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Redevelopment coming to 50,000 square foot building, but not for a while.
By Luke Purvis
The Ramspondents
The Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority has purchased the former Albertsons grocery store at 1636 N. College Ave. This is a property that has been vacant since 2014. The $6.75 million sale closed on July 15, 2025, according to Josh Birks, acting executive director of the URA.
Located at the southeast corner of North College Avenue and Willox Lane, the site includes a 50,097-square-foot building on 4.68 acres. Birks called the property “the anchor of a large retail center in the North College Urban Renewal Plan area boundaries.” Birks added that redevelopment of the site is expected to create “a positive catalytic effect” that will help mitigate blight conditions in the neighborhood.
Andy Smith, the city’s redevelopment manager, said the location itself makes this parcel especially important.
The vacant former Albertsons grocery store at 1636 N. College Ave. in Fort Collins sits empty on July 15, 2025, after the Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority purchased the 4.68-acre property for $6.75 million. Photo Shared by Andy Smith, city of Fort Collins redevelopment manager
“The intersection is arguably the busiest and most important one found in the corridor and also serves as a key gateway into the city for visitors arriving from the north,” Smith said.
With its size and visibility, officials believe the site has the potential to be redeveloped into something that can serve the neighborhood and the city.
“The site is large enough to accommodate meaningful and walkable mixed-use projects served by public transit,” Smith said. “Specifically, a mix of housing types is likely, along with food and beverage options, and civic or institutional uses such as transit facilities.”
No infrastructure or utility challenges are tied to the property, according to Birks. Smith explained how important it was for the city to honor the community’s history in the redevelopment process.
“Historically, a large and proud Hispanic and Latino community has lived and worked in this neighborhood for many decades. Everything the Fort Collins URA does is sensitive to and celebrates that cultural heritage, while avoiding potential displacement of residents,” Smith said.
While plans for redevelopment are still being formed, Smith said early ideas are mixed and could include housing, a community center, a public plaza, neighborhood-serving retail, arts and cultural spaces.
The FCURA began pursuing the purchase in 2022 and signed a contract in December 2024 before finalizing the sale this summer. Smith estimated entitlement and planning could take up to a year, with construction taking another 12 to 18 months depending on phasing. A developer has not yet been selected, which means major construction is at least two years away.
The URA views the project as part of a larger push to transform the North College corridor. Birks said the agency is pursuing other ruined properties, including the former motel at 1513 N. College Ave., as part of its proactive real estate acquisition strategy.
Community engagement will begin this fall. A public open house covering multiple North College projects is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Northside Aztlán Community Center. Smith said the city is working with groups like La Familia and United Way to help ensure nearby residents have a strong voice in shaping what comes next.
Luke Purvis is a CSU Journalism and Media Communication student.