Big retailers heading for S.W. Weld county

Big things are coming to the small southwestern Weld County towns of Mead, Firestone, Frederick and Dacono. Big things in the form of large-scale commercial developments and big-box retailers, that is.

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers’ planned move from Brighton to Mead in 2007 serves as a snapshot of commercial growth and development in the region that also includes construction of an American Furniture Warehouse in Firestone, a Furniture Row retail center in Dacono and four substantial commercial developments with the prospect of hundreds of thousands of square feet of retail space currently in the pipeline in Frederick.

Mead

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers is the world’s largest auctioneer of industrial equipment, according to the business’ Web site. When built, the Mead location will join the company’s more than 110 auction locations in 25 countries.

Scott Forke, vice president of Ritchie Bros. central division, said Mead got the nod for the company’s new location after an extensive property and logistical search. “The Mead location fit all of our requirements,” he said.

The company purchased about 160 acres on the east side of Interstate 25, one half mile south of Colorado Highway 66. Initial plans call for developing about 80 acres. According to Forke, “We’ll hold the rest for future development or doing something else with.” Ritchie Bros. will build an auction yard and facility as well as offices for the division and other outbuildings

The project is on a fast track. “We’re going to break ground here pretty quick,” Forke said. “Our projection is we would be moved and operating in Mead next winter.”

Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers currently holds quarterly auctions in Colorado, approximately every March, June, September and December, Forke said. These one- or two-day events can draw 1,000 to 2,000 registered buyers and others.

According to a press release issued by Ritchie Bros., an auction held March 17 and 18 in Denver drew 2,400 people and generated $22 million in sales of 1,737 pieces of industrial equipment and trucks.

Having Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in town should be a substantial boon to Mead’s coffers. Michael Friesen, Mead town manager said, “We estimated, based on what they’re doing right now at their current facility, that it would bring maybe $200,000 annually in new sales tax revenues.” Total sales tax collections in Mead annually are currently at about $160,000.

Friesen said the auction-house development will likely draw related services such as hotels and restaurants.

Also on the commercial horizon in Mead is the town’s first bank in modern times, Friesen said. First National Bank of Mead has built a new building designed to harmonize with the town’s small town atmosphere Friesen said. The structure includes retail space on the ground floor and office space on the second floor at 141 Main St.

Firestone

Down the road a piece in Firestone, a sales-tax rebate for American Furniture Warehouse is part of the town’s vision for encouraging commercial development that will draw regional shoppers.

American Furniture Warehouse will anchor an approximately 160-acre retail development on the southeast corner of I-25 and Colorado 119 (also called Firestone Boulevard). The developer hopes to draw additional big-box retailers, other retail shops and restaurants, said Wes LaVanchy, Firestone finance director.

The rebate deal returns 75 percent of sales taxes collected at the site to pay for roads, sewer, water and other public infrastructure. The incentive remains in place for 15 years or until it reaches a cap of $11 million. Town officials have said they believe infrastructure costs will be less than the $11 million cap.

Firestone already is home to two large grocery chains. Safeway, open for several years now, anchors a spot to the south of town, while King Soopers opened at Colorado and Firestone Boulevard in late 2004.

LaVanchy said he was not aware of anything else in the town’s planning pipeline currently but said planners expect development at the American Furniture Warehouse site to pick up rapidly.

Frederick

Neighboring Frederick has four substantial commercial projects in the pipeline, said Frederick Senior Planner Jennifer Hoffmann. They are:

• Frederick Village Market, a retail development on approximately 12.5 acres north of Colorado Highway 52 and east of Weld County Road 15. Preliminary proposals call for more than 25,000 square feet of retail space.

• Carriage Hills Marketplace, an approximately 32-acre retail development that straddles Frederick Way, north of Colorado 52. Preliminary platting of the site has taken place, Hoffmann said.

• Miners’ Park Town Centre at the northeast corner of Colorado 52 and Weld County Road 13, a mixed-use neighborhood of retail, office and medium-density residential on approximately 70 acres.

• Wyndham Hill, a mixed-use commercial development on approximately 118 acres north of Colorado 52 and west of I-25. Hoffmann said the developer proposes large-scale retail along with a mix of neighborhood retail and medium- to high-density residential development.

Hoffmann said Wyndham Hill offers the opportunity for large-scale retail development. “Their market analysis shows that we could expect between 600,000 and 800,000 square feet of retail.”

Dacono

Look for more large-scale commercial development along I-25 at Dacono’s western reaches. Furniture Row will build a regional retail center in the Sweet Grass development at the I-25 frontage road and Colorado 52. Furniture Row is the fourth-largest family-owned furniture retailer in the U.S., according to the company’s Web site. The Dacono location will join a stable of more than 270 stores in 31 states.

In downtown Dacono, Colorado EastBank has opened a neighborhood bank at Colorado 52 and Colorado Boulevard. Additional retail is under discussion at that location.

Farther south, Split Rail Fence Co. has opened a location at I-25 and Weld County Road 8. Plans in discussion call for the possibility of an outlet mall at the site.

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