearing on Wednesday, February 18. The room was packed, and there was no speaker system, so many voices were hard to hear. This scene reflected the deep divisions in a neighborhood struggling to balance progress and preservation at a key moment in its history.

With the crowd packed into a small venue, residents, business  and property owners, and local officials shared very different opinions about the BID’s past ten years and its future. This discussion comes as Five Points, known as Denver’s historic Black neighborhood, faces growing economic pressures, changing demographics, and important questions about who will benefit from ongoing revitalization.

Support for Renewal: Progress and Momentum

Supporters such as Spencer Foreman (of Marigolds),  Keith Pryor, and Ayana Contreras (of KUVO) said the BID has brought real improvements. They mentioned cleaner streets, new cultural programs, and progress on major projects like the Rossonian Hotel restoration and Welton corridor upgrades. “We’re seeing the kind of momentum that’s been promised for years finally materialize,” said Foreman, a local business owner.

Margie Parish from the University of Denver explained by phone that her students’ marketing projects received more attention thanks to the BID’s help, which brought new visibility to local businesses. Bid Executive Director and business owner Norman Harris said that maintaining this progress requires steady leadership. “Change doesn’t happen overnight,” Harris told the room, “but with consistent vision and resources, Five Points can remain both vibrant and historic.” City Councilman Darrell Watson, who joined remotely, also praised the BID for connecting city resources to neighborhood needs.

Skepticism and Dissent: Questions of Equity and Impact

Still, many people see the BID’s legacy as complicated. Opponents like John Deque (property stakeholder), Jesse Parish, Charles Foster, and Linda Hanson (property stakeholder) raised concerns about transparency, the cost of BID taxes, and not enough support for long-standing Black businesses. With an urgent and corrective tone, Foster, a tour guide, said the board has not honored Five Points’ elders and original Black property owners and called for greater stewardship of the area. While an extremely agitated and disillusioned Jesse Parish (longtime Five Points resident) argued that the BID has accelerated gentrification and left Black businesses out. “This isn’t the revitalization we were promised—it’s displacement,” Parish said. Larry Rupp (property stakeholder) highlighted that he has paid over $100,000 (in the first term) in taxes but sees little return on that investment. He was adamant about withdrawing from the BID. In a measured tone, longtime property stakeholder Dr. Renee Cousins King questioned whether BID activities actually help tenants or businesses. She called for a shorter renewal term and greater community input.

Some speakers, such as Katherine Wallace and Myron Melnick (business owners and property stakeholders), said they would support the BID only if there is an independent audit and clear financial transparency about how funds are spent, shorter BID terms for faster evaluation, and a commitment to another ten-year term only after evaluation. Mr. Meechaell, a liquor store owner, said he felt “fenced out” by gated events like Juneteenth, which he said hurt local businesses. “We’re expected to pay, but not included in the benefits,” he said.

Economic Fault Lines: Service vs. Entertainment

Beneath the debate were clear economic divides. Service-based businesses like beauty and barber shops, retail stores, and professional services said they get little attention compared to entertainment venues, which benefit most from BID marketing and events. “The BID has become a vehicle for a few high-profile venues, not the everyday businesses that have anchored Five Points for generations,” said Hanson, who runs a decades-old shop on Welton.

The sense of frustration among business owners is palpable. Many view the BID’s fees—stacked on top of already steep property taxes—as a form of double taxation, which is a tough pill to swallow amid rising inflation and economic uncertainty in Denver. Concerns are mounting that the cost of a second-term BID model could expose businesses to greater financial risks, especially as proposed city and regional infrastructure projects threaten to bring even more disruption to the corridor.

The Board’s Decision and What Comes Next

After hearing public comments, the BID Board voted 5–2 to seek a second 10-year term. Directors Maedella Stiger (a longtime business and property stakeholder) and Nina Rupp voted against it, highlighting the board’s deep divisions. The board also did not discuss lowering the maximum 10-mill tax cap, which is a major concern for property owners already dealing with high real estate taxes.

The resolution now goes to the Denver City Council, which must decide whether the BID’s reported progress is enough to justify another 10 years of required taxes, or whether there should first be an independent audit, tax relief, and better representation. For Five Points, the decision will help shape whether the district’s future is guided by continued investment or by changes and more accountability.

As the meeting ended, the divisions were still clear. The future of the Five Points BID and the neighborhood will depend not just on policy, but on whether everyone’s voice is truly heard. Some business owners were frustrated that nonvoting BID supporters, such as local nonprofits, spoke in favor of the district because their organizations benefit from BID funding, even though they do not pay the extra taxes that business owners do. The next chance for public input will be at the city council hearing during the week of March 14, giving business stakeholders another opportunity to share their views before a final decision is made.

DWN

‍