A sign for the RiNo Art District hangs along Brighton Boulevard on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
Two members of the RiNo Art District’s various boards will run the organization in the wake of the resignation of the organization’s two co-executive directors.
Adam Larkey and Gerald Horner will serve as interim leaders, they said Wednesday.
Horner, a broker with residential firm Mile Hi Modern, is on the board of the RiNo Art District itself.
Larkey, a former Zeppelin Development executive who is launching his own firm, has been the chair of the RiNo Business Improvement District, or BID, which is managed by the RiNo Art District.Â
The two men will temporarily fill the shoes of Sarah Cawrse and Alye Sharp, who submitted their resignations within weeks of each other this spring.
Their resignations came in the midst of a contentious renewal process for the BID, which was formed in 2015 and is funded by taxes on commercial property. It works to promote businesses in the hip former warehouse district. Now at the 10-year mark, the BID must either be renewed by city leaders or dissolved. Some property owners have argued for the latter, while others advocated its mill levy be cut in half.
Larkey disclosed his and Horner’s interim roles at a Denver City Council committee meeting. The council is expected to vote on May 19 on whether to renew the BID.
Speaking to council members, Larkey said the BID has had “a very fruitful and very impactful first 10 years,” but acknowledged recent criticism and said changes are being made.
One key change is that the BID will no longer be managed by the RiNo Art District, and instead have its own staff. Some property owners had criticized the management agreement, saying BID dollars were being spent on RiNo Art District priorities.
Larkey acknowledged the organization’s structure has been “overly complicated.”
“Right now, staff is spending a lot of time having to invoice different entities and there’s a lot of low-impact admin work,” he said.
A search for a person to run the BID is being conducted by Jamie Giellis, a local consultant who specializes in the operations of special taxing districts. The hope is to have someone in place in three or four months, Larkey said. The BID could still contract with the RiNo Art District for certain things.
Giellis, who previously ran the RiNo Art District, told council members she recently completed a search for someone to run the newly formed Ballpark general improvement district. The person selected will be announced next week, she said, adding 361 people applied for the job.
“Just extraordinary talent looking to be in Denver …. I think RiNo will pull even stronger. People know the RiNo brand,” Giellis said.
The permanent leadership plan for the RiNo Art District has yet to be determined, Giellis said.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the BID, if renewed, will have its own staff and no longer be managed by the RiNo Art District. The headline has also changed.
A sign for the RiNo Art District hangs along Brighton Boulevard on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. (Maia Luem/BusinessDen)
Two members of the RiNo Art District’s various boards will run the organization in the wake of the resignation of the organization’s two co-executive directors.
Adam Larkey and Gerald Horner will serve as interim leaders, they said Wednesday.
Horner, a broker with residential firm Mile Hi Modern, is on the board of the RiNo Art District itself.
Larkey, a former Zeppelin Development executive who is launching his own firm, has been the chair of the RiNo Business Improvement District, or BID, which is managed by the RiNo Art District.Â
The two men will temporarily fill the shoes of Sarah Cawrse and Alye Sharp, who submitted their resignations within weeks of each other this spring.
Their resignations came in the midst of a contentious renewal process for the BID, which was formed in 2015 and is funded by taxes on commercial property. It works to promote businesses in the hip former warehouse district. Now at the 10-year mark, the BID must either be renewed by city leaders or dissolved. Some property owners have argued for the latter, while others advocated its mill levy be cut in half.
Larkey disclosed his and Horner’s interim roles at a Denver City Council committee meeting. The council is expected to vote on May 19 on whether to renew the BID.
Speaking to council members, Larkey said the BID has had “a very fruitful and very impactful first 10 years,” but acknowledged recent criticism and said changes are being made.
One key change is that the BID will no longer be managed by the RiNo Art District, and instead have its own staff. Some property owners had criticized the management agreement, saying BID dollars were being spent on RiNo Art District priorities.
Larkey acknowledged the organization’s structure has been “overly complicated.”
“Right now, staff is spending a lot of time having to invoice different entities and there’s a lot of low-impact admin work,” he said.
A search for a person to run the BID is being conducted by Jamie Giellis, a local consultant who specializes in the operations of special taxing districts. The hope is to have someone in place in three or four months, Larkey said. The BID could still contract with the RiNo Art District for certain things.
Giellis, who previously ran the RiNo Art District, told council members she recently completed a search for someone to run the newly formed Ballpark general improvement district. The person selected will be announced next week, she said, adding 361 people applied for the job.
“Just extraordinary talent looking to be in Denver …. I think RiNo will pull even stronger. People know the RiNo brand,” Giellis said.
The permanent leadership plan for the RiNo Art District has yet to be determined, Giellis said.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that the BID, if renewed, will have its own staff and no longer be managed by the RiNo Art District. The headline has also changed.
