THE 2025 NORTH METRO MOBILE TOUR RECAP

October 9, 2025

THE 2025 NORTH METRO MOBILE TOUR

On September 11, 2025, more than 40 community leaders and urban enthusiasts hit the road for the 6th Annual Metro Mobile Tour, a traveling showcase of innovation and collaboration across Colorado’s Front Range.

Hosted by Downtown Colorado, Inc. (DCI) and the Colorado Municipal League (CML), this year’s tour brought together representatives from over 20 communities and 41 organizations—from municipalities and urban renewal authorities to consultants, nonprofits, and private-sector partners. Together, they explored how Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Downtown Development Authorities (DDAs), and Urban Renewal Authorities (URAs) are shaping Colorado’s places to live, work, and thrive.

Superior: A New Downtown Takes Shape

The day began in Superior, where attendees toured the new Civic Center and Downtown Superior, a walkable, mixed-use area that embodies the town’s vision for connected, people-centered growth. Local leaders welcomed the group with coffee, insights, and stories about how planning and partnerships are driving this transformation from the ground up.

Louisville: Old Town Roots, New Possibilities

Next stop: Louisville, where the group strolled through Old Town and along Highway 42 to see new residential and mixed-use projects taking shape. From the Grain Elevator adaptive reuse to the DELO development boom, Louisville showcased how thoughtful redevelopment can strengthen identity while meeting housing and commercial needs.

Lafayette: Creativity, Culture, and Community

After a delicious lunch at Ghost Box Pizza, the tour shifted to Lafayette’s Old Town, where creative reuse and community character take center stage. Highlights included the Foxglove and The Yard pocket park project and the North Public Market, a reimagined gas station turned community gathering spot. These projects—supported by Lafayette’s DDA—illustrate how small investments can make a big difference in activating public space and supporting small business.

Erie: Building the Future Downtown

The final stop took participants to Erie, where the Briggs Street corridor and Town Center demonstrate a bold vision for downtown vibrancy. Stops included the Birdhouse Restaurant, Coal Park redevelopment, and Park West mixed-use project, followed by a happy hour at Erie Social Club. The conversation focused on placemaking, design, and using URA tools to guide growth while keeping community at the heart of it all.

Shared Lessons and Takeaways

Across all four stops, attendees explored how Colorado communities are creatively leveraging local tools to make redevelopment real.

Key takeaways from the day included:

  • Showcasing Innovation: From adaptive reuse in Lafayette to housing growth in Louisville, participants saw firsthand how planning meets action.

  • Building Connections: The tour fostered new partnerships among municipal leaders, developers, and practitioners across the state.

  • Looking Ahead: The strong turnout and energy reinforced the value of hands-on learning. In 2026, the focus may shift toward fewer communities to dive deeper into projects and partnerships that drive success.

Thank You to Our Hosts and Sponsors

A huge thank-you to our incredible community hosts, local planners, and sponsors who made this event possible. Y

our leadership and hospitality made the day unforgettable.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined the journey and continue to champion creative, collaborative, and community-centered redevelopment across Colorado.

Until next time, keep rolling, keep learning, and keep building small for big impact.