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 local government, business, real estate, and things to do.
🤖 Weld County Approves Global AI Data Center — Weld County commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the region's first data center at the former Kodak/Carestream industrial campus near Windsor. The project includes noise restrictions and a closed-loop, air-cooled system, while any future expansion will require another round of county review.
⚖️ Court Strikes Down Greeley Voters' Repeal of Catalyst Zoning — A Weld District Court judge ruled that the February ballot measure overturning zoning for the Catalyst entertainment district and surrounding Cascadia development was unconstitutional. Financing hurdles remain, but the decision puts the future of the Highway 257 corridor back in focus.
📦 Amazon's Massive Loveland Fulfillment Center Is Open — The roughly 3.5-million-square-foot facility near Northern Colorado Regional Airport is now processing packages. About 1,100 people currently work there, with hundreds more expected as operations ramp up toward the holiday season.
🍷 Sweet Heart Wine & Cider Expands to Windsor — The Loveland winery is opening a roughly 6,000-square-foot second location in RainDance. The taproom is expected to open in mid-October, followed by the full restaurant in early December.
🏠 NoCo Parade of Homes Enters Its Final Weekend — Tour 36 homes from 24 builders, ranging from approximately $400,000 to $3 million, across Northern Colorado September 18–20. Admission is free and the tour is self-guided.
🚗 Safe Parking Pilot Moves Forward — Council directed staff to bring forward code changes allowing a one-year pilot for people living in their vehicles. Two local churches would host up to seven passenger vehicles at a time under specific eligibility and operating requirements.
⚡ E-Bikes & E-Motos: Education Now, Potential Ordinance Next — UCHealth reported a 184% increase in e-mobility injuries from 2024 to 2025, with 2026 running another 84% higher over the comparable period. Police are increasing education and enforcement, while city leaders discussed registration options and a potential future ordinance.
❤️ 87% of Residents Rate Fort Collins' Quality of Life Positively — The city's annual Community Survey found that residents overwhelmingly enjoy living here, but affordability remains the major pressure point. Just 6% positively rated the availability of affordable, quality housing.
💵 New Small-Business Incentive Program Proposed — Fort Collins is developing a program that could provide up to $50,000 per project for eligible site improvements, equipment, and professional services, aimed largely at helping smaller local businesses overcome expansion barriers.
🏗️ Council Questions Its Own Development Costs — The small-business discussion expanded into a broader conversation about whether city fees and development requirements themselves are preventing businesses from expanding, an issue Council plans to continue examining.
🏈 CSU vs. No. 11 BYU — September 19 | Canvas Stadium
🌶️ Timnath Homecoming Kickoff Cookoff — September 19 | Main Street, Timnath
🏡 NoCo Parade of Homes – Final Weekend — September 18–20 | Northern Colorado
🌮 Final FoCo Food Truck Rally of the Season — September 15 | City Park
📲 Thinking about buying, selling, investing, or relocating to Northern Colorado?
My team and I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with boots-on-the-ground insight across Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.
Patrick Soukup
📞 970-893-3533📧 [email protected]🌐 livingfortcollins.com