new growth on east end of Longmont? (Fort Collins, Firestone: for sale, buying a house)

[patrickmich]

I am considering buying a house on the SW side of I-25 and highway 119.
(officially I think this is called the Del Camino area)
There is a huge American Furniture Warehouse on the SE side of the
highway interchange. I believe the marketers of the warehouse see
this as an up and coming area, and thus located the warehouse accordingly.
I am not familiar with Longmont, though. Does anyone have insights
as to what may be planned for future development for the general area around
I-25 and highway 119, particularly on the West side of the interchange
since that is where my house will be? There seems to be open fields
on both sides of the highway west of the Interchange. It would be
good news if they were to development those areas, or turn them
into natural areas. Thanks for any insight you can lend me.

[tfox]

Hi PatrickMich,

I see no one has answered your question yet. I unfortunately have no idea as to the development plans for that area, but my guess is that eventually it will be developed. I've reviewed open space maps and conservation easements and I believe all four sides of that interchange are unprotected from development. The only thing that would stop it is if an entity stepped in and bought a conservation easement, which seems unlikely in this case.

I do remember reading that the Del Camino merchants were doing what they could to remain independent of Longmont, something not unlike the East Mulberry merchants in Fort Collins. However, unlike the East Mulberry merchants, my impression was that Del Camino is likely to become its own town, if it hasn't done so already. I believe that Firestone has its eye on the land to the east of I-25.

Weld is unfortunately very pro-growth and pro-development, and has its eyes on lots of commercial development around highway interchanges. I expect that eventually we'll see big box stores and housing subdivisions pushing up there like dandilions in June.

[patrickmich]

thank you for your reply. I am still sitting on the decision whether to buy
the house for sale at this interchange. You say that it is unfortunate that
weld county is pro-growth and pro-development. I don't think there
is anything unfortunate about being pro-growth. I am all for it! I am
hoping in fact that if I buy the house in question that this area will
continue to grow and development. No need to give me your opinions
to the contrary because I am already quite familiar with such viewpoints.
What I'm trying to predict is if this interchange will become desirable.
Currently it's run-down. Such information is very hard to find.