On Saturday, April 15, McWhinney and Prism Places will share their initial ideas tied to the adaptive reuse vision for Foothills Mall’s future redevelopment, during a community open house. Potential design concepts for the project, which include the enclosed mall, several free-standing single and multi-tenant buildings, as well as metro district-owned parking facilities along College Avenue and Foothills Parkway, involve its transformation into an urban-scaled neighborhood and lifestyle district that is rooted in the culture and community of Fort Collins.
The public open house will showcase renderings detailing the current site and options to convert the traditional indoor mall into a vibrant, walkable, mixed-use destination. The goal of the revitalized approach is to enhance the lifestyle of local residents by integrating green open spaces, modern design inspired by nature, and dynamic retail that includes restaurant and bar options.
“This will be a transformative project, not another mall redo,” said Clyde Wood, vice president of commercial & mixed-use at McWhinney.”We’ve had the opportunity over the first year and a half of our ownership to take an honest inventory of what’s working and what’s not. We’re excited to now present our preliminary ideas for how we intend to revitalize this significant property into a thriving, mixed-use district and retail destination. The goal is to prioritize the resident and pedestrian over the car with a focus on landscaping, sustainability and communal gathering.”
“We are excited to reveal initial plans for the redevelopment of Foothills Mall with the community,” said Stenn Parton, president at Prism Places. “We look forward to converting the mall into a vibrant mixed-use district that integrates curated retail offerings, chef-driven restaurants, and a trail of public spaces that stitch together the district.”
The community is invited to engage with Foothills team members from 11AM to 2PM, view design concepts and renderings, and provide feedback. The open house will also include a variety of indoor and outdoor family-friendly activities, encouraging community members to enjoy the mall’s current offerings and weekend onsite activities while envisioning the new curated lifestyle that is anticipated to infuse Fort Collins in the future.
McWhinney and Prism Places acquired the Foothills property out of receivership to focus on placemaking and integrating retail, restaurants, and multifamily housing. The process of determining Foothills’ future began with community and stakeholder engagement in the form of town hall meetings, conducting multiple surveys, and giving presentations to identify the wants and needs of all members.
In the past year, new ownership has made considerable investment upgrades to the outdoor lawn area, which now boasts entertainment, comfortable seating, and local vendor spaces. Additionally, monthly community engagement activations have enlivened interior and exterior spaces.