Living in Fort Collins The Podcast

Living in Fort Collins The Podcast

Stay connected with what’s happening in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado each week. From local events and new developments to interviews with community leaders and business owners, we bring you real conversations about our region’s growth and lifestyle. Get quick real estate market updates and insights that matter to residents and investors alike. Hosted by the Soukup Real Estate team, licensed agents in Colorado. Contact Patrick@soukuprealestate.com or call/text (970) 893-3533

  1. 3d ago

    FoCo in 15 Minutes | Passenger Rail Investment, Downtown Paid Parking, Year-Round Market & Timnath’s Future

    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. 🚆 Fort Collins Is Buying Property Around the Future Passenger Rail Station — The city is positioning itself to acquire property next to the planned Colorado Connector station in Midtown. City Council previously approved $500,000 in earnest money for a potential acquisition, giving Fort Collins the ability to shape development around the future station rather than ending up with just a basic rail platform. 🥕 Fort Collins’ Winter Farmers Market Is Going Year-Round — The former Fort Collins Winter Farmers Market has officially become the Wildcraft Farmers Market, operating roughly 50 Saturdays per year inside Foothills Mall. The market features anywhere from 90 to 130+ vendors on a typical Saturday and could become another significant year-round anchor for Midtown. 🚌 Transfort’s Redesigned Bus Network Is Now Live — Fort Collins' biggest transit overhaul in years took effect August 17. MAX now operates every 15 minutes throughout the day, while routes, stops and transfer points across the city have changed. All Transfort service remains fare-free. 🥤 MilkShake Factory Officially Opens in Old Town — The Pittsburgh-based dessert brand celebrated its grand opening at 150 N. College Avenue, but the local story runs deeper: franchisee Zaki Kamandy opened the business in the same building where his family entered the restaurant business more than 45 years ago. 💰 Downtown Parking Has a Long-Term Funding Problem — The city's parking fund is projected to cover operations and maintenance for roughly the next three years before financial pressure begins building. Already-approved changes are expected to generate approximately $678,000 annually, while the consultant's model estimates paid on-street parking could generate roughly $3.5 million per year. 🚗 Fort Collins Doesn't Have a Parking Shortage — The city's study counted 4,369 public parking spaces, with overall district peak occupancy ranging from 55% to 72%. The problem is distribution: popular free curbside spaces can be packed while nearby garages have hundreds of spaces available. 👷 Employee Parking May Be the Bigger Issue — Downtown businesses told the city they want better permit access and flexibility. Discounted employer permits begin in September, while Council continues exploring whether employee-focused parking solutions should come before broader paid parking. 🏗️ Timnath Wants to Become More Than a Bedroom Community — Town Council unanimously adopted its 2026 Strategic Plan, outlining a future centered around an activated Old Town, recreation and gathering spaces, connected trails and a more diversified commercial economy. 💵 The Challenge Is Paying for It — Timnath currently relies heavily on sales-tax revenue from a small number of major retailers. Town leaders openly acknowledged that continued residential growth creates permanent expenses while development impact fees are collected only once, making economic diversification a major long-term priority. 🌽 130th Annual Loveland Corn Roast Festival — August 21–22 | Fairgrounds Park, Loveland 🚒 Northern Colorado Hero Fest — August 22 | Front Range Village, Fort Collins 👹 Monster Day Greeley — Final Year — August 21–22 | Downtown Greeley 🥕 Wildcraft Farmers Market — Saturday | Foothills Mall, Fort Collins 🌳 Rooted in Community Tree Sale — Sale opens August 24 | $25 trees for eligible Fort Collins residents 📲 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📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

  2. Aug 11

    FoCo in 15 Minutes | Bus Routes Overhauled, Future Legends Bankruptcy, NoCo Economy & CSU AI

    Sorry for the Audio... And Yelling at you at the beginning lol... 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 the economy, local business, city government, and things to do. This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado: 🚌 Fort Collins Overhauls Its Bus Network — Transfort's redesigned bus system launches August 17, bringing more frequent service to some of the city's busiest corridors while eliminating five routes, ending Sunday service, and making significant changes to Dial-A-Ride. The good news: every route remains fare-free. 🏟️ Future Legends Bankruptcy Cases Move to Colorado — The bankruptcy cases involving the companies that own Windsor's Future Legends sports complex have officially been relocated to Colorado. The complex is already showing visible signs of distress, with the Town of Windsor posting notices that certain facilities have been deemed unsafe and their certificates of occupancy have expired. 📈 Colorado's Economy Expected to Keep Growing, But Slowly — The message from the Northern Colorado Mid-Year Economic Forum was "slower growth, not contraction." Colorado's economy is expected to continue expanding through the second half of 2026, but at a slower pace as the state faces several economic headwinds. 🤖 CSU Researchers Receive Two DOE Awards for AI Research — Colorado State University researchers earned two Phase I Genesis Mission awards focused on using artificial intelligence for scientific discovery, including better understanding precipitation and improving remote power-grid reliability. There was no Fort Collins City Council meeting or work session this week, so there is no formal Council Brief for this episode. Regular coverage will return with the next scheduled session. 🍑 Fort Collins Peach Festival — August 15 | Civic Center Park🌮 FoCo Food Truck Rally — August 11 | City Park🎶 Thursday Night Live: 2MX2 — August 13 | Old Town Square🎸 Music on the Lawn at Foothills — August 14 | Foothills 📲 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📧 patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 soukuprealestate.com

  3. Aug 4

    FoCo in 15 Minutes | Front Range Rail, Downtown Loveland Reopens, Woodward Hits $1.1B & City Land Review

    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: 🚆 Front Range Passenger Rail Moves Closer to Reality — The Colorado Connector ("CoCo") continues advancing toward a 2029 launch, with plans for three daily round trips between Fort Collins and Denver Union Station. While funding discussions continue, the project remains one of the biggest long-term transportation investments in Northern Colorado. 🏙️ Downtown Loveland Reopens Another Major Block — Fourth Street's Block 3 has officially reopened after extensive infrastructure upgrades, bringing back parking, expanded sidewalks, patios, and the historic heart of downtown as the revitalization project nears completion. 🏡 Larimer County Remains Eligible for Proposition 123 Housing Funds — Larimer County successfully met Colorado's Proposition 123 requirements, ensuring continued access to state funding that supports affordable housing construction and preservation throughout the region. ✈️ Woodward Posts Record $1.1 Billion Quarter — Fort Collins-based Woodward reported record quarterly revenue of $1.1 billion, highlighting continued strength in aerospace and industrial manufacturing while reinforcing one of Northern Colorado's largest employment engines. 🏢 258 City-Owned Properties Under Review — Fort Collins is launching a comprehensive review of every city-owned property, evaluating opportunities for redevelopment, repurposing, or future investment using a new strategic framework. 🏙️ Could City Hall Become a Mixed-Use District? — Council discussed reimagining the Civic Center and surrounding properties as a vibrant mixed-use neighborhood with housing, retail, and public spaces that would better connect Old Town with the west side of downtown. 🚭 Local Tobacco & Vape Licensing Proposed — Staff presented plans for a new city licensing program covering tobacco, vape products, and other age-restricted products, with implementation potentially beginning in early 2027. 📡 New Surveillance Policy Moves Forward — Following months of discussion surrounding Flock cameras, the city is developing a broader surveillance technology policy focused on accountability, transparency, and future technologies, with adoption targeted for December. 🏗️ Council Explores Long-Term Land Lease Strategy — Rather than selling city-owned land outright, councilmembers discussed using long-term ground leases and value-sharing agreements to retain public ownership while encouraging redevelopment. 🎨 Sculpture in the Park — August 7–9 | Loveland🌊 Poudre RiverFest — August 9 | New Belgium Brewing, Fort Collins🎭 Little Shop of Horrors — August 7–8 | Lincoln Center🎶 Friday Fest – Season Finale — August 7 | Downtown Greeley🍷 Estes Park Wine Festival — August 8–9 | Estes 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

  4. Jul 28

    FoCo in 15 Minutes | Fire Restrictions Extended, CSU's $12M Gift, School Start Dates & Old Town Parking

    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: 🔥 Larimer County Extends Fire Restrictions — County commissioners voted unanimously to keep current fire restrictions in place through September 8 as drought conditions continue across Northern Colorado. Restrictions remain in effect for all unincorporated areas and include bans on open fires, fireworks, and other ignition sources. 🏥 CSU Receives $12 Million Gift for Nursing Program — Colorado State University received a $12 million donation to complete funding for its innovative 3+2 Dual Degree Nursing Program. The gift will support a new simulation-based teaching facility and help expand Northern Colorado's healthcare workforce. 🎒 Back-to-School Dates Announced — School districts across Northern Colorado have released their start dates, with Weld RE-4 beginning August 13, Poudre School District on August 19, Thompson School District on August 20, and CSU, UNC, and Aims Community College beginning classes on August 24. 🥤 MilkShake Factory Opens in Old Town — The popular dessert chain has begun its soft opening at 150 N. College Avenue in downtown Fort Collins, bringing handcrafted milkshakes, chocolates, and sundaes to one of Old Town's most visible storefronts. 🎠 New Family Attraction Coming to Estes Park — A custom-built Stanley Carousel is nearing completion next to the F.O. Stanley Chocolate Factory and is expected to open by Labor Day, adding another year-round attraction to Estes Park. 🛢️ Cleanup of Orphaned Oil & Gas Wells Moves Forward — Council unanimously approved the first step toward plugging and abandoning orphaned oil and gas wells in northeast Fort Collins using a $5.2 million state grant, helping remove long-standing environmental concerns. 🅿️ Old Town Paid Parking Debate Intensifies — Paid parking dominated public comment, with business owners and residents voicing strong opinions ahead of an upcoming City Council work session expected to shape the future of parking in downtown Fort Collins. 🏡 ADU Grant Program Advances — Council advanced funding for pre-approved ADU plans and fee waivers, continuing efforts to make accessory dwelling units more affordable and easier for homeowners to build. 🏗️ Prospect Ridge Development Approved — Planning & Zoning unanimously approved the Prospect Ridge development near I-25 and Prospect Road, paving the way for future residential growth, employment opportunities, and expanded parks on Fort Collins' east side. 📈 Property Tax Appeals Increase — Larimer County officials reported a significant increase in residential property tax appeals this year, though very few have resulted in valuation changes. 🎡 Larimer County Fair & PRCA Rodeo — July 31–August 4 | Loveland🚁 250/150 Drone Show: "Stories in the Sky" — August 2 | Larimer County Fair👨‍👩‍👧 Kids in the Park — July 31 | Twin Silo Park, Fort Collins🎶 Sounds of Centerra: Be Kind Rewind — July 31 | Loveland🍦 MilkShake Factory Soft Opening — Through July 31 | Old Town 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

  5. Jul 21

    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

  6. Jul 14

    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

  7. Jul 7

    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

  8. Jun 30

    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

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About

Stay connected with what’s happening in Fort Collins and Northern Colorado each week. From local events and new developments to interviews with community leaders and business owners, we bring you real conversations about our region’s growth and lifestyle. Get quick real estate market updates and insights that matter to residents and investors alike. Hosted by the Soukup Real Estate team, licensed agents in Colorado. Contact Patrick@soukuprealestate.com or call/text (970) 893-3533

Information

  • Creator
    Living in Fort Collins The Podcast
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    46
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Living in Fort Collins The Podcast
  • Show Website
    Living in Fort Collins The Podcast