How Union Station could serve as a model for downtown Denver's revival

Why it matters: City leaders believe the plan could generate $500 million toward reviving the downtown, which is struggling to regain foot traffic from visitors and office workers.

How it works: The DDA generates money through tax increment financing, chair Doug Tisdale tells us.

• Money comes from taking a percentage of what property owners and businesses in the authority's boundaries pay in property and sales tax. It's meant to be an incentive to draw more development.

Between the lines: The money generated by the expansion could finance downtown projects like new public spaces for recreation or converting underused office space into housing, including affordable units.

Yes, but: The plan is far from a done deal since more steps are required before it's implemented.

• Tisdale says fewer than 100 businesses and property owners that were part of the authority's original footprint will need to approve its expansion.

What they're saying: "My belief is that the vast majority of people, having seen the success here, would love to have that same kind of success wherever they are," Tisdale says.

• Johnston called downtown the city's economic driver: "We do think it is at the heart of the city."

Zoom out: Under the proposal, the authority's footprint would extend into the Central Business District, stretching south toward Colfax Avenue, west toward Speer Boulevard, and east up to Grant Street.

What's next: Denver City Council could consider the change as early as this summer.

• Money for projects likely wouldn't become available until 2025.