FURA
FURA
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Maps
  • Project Overview
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Who We Are
  • Maps
  • Project Overview
  • Contact Us

Top project initiatives

Since, 2008, FURA has provided $53.2M in monetary contributions on behalf of projects within its urban renewal district(s) within the City of Fountain, CO.  These projects signify the ongoing commitment the Authority has towards the eradication of blight within the community and towards the rejuvenation of land assets for aiding with the attraction of new development investments. 

Please see below our current, active list of projects on behalf of the City of Fountain community. We encourage partnership collaboration towards the eradication of blight and inspiring a "Sense of Place" for both residents and visitors of Fountain.

​US85 - URA 

Picture
Picture
Woodman Hall Vision courtesy of Tremmel Design Group
Picture
Picture

Community Placemaking - District Studies/Master Plans
Picture
Picture

South Academy Highlands I/II - URA
Picture

 Charter Oak-URA
Picture

Bandley-URA

Picture
Woodman Hall
In the fall of 2018, FURA concluded a single site purchase located at the epicenter of a community Town Center rebirth; 1905 historic dwelling, known as Woodman Hall. The purchase has a purposeful intent to preserve, repurpose and revitalize the historic asset for community accessibility. Per its origin significance, this historic asset has always been a center of community gathering in the forms as a General Store, Missionary Meeting Hall, Performance Theatre, Butcher Shop, Post Office, Movie Theater, Roller Rink, as well as residential housing by the mid-1980's. ​

​The summer of 2019, FURA on boarded Tremmel Design Group to perform a historical assessment of the property and to provide advisory services on behalf of property restoration and revitalization. In September 2020, FURA Chairman provided a courtesy presentation to Fountain City Council as to the Woodman Hall Vision. In 2022, FURA onboarded Nunn Construction as its general contractor to steward the Vision of three-phased property improvements towards cultivating 100% commercial tenancy to spur economic vitality in the epicenter of downtown Fountain. Effective January 2025, the Authority announced a multi-year ground floor lease for 100% occupancy by a mercado/restaurant small business with its 2nd FL mix of health+wellness practitioners 100% occupied. 

Please visit the project site page to learn more. ​

US85 Pad Site

Public Announcement on Project Status (July 2019 Video)
Olde Town/ Gateway Improvements & Activity Timeline (published by CoF, 2025)

​The Fountain Urban Renewal Authority worked closely with City Economic Development, Olde Town Steering Committee and Fountain City Council on a community desire to attract a mid-tier fresh selection grocer, along with incentive pairings for the Olde Town district. With the addition of approximately 1,400+ new single family homes under construction and the census block LMI tracks within the Olde Town district, the food and medical desert section of the community was deemed by the Colorado Fresh Food Cooperative (CHFA) ; profiling a $12M grocery leakage and aligning grant funds for the placement of a fresh grocer within Olde Town.

​In partnership with CHFA, FURA was able to assemble 1.14 acres of land as an investment to attract a private partner to derive leakage services entry for the community and the district.

​As of 2022, FURA has completed its mission for blight remediation of the site and offers a shovel ready parcel for small business fulfillment by the private sector. Interested parties seeking entry within the Olde Town district site, as part of the highly trafficked US85 URA, should contact FURA's real estate broker, Westward Properties Inc. 719-301-9378 and/or contact FURA's Executive Director to learn more, 
Craft Brewery Manufacturer Commercial Site
​
​
2024 Celebrates the 5YR Anniversary of the Public-Private Partnership Success
​
1-Yr. Anniversary PSA Video (YouTube 8.20.20)

Peaks N Pines Brewing Company Announces Expansion CS Independent March 2019)

Fountain CO continues unprecedented growth along the front-range with the entry of Peaks N Pines Brewing Company to fill a lifestyle void in the community by establishing the first craft brewery operation in Fountain, CO. The property selected for its manufacturing operations expansion is envisioned as a critical component of the larger “sense of place” within the Olde Town Revitalization Master Plan. The site will have direct access to a pedestrian open space corridor, known as Blast Park and Aga Park, with auxiliary access to the Adams open space trail network in downtown Fountain, CO.

The Fountain CO location, 212 West Illinois Avenue, is a blighted property with 20+ years as a heavy automotive use site which is owned by FURA.  The site realized approximately $590,000 in capital improvements and generate 12 new jobs and serve as Peaks N Pines’ primary craft brewing manufacturing operation.

Please read the Press Release to learn more. 

Town Design Guidelines and Interstate Gateway project 

The Fountain Urban Renewal Authority (FURA) awarded this project to THK and Associates with findings reported to City Council on December 11, 2017.  The project is focused on the Olde Town district, to learn more please visit the Project's Site Page for current information. 
​
​

Ohio Avenue Placemaking Campaign

 ​In 2020, the City of Fountain and FURA  partnered with OEDIT, DOLA and Community Builders as spin off of the THK study to help develop some ideas for Placemaking along the  Ohio Street corridor in the Olde Town district.  The City lead campaign within the US85 URA cultivated over 190+ positive public feedback surveys and resulted in the identification of Short Term Wins and Long Term Mission for the district's corridor.   

​On 5.11.21, City Council received a report out on the Campaign's deliverables, quantified public feedback, and outlined next step alternatives of Placemaking 2.1 for the corridor.  Click here to view the City of Fountain Council presentation. 

​For a canned Vimeo on Placemaking, please go to: https://vimeo.com/458671585            
Fountain Valley News Article (published 9.23.20)

​

Blast Park to Aga Park Pedestrian Corridor 

The Fountain Urban Renewal Authority (FURA), in conjunction with the City of Fountain Parks, the Olde Town Steering Committee and a list of 24 partners, are in support of the collaborative efforts to eradicate blight in the city's CBD through the creation of a historically designated Pedestrian Corridor. The envisionment is to tie Blast Park with Aga Park on the north end of the Olde Town District under the City of Fountain's Parks Master Plan. The overall passive recreation open space will serve as an educational center for youth and tourists, and a catalyst for spurring economic vitality within the Olde Town district of Fountain, CO.

The three-acre land assembly, to be known as "Blast Park," is located at the epicenter of the great 1888 train blast that leveled the City and forever changed the course of not just Fountain but the entire region and state. Fountain was a bustling railroad town and the epicenter of the cattle trade in the region. In fact, in 1888, Fountain was a 1 in 4 contender for being designated as the Capital City of the newly formed State of Colorado.

Per the City's 2020/2024 Brownfield Program, the project area receive technical resources funding to complete site assessment, design a conceptual Master Plan, and earned the designation as the Urban Greenway on behalf of pedestrian safety and business connectivity in the Olde Town district.  Click here to learn more.

Venetucci Boulevard Extension
June 10, 2020 the Venetucci Blvd. to B-Street connection officially opened to the Public.

A groundbreaking ceremony took place on April 3, 2019 within the South Academy Highlands development area of the City of Fountain at 7:00am. The groundbreaking will signify the beginning of a $3.5M transportation improvement project to extend Venetucci Boulevard north to B-Street to improve commuter accessibility between S. Academy Boulevard and US 85/87.

In the interest of enhancing public safety and a commitment of support to retail services for the community-at-large, the Fountain Urban Renewal Authority and UTW Academy Development, LLC have partnered to fund and construct the northern extension of Venetucci Blvd via the B-Street connection access located within El Paso County. The construction timeframe of this transportation improvement project is anticipated to occur between April 2019- November 2019.

​Please read the Press Release to learn more. 

3,000 acre Front Range Dual-Service Rail Park

In 2007, the City of Fountain identified the potential for the creation of an Industrial Rail Yard within its Strategic Plan for business development and Job creation.  Upon the release of the strategic plan, the Great Recession hit the american landscape; with the local region loosing >15,000 manufacturing jobs. 

In 2015, the Charter Oak Urban Renewal Area was formed to support the future development scope of the project and other commercial centers of activity.  ​In 2016, El Paso County and its the regional consultant team released a proof of concept report , which supported the concept for additional due diligence assessment. In spring 2018, a Memorandium of Understanding (MOU) was signed to signify the cohesiveness among the primary parties of the project.

In 2023, the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado Springs Utility approved the rail trackage agreement to support the Industrial Rail Park in Fountain.  The Gazette 2.15.23 Article

Please visit the project site page to learn more. 

Regional Industrial Center (SoCO RIC facility)

2025 update: 60% tenant occupancy by a Transportation/Logistics operator
​

Fountain Shares Activities Update to Fill Vacant Warehouse (CSBJ August 2017)

Visit the RIC landing page to learn more about the Southern Colorado Regional Industrial Center (RIC) fulfillment mission and building specs.  
​

The former Apple and SCI manufacturing plant facility, at approximately 350,000 SF, is strategically located along the Front-Range in Fountain, CO. The property provides immediate access and visibility to Interstate 25, includes an adjoining 48 acres raw land site, and is located approximately 12 miles south of Colorado Springs MSA.

Blight Sites in Fountain

Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly