In late April, members of the Fort Collins City Council are expected to take up the controversial issue of rezoning the land that was once the home to the big Hughes Stadium.
That stadium on the far west side of Fort Collins was home to Colorado State University’s Rams football team for nearly 50 years until CSU completed its new on-campus stadium in 2017.
After proposals suggesting that the old stadium could be repurposed were rejected, the structure was demolished in 2018.
Since that demolition, both Fort Collins city officials and residents have, sometimes contentiously, been discussing the site’s future.
A proposal to build as many as 1,000 new homes on the property, some geared for middle and low-income residents, has been greatly criticized by neighbors expressing concerns about traffic and density issues.
A group called Paths for Hughes has been pushing for a project that would see less homes and more of an emphasis on open and walkable space.
In early 2019 CSU entered into a $10 million agreement with developer Lennar Homes, which would allow the Denver-based developer to build at least 600 homes.
Lennar has said that it will not pursue its building plans at the site unless the city approves an updated zoning designation specifically allowing for those 600 homes.
By Garry Boulard
