FoCo in 15 Minutes | School Closures, Passenger Rail to Denver, Utility Increases & Summer Events

FoCo in 15 Minutes | ADUs Take Off, Property Tax Changes, Fort Collins Tech Boom & AI at City Hall

Welcome to Living in Fort Collins — The Podcast, your weekly insider look at what’s happening across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado — from growth and development to housing, business, infrastructure, and local events shaping the region. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 🏡 ADU Permits Are Surging Across Northern Colorado — Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) applications continue climbing following Colorado's statewide housing reforms. Larimer County has launched its Backyard Boost Program, waiving building permit fees for qualifying affordable ADUs, while Fort Collins plans to introduce fee waivers and pre-approved ADU plans beginning in 2027. 💳 Larimer County Introduces Monthly Property Tax Payments — Homeowners whose taxes aren't escrowed can now spread property tax payments into predictable monthly installments through the new EquaPay program instead of making one or two large annual payments. 💻 Fort Collins Ranked Among the West's Best Tech Cities — A new Commercial Cafe study ranked Fort Collins No. 2 in the West for quality of life among major tech markets, reinforcing the city's growing reputation following Broadcom's $1.5 billion expansion and continued investment in the region's innovation economy. 💰 $102.7 Million Capital Improvement Plan Takes Shape — Staff unveiled the first draft of a 10-year spending plan for the voter-approved quarter-cent Capital Tax, funding transportation projects, streetscapes, affordable housing, pickleball courts, bike infrastructure, and future community amenities through 2035. 📉 Fort Collins Preparing for a Leaner Budget — City staff outlined a challenging financial outlook, including recent budget reductions, hiring freezes, and required department cuts while continuing to prioritize critical infrastructure and the Southeast Community Center. 🏗️ Development Reform Continues — City leaders are working to make development approvals faster and more predictable through code updates, permitting improvements, and a series of "Quick Wins" expected later this summer. 🚦 Speed Limit Changes Could Arrive This Fall — Under the city's Vision Zero initiative, neighborhood and potentially citywide speed limit reductions are expected to come before Council later this year, along with increased enforcement around bike lanes and crosswalks. 🤖 Fort Collins Goes AI-First — The city is rolling out new AI initiatives, including the launch of "Ask Fort Collins," an AI-powered website assistant, while expanding internal AI tools to improve city operations and resident services. 🎶 Titonic – CSU Lagoon Concert Series Finale — July 22 🤠 Cheyenne Frontier Days – Final Weekend — Through July 26 🏃 Never Summer 100K & 60K — July 24–26 🎬 Windsor Movie in the Park: The Goonies — July 24 🎻 RockyGrass Festival — July 24–26 Coming up next week: 👨‍👩‍👧 Kids in the Park — July 31 | Twin Silo Community Park 📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or relocating to Northern Colorado? My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Patrick Soukup📞 970-893-3533📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

FoCo in 15 Minutes | $1.5B Apple Investment, Bass Pro Opens, Drone Hub & New Midtown Restaurant

Welcome to Living in Fort Collins — The Podcast, your weekly insider look at what’s happening across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado — from growth and development to housing, business, infrastructure, and local events shaping the region. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 💻 Apple & Broadcom Invest $1.5 Billion in Fort Collins — Broadcom will invest $1.5 billion to expand and modernize its Fort Collins campus as part of a multiyear agreement with Apple. The facility will manufacture custom wireless components through at least 2031, reinforcing Fort Collins as a major technology and semiconductor manufacturing hub. 🎣 Bass Pro Shops Opens July 22 — The long-awaited 130,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops officially opens in Loveland next week, bringing approximately 150 jobs, an expected 500,000 annual visitors, and another major destination retailer to the I-25 corridor. 🚀 Northern Colorado's Startup Scene Gets National Recognition — BizWest unveiled its inaugural "Startups to Watch" list, with 10 Northern Colorado companies recognized for their innovation in aerospace, clean energy, biotech, agriculture, and advanced technology. 🍽️ The Caldwell Opens at The Buxton Hotel — Midtown Fort Collins welcomes The Caldwell, a new Southern-inspired restaurant inside the renovated Buxton Hotel across from CSU, adding another destination dining spot along South College Avenue. 🛩️ CSU Expands Drone Research at Christman Airfield — Colorado State University is transforming the historic Christman Airfield into a major drone research and testing center, supporting wildfire response, search and rescue, and next-generation aviation technology. 🗑️ Larimer County Landfill Transition Begins August 3 — After more than 60 years, Larimer County is transitioning operations to its new North Landfill near Wellington. Most Fort Collins residents will instead use the new Central Diversion & Transfer Station on Trilby Road beginning August 3. There was no Fort Collins City Council meeting or work session during the week of July 6–12 due to the city's summer schedule. Regular meeting coverage returns next week. 🎬 Movie Night on the Course – The Sandlot — July 15 🚴 FoCo Fondo Gravel Ride & Festival — July 16–19 🛍️ Downtown Summer Sales — July 16–19 🧱 Brickies Creation Festival — July 18 ⚽ Windsor World Cup Finals Watch Party — July 19 🤠 Cheyenne Frontier Days — July 17–26 📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or relocating to Northern Colorado? My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Patrick Soukup📞 970-893-3533📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

FoCo in 15 Minutes | Fort Collins Ranked Top 5, I-25 Speed Cameras, July Construction & PBR Weekend

Welcome to Living in Fort Collins — The Podcast, your weekly insider look at what’s happening across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado — from growth and development to housing, business, infrastructure, and local events shaping the region. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 🏆 Fort Collins Named One of America's Best Towns — CNN Travel ranked Fort Collins No. 5 on its 2026 list of America's Best Towns to Visit, praising Old Town, the craft beverage scene, easy access to the foothills, and the city's unique character. It's another national spotlight reinforcing why so many people are choosing to relocate here. 🚗 I-25 Speed Cameras Reduce Speeding by 92% — CDOT reports that excessive speeding through the I-25 work zone between Berthoud and Mead has dropped 92% since automated speed enforcement began in March. 🚧 Major July Road Construction Begins — Several major Fort Collins road projects are underway this month, including work on South Shields Street, East Mulberry Avenue, and the College & Harmony intersection. Expect lane closures, detours, and longer commute times throughout July. 🐄 Historic Weld County Dairy Files for Bankruptcy — A 73-year-old family dairy near Greeley has filed for Chapter 12 bankruptcy protection while restructuring debt, highlighting the financial pressures facing Colorado agriculture. 🗳️ Colorado Primary Election Reshapes State Politics — Colorado's June 30 primary produced several notable results, including a surprise victory in the Democratic governor's race and effectively deciding Larimer County's next District 1 commissioner. 🎆 Loveland's July 4 Festival Returns — After budget-related cancellations, Loveland brought back its Independence Day celebration with fireworks, family activities, and a renewed effort to keep the tradition going for years to come. There was no Fort Collins City Council meeting or work session this week due to the city's summer holiday schedule. The Council Brief will return following the next regular meeting. 🤠 PBR Bulls & Beats — July 10–12 | Canvas Stadium, Fort Collins🎻 SnowyGrass Music Festival — July 9–12 | Estes Park🎶 Loveland Summer Concert Series Kickoff — July 9 | Foote Lagoon Amphitheater🎸 CSU Lagoon Concert Series: That Eighties Band — July 8 | CSU Lagoon🌮 Food Truck Rally at City Park — July 7 | Fort Collins 📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or relocating to Northern Colorado? My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Patrick Soukup📞 970-893-3533📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

FoCo in 15 Minutes | Boyd Lake Closes to Boats, New Housing Rules, Wildfire Grants & July 4 Weekend

Welcome to Living in Fort Collins — The Podcast, your weekly insider look at what’s happening across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado — from growth and development to housing, business, infrastructure, and local events shaping the region. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 🚤 Boyd Lake Ends Motorized Boating Season Early — Boyd Lake State Park closed its boat ramps to motorized boats after water levels dropped to just 2–3 feet at the ramps. While kayaking, paddleboarding, fishing, and swimming remain open, the unusually low water levels are impacting recreation across Northern Colorado. 🏡 Colorado Streamlines Modular Housing Rules — New statewide regulations taking effect June 30 make it easier to build modular homes, factory-built housing, and tiny homes by creating one consistent approval process statewide. The goal is to reduce costs and help address Colorado's housing shortage. 🔥 Wildfire Mitigation Grants Available for Mountain Homeowners — Larimer County's new Home Ignition Zone Mitigation Assistance Program offers up to $4,000 for eligible mountain property owners to complete defensible space and vegetation management projects, helping reduce wildfire risk. 🤠 Greeley Stampede Returns — The 104th annual Greeley Stampede is underway through July 5, bringing rodeos, concerts, carnival rides, fireworks, and one of Northern Colorado's biggest Fourth of July celebrations. 🏥 New Senior Living Community Breaks Ground — Touchmark on Harmony Ridge officially broke ground in southeast Fort Collins. The 18-acre campus will offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care, with an anticipated opening in late 2028. There was no Fort Collins City Council meeting or work session this week. The next council recap will return in next week's episode. 🎆 Fort Collins July 4 Celebration at City Park — July 4 🎡 Greeley Stampede Fireworks & Concerts — Through July 5 🏃 FireKracker 5K & Kids' Run — July 4 🎶 Music on the Lawn at Foothills — Friday Evening 💦 Great FoCo Water Balloon Toss at The Exchange — July 4 📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or relocating to Northern Colorado? My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Patrick Soukup📞 970-893-3533📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

FoCo in 15 Minutes | Flock Cameras Removed, Passenger Rail Advances, Target Opening & Summer Events

Welcome to Living in Fort Collins — The Podcast, your weekly insider look at what’s happening across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado — from growth and development to housing, business, infrastructure, and local events shaping the region. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 🎯 Target Set to Open in Firestone Next Month — A new 128,000-square-foot Target is expected to open in July at Firestone’s City Centre development, bringing approximately 200 jobs and another major retail anchor to the rapidly growing I-25 corridor. ⚖️ Fort Collins Settles Police Pepper-Spray Lawsuit — The city agreed to pay $397,000 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit stemming from a 2021 Old Town incident involving pepper spray. The case was resolved before a scheduled July trial. 🚧 Lemay Water Main Project Nearing Completion — The long-running infrastructure project enters its final phase, with a temporary full closure between Horsetooth and Ticonderoga for paving. The project replaces aging water infrastructure following a record year for water main breaks. 🚴 Bike to Work Day Returns June 24 — Fort Collins celebrates its 38th annual Summer Bike to Work Day with free breakfast stations, snacks, giveaways, and community events throughout the city. 📡 Council Votes to Remove Flock Surveillance Cameras — In the meeting’s headline decision, Council voted 6-1 to terminate Fort Collins’ Flock Safety contract, stop collecting license plate reader data immediately, and remove the cameras as soon as practical while a broader surveillance policy is developed. 🚂 Passenger Rail Receives Major Endorsement — Council unanimously endorsed the Front Range Passenger Rail proposal and the Drake Road station concept, marking another step toward future rail service connecting Fort Collins to Denver and beyond. ♿ Residents Push Back on Dial-A-Ride Service Reductions — Disability advocates urged Council to reconsider proposed changes to paratransit services, citing concerns about accessibility and independence for residents who rely on the program. 🏠 Housing Action Plan Advances — Council approved state-funded efforts to create a new Housing Action Plan and support transit-oriented housing initiatives tied to future growth corridors. 🏗️ Southeast Community Center Celebrated — Council highlighted the recent groundbreaking of the Southeast Community Center, one of the city’s largest long-term community investments. 🎡 Greeley Stampede — June 24 through July 5 🚴 Summer Bike to Work Day — June 24 🎶 MarchFourth at Washington’s — June 27 ⚾ Fort Collins Foxes Baseball — June 24, 27 & 28 🛍️ The Makers Hive Market at Foothills — June 26 📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or relocating to Northern Colorado? My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado. Patrick Soukup📞 970-893-3533📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com