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I’m writing to make sure you know about McWhinney’s exciting plans to transform 140 acres south of Highway 34 and west of I-25 into Centerra South — a regional destination for northern Colorado anchored by Whole Foods.

What’s Planned for Centerra South

·       Retail: 175,000 +/- square feet of new retail offerings.

·       Jobs: A robust mix of new, part-time and full-time jobs, including the potential for new regional employer who is not in Larimer County bringing 400+ new jobs.

·       Children’s Museum: is relocating to Centerra South

·       Grocery: A 40,000-square-foot specialty organic grocery store.

·       Housing: About 1,100 for-sale, for-rent, single-family and multi-family homes at a variety of price points.

·       Parks: Linear and pocket parks throughout, anchored by a central park with outdoor performance and gathering spaces —perfect for community events and programming.

As you can imagine, Centerra South stands to strengthen Loveland’s position as a major destination and economic anchor in the region. To that end, McWhinney is seeking to build Centerra South through a public-private partnership with the city of Loveland. As you know, public-private partnerships leverage incentives from local government and the expertise and capacity of an experienced developer to create places that become public amenities, drive tax revenue and fund future community amenities.

Those in opposition to the project and its public financing have been VERY vocal at Loveland City Council meetings and those who are in support have been very quiet. While my colleagues and I respect all community members’ opinions, some of the opposition thus far appears to be based on false or misleading information.

We’d love to have your support for the project at tomorrow’s (April 18th) @ 6:00 for the City Council Meeting.  If you’re so inclined, we’d ask for your support in any of the following ways:

• Attend and voice your support at the April 18 Loveland City Council meeting (final vote). In person or remotely (see below for how to register for remote comment)

• Email Loveland’s mayor and council members at ccouncil@cityofloveland.org sample email attached

How to Participate April 18th @ 6PM From your Computer: Remote Individuals who wish to speak are asked to register online at lovgov.org/CouncilPublicComment by 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting 4/18/2023.

• Fill out the form.

• You will get an email confirmation with a Zoom link.

• Join online at 6 p.m.

We’re happy to craft talking points for anyone who is willing to speak. We’re tracking our supporters, so please let me know if any of your contacts commit to speaking.

You can also send emails of support easily by clicking on the “Email” button here: https://www.centerrasouth.com/get-involved

I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have about Centerra South – give me a call anytime at 303-653-3856. Thanks, as always, for your enduring leadership and partnership in the Loveland community.

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Sample letter to City Council:

[Greeting],

I’m writing to you because I’m excited about McWhinney’s plans to transform 140 acres south of Hwy.

34 and west of I-25 into Centerra South, and I hope you’ll support the development of this new

community.

Centerra South stands to bring a myriad of benefits to Loveland and its residents. Residents have been

calling for a grocery store in this area for years, and plans for Centerra South include a major grocer. As

you know, Northern Colorado is experiencing a serious housing shortage, and plans for Centerra include

a mix of more than 1,100 housing units. Residents and visitors will also get to enjoy exciting new shops

and restaurants, parks and public spaces, and pedestrian connections to Loveland Sports Park.

I feel confident we’ll see the same quality design, community connections, neighborhood amenities and

commitment to sustainability that McWhinney has brought to Centerra for more than 25 years.

I hope you’ll agree that Centerra South and its proposed public financing are a win-win for all.

Thank you for your leadership and your commitment to the Loveland community.

Sincerely,

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This is what I may say at the meeting if you want to copy me.

Mayor and City Council Members:

Good Evening, I am Tara Tooley of Tara Tooley Real Estate.  I have been a real estate professional for xxx years and have dedicated many years of my professional life to helping people live and thrive in Loveland.  I am honored every day to try and find housing for Loveland residents--current or future residents that want to live in this wonderful community.  I could speak for well over three minutes about Loveland and why we all value our neighborhoods and community and why we must provide additional housing for our residents.

Well, then you simply must understand the frustration I and others feel when we hear about the efforts to stop the development of Centerra South.  The efforts are misleading and intentionally designed to distract long enough to allow State electeds to try and derail this important project.  So I was compelled to join this meeting tonight and directly address the Mayor and City Council.  

Please approve to Resolution tonight in Agenda item 7.6 and move forward with the Centerra South Tax Increment Revenue Sharing Agreement.  The proposed development promises to bring much needed affordable and attainable housing. Bringing a sustainable mixed-use development of this quality cannot be done without a public/private partnership such as is proposed.  These types of public-private partnerships are how cities and towns across Colorado create attainable housing, jobs, taxes and economic development. Centerra South plans to invest in over $580M in private improvements along with the requested $86.9M in public infrastructure improvements.  The Centerra South property as it is today is not providing any revenue to the city.  That revenue only happens if the project moves forward.   The well-planned financial plan will manifest revenue and public benefits that were planned on this site for over 20 years.  Folks this has been planned for development for nearly 20 years--what are we fighting.  

Centerra South is precisely the type of quality development that is needed in East Loveland.  This is the perfect location and use of this land.  The plan reflects the Comprehensive Plan and will bring much-needed development to this part of Loveland. East Loveland has needed a grocery store for many years, and Whole Foods happens to be a store that will not only meet that area’s local needs but will draw in a regional crowd to spend dollars in other parts of Loveland as well. I know multiple families who drive from Loveland to Whole Foods in Fort Collins for produce and meat. They could be spending those dollars and potentially more here.

I encourage Loveland City Council to include their portions of the sales tax of the taxes in the Urban Renewal Agreement. This is good for Loveland Residents and Businesses-please support this application! I urge the City Council to act quickly and approve Centerra South.