Southwest Weld attracts residential, retail growth

Drawn by existing and prospective rooftops in southwest Weld County, big-box retailers like American Furniture Warehouse and Furniture Row are part of the momentum attracting more residential and commercial development to the region.

Small-town atmosphere with big-city access to jobs, shopping and entertainment is attracting growing numbers to this region, say officials here.

Residential housing numbers are on the rise as the populations of southwest Weld towns show continuing growth. Officials predict these cities will continue to grow over the next decade.

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Those numbers will continue to feed a cycle of growth, said Keith Kanemoto, broker associate and owner of Longmont-based Prudential Rocky Mountain Realtors. More rooftops will draw more retail. More retail will draw more commercial and industrial development.

In just 12 months, the populations of the “tri-town” cities – Frederick, Firestone and Dacono – grew by nearly 12 percent. The combined population of the three was estimated at 13,394 in July 2003. That jumped to 14,962 by July 2004.

Retailers have staked their futures on this growth. Take the two furniture outlets, for example. Trade journal Furniture Today projects the Greeley metro area will be the fastest-growing metropolitan market in the country for furniture sales between 2005 and 2010. The industry journal predicts 41 percent sales growth in the Greeley area during that period.

Homeowners in southwest Weld shouldn’t have any trouble finding sofas and mattresses close by. Furniture Row opened in May. American Furniture Warehouse is building more than 500,000 square feet at Interstate 25 and Colorado Highway 119. In early 2006, Ethan Allen Retail Inc. announced it will build a 20,000-square-foot store at 2534 in Johnstown near the Larimer-Weld county line.

Actual permit numbers in rural Weld County are on track for continued growth. According to the Home Builders Association of Northern Colorado, total residential permits for the first half of 2006 (as of July), were 1,784. That compares with 1,805 total permits for 2005 and 1,770 for 2004.

Frederick building permit technician Kathy Larson said that permit numbers as of August 2006 are down slightly. The town issued 134 single-family building permits and five commercial building permits this year. In 2005, those numbers were 184 single family permits and 10 commercial building permits.

Calm before the storm

Those numbers may simply reflect the calm before the storm. The pace in Frederick’s planning office remains brisk with the 1,500-plus unit mixed use development Wyndham Hill just getting under way. Two additional projects – one for 429 units and one with approximately 183 units – are currently on the table.

The town has issued three building permits to Wyndham Hill builder D.R. Horton for model homes in the development’s first phase. Town officials began reviewing final development plans for the commercial aspect of the project in late September.

A mall slated for the property is expected to reflect the current lifestyle-center trend, much like the Promenade Shops at Centerra, on the northeast corner of I-25 and U.S. Highway 34. The Wyndham Hill shopping center will feature a mix of large anchors and smaller retailers. Market analysis by the developers predicts 600,000 to 800,000 square feet of retail at the site.

Frederick officials said an indoor water park has been mentioned for the 181-acre site as well.

Meanwhile, the world’s largest auctioneer of industrial equipment is busy building a new auction location in Mead in southwest Weld County. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers hopes to have the newest in its stable of more than 110 auction houses in 25 countries running by winter.

The company will hold quarterly auctions in Colorado. These one- to two-day events can draw 1,000 to 2,000 registered buyers. Those buyers and the family and friends who accompany them will need lodging and services. Mead town officials have said they expect the auction house to draw additional hotels and restaurants to the region.

Developer Kanemoto said he looks for further retail-oriented and commercial development for southwest Weld county as the numbers of rooftops increase in the Tri-Town area.

The combination of municipalities hungry for retail sales tax dollars, growing consumer numbers hungry for shopping opportunities and the access and visibility offered by I-25 could prove irresistible to big-box and other retailers.

“As the number of rooftops increase in the area, residents need more services and you’ll see retail following the housing,” Kanemoto said. “And then industrial and office development will follow the retail.”