FoCo in 15 Minutes | Wolves, School Enrollment Drops, In-N-Out Update & City Council Seat

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:
🐺 Colorado Wolf Program Costs Spike — Ranchers submitted more than $1 million in wolf depredation claims in 2025, nearly triple the state’s annual budget, raising questions about long-term sustainability and support for the wolf reintroduction program.
🏫 PSD Enrollment Drops Again — Poudre School District lost nearly 500 students this year, continuing a multi-year decline that could put more than $10 million in future funding at risk, potentially reopening conversations around school consolidations or boundary changes.
🌯 Best Breakfast Burritos in Fort Collins — From longtime staples to hidden gems, local spots like Consuelo’s Express, Cafe Mexicali, Almansita’s, and more make Fort Collins a breakfast burrito destination.
🥤 Colorado SNAP Beverage Restrictions Coming — Starting March 1, SNAP benefits will no longer cover sweetened beverages such as soda, energy drinks, and sweetened teas, while still allowing water, milk, and drinks with at least 50% real juice.
🛍️ Arc Thrift Expands in Midtown — Arc Thrift Stores will expand into the former Joann Fabrics space, adding 10,000 square feet and increasing employment opportunities, with completion expected in 2026.
🍔 In-N-Out Breaks Ground in Timnath — Construction is officially underway on Timnath’s In-N-Out Burger, with a likely opening later this year, marking Northern Colorado’s second location.
🍽️ New Old Town Restaurant Planned — A long-vacant historic building at 160 W. Mountain Ave. will become a mixed-use destination anchored by a new restaurant, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
🏛️ 15 Apply for Open City Council Seat — Fifteen candidates are vying to fill the District 6 seat vacated by Mayor-elect Emily Francis, with interviews and appointment scheduled for mid-January.
💰 TABOR Refunds: Yes for 2026, Likely No for 2027 — Coloradans can expect modest TABOR refunds when filing 2025 taxes in spring 2026, but refunds are unlikely the following year due to projected revenue shortfalls.

• First Singles Social of 2026 — Union Bar & Soda Fountain (Jan 13)
• Poudre River Friends of the Library HUGE Winter Used Book Sale (Jan 15–16)
• FREE Bar Games Tournament — Old Town Putt (Jan 15)
• Fort Collins Foodie Walk — Downtown (Jan 16)
• Crafts for Creatures Benefit — Midpoint Dr. (Jan 17)
• 3rd Sundays at 830 North — Live music & bowling (Jan 18)

📲 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