Advocacy Corner: Denver Housing, Strong Schools and the 2026 General Election
Denver Scales Back “Unlocking Housing Choices”
Denver’s proposed “Unlocking Housing Choices” zoning changes have taken a different direction following feedback from City Council members, residents and other stakeholders.
The original proposal would have allowed duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes on residential properties across the city while continuing to allow existing single-family homes. The city’s planning department has now narrowed the proposal to focus on properties within a quarter mile of designated transit-priority streets and rail transit stations, reducing the area affected by the proposal by approximately half.
The city has also postponed a separate proposal that would have placed limits on the size and scale of new homes.
City planners said the changes were made in response to concerns raised throughout the process and to better align the proposal with Blueprint Denver and existing neighborhood planning efforts. The scaled-back approach has drawn differing perspectives. Some housing and environmental advocates have expressed concerns that limiting the proposal could reduce opportunities to add housing, while some City Council members have raised questions about how a citywide zoning change would interact with individual neighborhood plans.
The proposal will still require approval from Denver City Council and is not expected to come before the Council until spring 2027 at the earliest. As Denver continues to consider how and where to accommodate future growth, zoning and housing policy will remain important issues for the real estate community to follow.
Read the full article from Denverite
Supporting Strong Schools in Denver and Douglas County
DMAR is supporting the 2026 school mill levy measures in Denver and Douglas County following presentations from both school districts to the Government Affairs Committee.
Strong schools are an important part of strong communities and can also contribute to the health and stability of the local real estate market. Research has consistently found a relationship between school quality and home values, including research specific to Denver that found higher school test scores were associated with higher housing values.
In Denver, the $44 million mill levy override would provide additional funding for teacher and staff compensation, academic programming, career and technical education, safety and other student needs.
In Douglas County, the $54 million mill levy override would support competitive teacher and staff compensation, school security, career and technical education and the restoration of student programming.
For DMAR, supporting strong schools is about more than education. It’s an investment in the communities where our members live and work, and in the long-term strength and stability of the local housing market.
2026 General Election: Ballots Are on the Way
Colorado’s 2026 General Election is officially underway, with mail ballots being sent to active registered voters across the state between October 2 and October 9. Election Day is November 3.
With ballots arriving, now is a good time for Realtors® to review the candidates and local ballot measures that will shape the communities where they live and work. DMAR has also announced its 2026 candidate and issue endorsements, which are available for members who want to learn more about the positions and candidates the association is supporting.
Voters can return their ballots by mail or use a designated ballot drop box or voter service and polling center. The last recommended day to return a ballot by mail is October 26, while ballots should be physically delivered to a drop box or voter center by October 27. All ballots must be submitted by 7:00 PM on Election Day to be counted.
Take a few minutes to review your ballot, research the issues that matter to you and your community and make a plan to vote.
