Danny Westblade, a Littleton Downtown Development Authority representative, told the NextGen Advisory Board on Oct. 2 that the DDA focuses on improving downtown’s places, supporting businesses and creating repeatable experiences.

The DDA, formed in 2023 and guided by a 30-year plan of development, covers a larger area than the Main Street core, Westblade said, including ACC, the DISH building and parts of Riverside North. "We help make downtowns better, stronger, and more welcoming," he said.

Why it matters: the DDA manages routine cleanliness and snow removal in the core, coordinates marketing and sponsorships to support events, and is starting a public-art committee intended to expand rotating sculpture displays and a district-specific public-art map.

Key facts and programs cited in the presentation: the district includes roughly 5,600 employees, nearly 800 residential units and about 400 businesses; the DDA is funded primarily by tax-increment financing (TIF) and a mill levy (up to 3 mills), and is expanding grants and sponsorship revenue. Westblade said the DDA’s Instagram grew from several hundred followers to about 2,100 after hiring a marketing contractor.

Cleaning and safety programs are a high priority. Westblade described a full-time cleaning and maintenance schedule for the downtown core that logs sweeping, pressure washing, graffiti removal and snow/ice mitigation; the vendor logged hundreds of sweeping and trash-collection visits last year, he said. The DDA also coordinates with police and ACC and plans a parking study in collaboration with the city and RTD.

On events and sponsorships, Westblade said the DDA raised about $47,500 in grants and sponsorships for last year’s holiday-tree program (34 trees) and that 21 sponsors supported the program; the DDA said it will repeat the holiday trees and similar activations. The DDA partnered with the Littleton Merchants Association to revive a summer block party that drew an estimated 14,000 attendees, multiple stages, vendor booths and a fireworks show.

Public art and placemaking are in early stages. Westblade said two board members formed a public-art committee and obtained a grant from the city’s Arts and Culture Board to pilot a sculpture plinth program and an online map of public art in the district. He said the DDA hopes to use local contractors and partners for design and maintenance.

How the public can engage: Westblade encouraged board members and residents to subscribe to the DDA newsletters and to volunteer for events; he offered to share the ULI/other reports he brought to the presentation.

Ending: The DDA presentation closed with an invitation to continue collaboration as Project Downtown and other city initiatives move forward.