Exploring a changing Fort Collins
Meg has been writing about urban development issues in Fort Collins since 2015. Learn more…
Meg also writes about local history at NorthernColoradoHistory.com.
I’m hoping to add a recommended reading section here soon.
The Larimer County Poor Farm
This photo of the Larimer County Hospital is from 1925 or after. It is from a postcard I found on eBay. The small house that can be seen in the background was a part of the Larimer County Poor Farm. I'm currently researching the history of our local hospitals and have...
How We’ve Lived, Over Time, in This Place
The current City Council has spent quite a bit of time looking at housing related issues. Government oversight of rental properties, rezoning mobile home parks, addressing occupancy limits and removing all single family zoning have all at least been on the table. Some...
All New Intersection at Laporte and Loomis
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTSAll New Intersection at Laporte and LoomisThere are some significant improvements in the works for an offset intersection in an Old Town neighborhood. While most are pleased with the proposed changes, there are a few who believe the redesign...
The Best Routes to Get Downtown by Bicycle
There's a lot going on downtown during the summer. Carpooling to Old Town can be a smart way to go. But for some events, like New West Fest, parking spots are in very short supply. At times like that you'll definitely want to travel by bike or bus instead (or both!)....
Assumptions Made About Bicyclists
Bicyclist using the new bike lane on S. Shields St. I attended the Magnolia and Shields intersection open house tonight that was hosted by FC Bikes and the City of Fort Collins. In speaking with a fellow participant, I learned the following. All bicyclists are...
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in a Denver Historic District
On July 17th, Historic Denver hosted a tour of ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) in the Curtis Park Historic District. "Accessory Dwelling Unit" is a technical term that refers to any additional living space on a lot other than the main dwelling. So if a single family...
Celebrate Independence by Blocking Someone’s Way
Special events often lead to disregard. At any "normal time" most people seem to get that there are rules to where you can and can't park your car. But when it comes to special events, whether it's a kids' soccer game or a holiday parade, suddenly all rules go out the...
Blessed Are the Pedestrians
“Blessed are the pedestrians,for they have inheriteda world made for motorists."This is a pedestrian sidewalk... though you wouldn't know it from the looks of it. It's one thing to have a tree blocking part of the sidewalk. At least the tree is also providing shade...
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Think BIG
“The ultimate test of man's consciencemay be his willingness to sacrifice something todayfor future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard.”― Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day. Humans have been reusing and recycling hand-made goods for millennia....
A Sense of Place Outside of Old Town
At a City Plan meeting last night, there was a short discussion on the term "distinctiveness." It was a theme in the 1997 version of City Plan as residents wanted to be sure that Fort Collins remained distinct from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington and Laporte rather than...
Roundabouts: the Sustainable Solution
I recently returned from a trip to Uganda and Kenya where I was impressed with how frequently roundabouts were used as opposed to traffic signals. It struck me that in an up-and-coming third world country, where resources aren't alway readily available but traffic is...
Streetcars and Commercial Centers
Last week I had the pleasure of attending Saving Places, a three day conference that looks at historic preservation as a means of enlivening communities, strengthening economies, and giving story to the lives and cultures of past and present residents. Transportation...