FoCo in 15 Minutes | North College Redevelopment, TABOR Refunds, City Priorities & Valentine’s Events

Welcome to Fort Collins Lifestyles, your weekly insider look at life, real estate, and community across Northern Colorado.

This week in Fort Collins & Northern Colorado:

🥫 Wellington Food Pantry Expands — The Wellington Food Pantry moves into a temporary new location at Eyestone South and expands service to three days per week, increasing access ahead of the planned Community Services Center opening in 2026.

💸 Colorado Now Accepting Tax Returns — TABOR refunds are back for the 2025 tax year, with most filers receiving modest refunds based on income tiers. Officials do not expect TABOR refunds for the 2026 tax year, making this potentially the last refund cycle for a while.

🏚️ Budget Host Inn to Be Demolished — Fort Collins’ Urban Renewal Authority will demolish the blighted Budget Host Inn on North College Avenue after extensive asbestos and meth abatement, clearing another long-problematic property for future redevelopment.

🏨 What’s Next for the El Palomino Motel — The URA is under contract to purchase the El Palomino Motel nearby, continuing its strategy of acquiring and redeveloping nuisance properties along North College into more productive uses.

🏈 Klint Kubiak Named Raiders Head Coach — Fresh off a Super Bowl win with Seattle, former CSU captain Klint Kubiak becomes head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, capping a remarkable rise and adding another CSU success story to the national spotlight.

🍽️ Best Romantic Restaurants in Fort Collins — A Valentine’s-ready roundup highlights nine local date-night favorites across Old Town, Midtown, and nearby Loveland, ranging from French bistros to rooftop lounges and ramen spots.

🏛️ City Council Sets 5 Priorities — After its January retreat, Fort Collins City Council identifies five core priorities, led by making it easier to build. Other focus areas include financial sustainability, economic vitality, better communication with residents, and Vision Zero street safety goals.

• Colorado Mountain Club New Member Meeting — Feb 11 | Fort Collins
• Ram Talks (Valentine’s Edition) — Feb 11 | Old Town Square
• Winter Bike to Work Day — Feb 13 | Fort Collins
• Loveland Sweetheart Festival — Feb 14 | Downtown Loveland
• Little Miss Valentine & Little Mr. Cupid Contest — Feb 14 | Loveland
• OtterBox x Walrus Ice Cream BYOB — Feb 14–15 | Old Town
• Love on Ice Polar Plunge — Feb 14 | Riverside Colorado

📲 Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Northern Colorado?Let’s connect — I help clients make confident, well-informed real estate decisions with both data and boots-on-the-ground insight.

Patrick Soukup📞 Call/Text: 970-893-3533📧 Email: patrick@soukuprealestate.com🌐 Website: soukuprealestate.com