City updates: Downtown 2032, Civic Campus predevelopment and larger projects advance

City of Greeley planning staff gave a multi‑topic update on Downtown 2032 and several major infrastructure and redevelopment projects affecting downtown and West Greeley, including the Civic Campus predevelopment, the Merge transportation project, airport planning, housing initiatives, the Poudre River restoration, and the large Catalyst/Cascadia development on the city’s west side.

Staff said the city and Downtown Development Authority completed a Downtown 2032 vision and are advancing a Civic Campus concept intended to consolidate municipal, county and school district uses to free up downtown land for redevelopment. Council approved approximately $10 million for predevelopment work; staff described an expected 9–14 month predevelopment schedule to address site planning, property transactions and feasibility.

On transportation, staff reported progress on the Merge project — intended to improve north–south traffic flow and multimodal safety — and said Colorado Department of Transportation coordination and Federal Highway Administration steps are underway. The design consultant team for Merge has been selected and public outreach materials will appear on the city’s SpeakUpGreeley portal. City staff said initial neighborhood improvements could begin in 2026–27 depending on funding and environmental clearances.

On housing, staff described a mixed‑income approach spanning emergency shelter and rapid rehousing up to market‑rate and “executive” housing, and said the city is exploring mixed‑income master planning to meet a range of needs. Multiple commission members and public commenters asked specifically whether the large Catalyst/Cascadia proposal includes affordable units; staff said that detail is still being finalized in development documents and noted annexation and PUD items for Catalyst/Cascadia were scheduled for City Council public hearing and vote the following day.

Staff also provided updates on airport planning (terminal and tower concepts, additional hangars and long‑term commercial service planning), Poudre River restoration concepts to reduce flooding and enhance habitat, and the Sixteenth Street Streetscape work underway to reconnect the university and historic downtown.

During the question period, commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about potential impacts on historic resources, Arroyo Del Sol and natural habitat near the Cascadia development, whether PUD approvals include affordable housing commitments, and how flood mitigation would be addressed. Staff said no designated historic properties in the downtown district are currently slated for demolition in the concept maps shown; they added that some blocks may be swapped in land‑use plans and that details remain subject to future approvals and environmental review.

Staff directed interested residents to the city’s SpeakUpGreeley portal for project timelines and materials and to the City Council meeting packet where Catalyst/Cascadia annexation and PUD materials would be posted for the upcoming council public hearing.