New Renovation Plans Revealed for Foothills Mall in Fort Collins – Are We Excited?

The Foothills Mall, which dates back to 1973, will be seeing more changes in the next several years. Will these changes help to make the shopping/dining/residential area robust, as it used to be?

The old "FFM" (Foothills Fashion Mall) is long gone; with these new renovation plans, will the current Foothills Mall seem "long gone" as well? McWhinney and Prism presented what they are envisioning to the public. We have photos and details.

On April 15, 2023, at Foothills Mall, McWhinney and PRISM held a pubic gathering, which featured snacks and beverages, to unveil their current initial plans for redeveloping the mall in Fort Collins. More than 100 people showed up to see the plans, during the three-hour event.

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According to BizWest, McWhinney and PRISM have yet to submit their plans to the city; this even on April 15 was just something that they wanted to do, to show that they're coming into this project in a "full disclosure" kind of way. I can see where many folks around Fort Collins can appreciate that, considering the struggles that the mall has seen over the last decade or so.

RELATED: DETAILS ON MCWHINNEY'S PURCHASE OF FOOTHILLS

Bottom line: Foothills will be transforming from an indoor mall to an outdoor mall experience. Their research has shown, what we all can agree on, that indoor malls are generic, and played out. It's not the '70's or '80s, anymore. So, this "new" Foothills will be like the Promenade Shops at Centerra (also owned by McWhinney,) but will be very "Fort Collins" focused.

Their initial plans are to reduce the retail by 30%, while looking to add more dining/beverage options. Bad Daddy's, Smokin' Fins, and SMOK BBQ are doing OK, but those restaurants along College Avenue are doing very well. They're hoping to have a very good variety of dining options to fit the changing needs of Fort Collins diners.

WILL THERE BE APARTMENTS?

They are planning on brining in 750 residential units. 120 of those units will be apartments above retail, which is becoming more and more popular, along with townhome-style and brownstone-style units. Some of the units may be "55 and Older" living spaces.

HOW WILL IT BE MORE "FORT COLLINS?"

• Trails: They're planning on increasing the open space of the mall from about four miles to over 11 miles, with trails that will connect to the city's existing trails system.
• A Beer Garden: What easier way to say "Fort Collins" than to add a beer garden. They see it an area where you could go get food at one of the many restaurants, then sit with a beer, and your dog.
• Being Outdoors: Brining the mall from indoor to outdoor should definitely appeal to Fort Collins residents.

WHAT ELSE ARE THEY ADDING?

• Offices. 70,000 square-feet of office space. The premise being, that when people work at the mall, they will dine/get beverages, and shop there.

ARE THEY GOING TO TEAR THINGS DOWN?

Yes. When construction begins, we'll see them start to "gut" the indoor mall, starting with the old Macy's. 

WHEN WILL IT ALL BEGIN?

If things move along as they should, they're hoping to begin demolition in February of 2025. That gives us over a year to say "goodbye" to the indoor mall.