Fort Collins Plans Temporary Venue to Revive Old Albertsons Site

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The City of Fort Collins Urban Renewal Authority (URA) has purchased the former Albertsons grocery store site on North College and plans to temporarily transform the 4.6-acre property, including the 50,000 square-foot building and parking lot, into a vibrant community venue. The URA envisions the space hosting events like food truck festivals, concerts, farmers markets, and more as a way to activate the underutilized site while long-term redevelopment plans are finalized.

Why it matters

The Albertsons location has sat vacant for over a decade after the grocery store closed in 2014 due to competition from nearby big-box retailers. Transforming the site into a temporary community venue aligns with the city's goals of revitalizing underused commercial areas and providing more public gathering spaces for residents.

The details

The URA purchased the Albertsons property in 2025 and plans to temporarily convert the parking lot into an event space with a stage, seating, food trucks, and an artificial turf "park" area. This would create a lively destination similar to The Exchange at College and Jefferson, though on a temporary basis as long-term redevelopment plans are determined.

• The Albertsons on North College closed in January 2014 after 11 years of operation.
• The Fort Collins URA purchased the 4.6-acre Albertsons site in 2025.

What’s next

The URA will finalize plans and seek approvals to begin transforming the Albertsons parking lot into the temporary community venue in the coming months.