The lowdown-businesses old and new and what's up with those empty lots.
Here's the latest
It’s way past time for another update on businesses in Lafayette. I’ve had plans to write this for a couple of weeks and even after I gathered all my info it still took a while to get to it. But here I am with the latest!
Last week, in preparation for this report, I talked with Brigid Keating our Economic Development Director and Director of the Lafayette Urban Renewal Authority (LURA). I also contacted our Interim Planning and Building Director, Steven Williams.
For those who might not know, former Planning and Building Director Jeff Brasel is no longer with the city. His thoughtful approach to planning in Lafayette was a dramatic change from what we have seen in the past. I told him numerous times we would have a different, much weaker, comprehensive plan today had he not come to work for the city while it was still in the draft stage. Who will be the new director? No idea. But before Director Brasel was hired the community was asked to weigh in on the three final applicants for the job. Stay tuned I’ll tell you if that opportunity happens again. This is an important position in Lafayette.
Since I’m in city staff praise mode Director Keating deserves a shoutout too. Like Director Brasel she was hired by our previous City Administrator Fritz Sprague. The positive difference between Brigid and her predecessor Roger Caruso can’t be emphasized enough. I’m thinking of night and day, poles apart, and the British version chalk and cheese! When Roger left the administration he said in a public meeting he was “going to the dark side” to work for the development community. A much more fitting place for him. It was happy dance time for me when I heard that.
OK, let’s get on with the report.
KING SOOPERS
We’re all waiting to hear the scoop on what’s happening with this building. Not much to report yet. Director Keating tells me the Erie store will open in the fall so nothing new there. In a past report I told you that Kroger wants to keep ownership of the site and find a tenant. The latest news is that they have indicated that they are only interested in a retail tenant. That’s a change from the last update I heard and hopefully, they follow through with that as it will be better for our bank account than a health and fitness club or some other none sales tax generating business. Director Keating says she’s been told there is tenant interest in the site so we’ll see where this goes. No clue about what businesses are interested, but I’ll let you know as soon as I hear.
KALITA GRILL GREEK CAFE
In November 2023 I wrote about Kalita coming to Public Rd taking over the old Jack’s Pet Place building. It’s still happening but as I reported the building requires extensive renovations. The tentative opening isn’t for seven to eight months. We can expect to see the owners ask LURA for funding assistance. If you read my recent post about Foxglove Bar & Hideaway and The Yard at Vintrey, also planned for Public Rd, you might recall I mentioned a gap analysis was performed. I described it this way “Hey we have a project and it costs this much but we only have a portion of the money, can you help us close the gap”. Stay tuned for the same process to most likely take place with Kalita.
PITA GRILL
Here’s an interesting twist. Pita Grill is moving into the space vacated by Deli-Cious Z’s across the street from the Kalita Grill Greek Cafe. Since this location was already a restaurant it could be opening quite quickly. The banner on the storefront says Mediterranean food. If you love Greek food this could become your favorite section of Public Rd. Dueling dolmas anyone? Falafel? Spanakopita perhaps?
DUTCH BROS. COFFEE
When I first heard the name Dutch Bros. I instantly thought of paint. No Karen that’s Dutch Boy! Council approved all the ins and outs of this drive-thru coffee business earlier this month so it’s a go.
The empty Pizza Hut on S. Boulder Rd just west of Natural Grocers will be transformed into a Dutch Bros. Below is a screenshot from the presentation to the council.
In an unusual move, they are scaling the building down rather than expanding it. The square footage of the building will be reduced by roughly 1,100 sq. ft. from 3,022 sq. ft. to 1,897 sq. ft.
Maybe everyone knows about this company but me, in case you don’t, while you are waiting in the drive-thru line a “line buster” comes to your car to take your order, and a “drink runner” delivers it to you. There’s an escape line if your order is ready before the cars ahead. During peak hours they have a traffic controller.
CHASE BANK AT PUBLIC AND GENESEO
This long-time staple on Public Rd closes in October and moves to Nine Mile Corner in Erie. What happens to the old building? Good question. I haven’t asked yet but I imagine that Director Keating has already been talking to Chase about their plans for the soon-to-be vacant building. Chase also owns the parking lot to the south of Geneseo. LURA has an agreement with them to utilize that lot for public parking.
VACANT LOT AT BASELINE AND PUBLIC
210 N. Public Rd. The North Public Market
This is a project that has been in the works for years. It moves along in jumps. First, the gas tanks from the old gas station were removed. Then time went by, and by, and by. In 2022 we saw a plan for a two-story building.
FIRST DESIGN
SECOND DESIGN
This is the latest plan. It’s set to go to LURA on August 13th and the Planning Commission on August 28th. You can see it’s been scaled back considerably, now it’s only one story.
From the city website:
“Site Plan / Architectural Review for a 6,155 sf 1-story commercial building. The plan proposes the building on the west portion of the lot and includes a landscaped outdoor seating and gathering area on the eastern portion of the lot. A row of parking stalls is located along the south end of the site adjacent to the existing alley. Other amenities offered through the site plan are bicycle racks, a designated location for a food truck, a kids game area, and right-of-way improvements consisting of 8’ sidewalks and 8’ landscape strips. To allow the plan to be approved as proposed, a parking reduction needs to be approved along with the site plan.”
“Development Process and Input: Send written comments on this project to Millissa Berry, the case planner, at planning@lafayetteco.gov; or by mail, or in person, to: Planning Department, City Hall, 1290 S. Public Rd., Lafayette, CO 80026.”
VACANT LOTS AT BASELINE AND CARR
There’s history and stories that go with these two lots. I started to write about them but knew it would slow down this update even more so maybe another day. But the aforementioned Roger Caruso was involved. Perhaps enough said for those familiar with the name.
West corner
This lot is owned by LURA. Currently, it’s for sale and LURA Director Keating has issued a request for proposals (RFP). Due to LURA’s ownership what is built here can be better controlled. They can say no to proposals that don’t thrill them. Will the proposals thrill us? I have no idea, none have been presented yet, but I’ll let you know when they are. Here I go again, hmm I thought I could add the RFP here, but that means tracking it down and so on. Stay on track Karen!
East corner
504-610 W. Baseline
Proposal for 8,000 sq. ft. retail and residential units
Once a gas station like the lot at Baseline and Public, it’s been a vacant lot for years now. A plan for the property was submitted in August of 2023. I have included a screenshot of that plan below. Our Interim Planning and Building Director Steven Williams tells me the planning staff is working through the first round of comments on this project. However, he said that the application was incomplete and it was resubmitted earlier this year. There is new documentation on the city website dated May 22, 2024.
Note this plan not only applies to the vacant land but also includes the property to the east where there are currently two small buildings. The applicant’s narrative states the liquor store located in one of those buildings will move into the commercial building when complete. Then construction of the residential component will begin.
Heads-up: Hartronft Associates are the architects and planners for this project. This is the same company responsible for the development of the Circle Motel property on Baseline opposite the cemetery. I can’t recall the official name of the development but I call it Shoehorn Terrace. I’ve been critical of that monstrosity so I hope we don’t see more of the same.
FIRST PLAN DATED AUGUST 2023
SECOND PLAN DATED MAY 2024
Building D-3 does not appear on the second plan. I can’t see any other changes, if I am missing something let me know!
The applicant’s narrative letter tells us this is a mixed-use development with an 8,000sf +/- retail/commercial building on the corner of Baseline and Carr, and residential townhomes and duplexes on the eastern portion of the site.
26 dwelling units total. Two townhomes face Baseline with a mix of two and three-story dwelling units including 8 “live-work” units with a commercial space on the ground floor and living space above.
Want to offer more support? Awesome!
It was great to see the designs you posted, very useful. Why is each architectural design basically the same as every other one, and all of them derivative of Boulder? Why are we trying to turn Lafayette into Boulder? Is there not someone in this town who can articulate to these architects what Lafayette is about? LURA, please design architectural standards that are distinctly different than Boulder. Take a stand, please! Thank you.
The architect Eric Hartronft is a one trick pony. He only knows how to design square bird houses to the property line without any aesthetic at all. Why does Lafayette keep allowing him to deaden our city with these talentless designs?