Work on Bass Pro Shops Gets in Gear

March 11, 2014 Posted In

Written by: Pat Ferrier

Bass Pro Shops expects to break ground in late summer on its new 117,000-square-foot store at Centerra in Loveland and to open about a year later.
“Everything is in motion with this project,” Bass Pro spokeswoman Tammy Sapp said Monday. “We’re working on the design development plan and construction schedule as well as determining a start date.”
“Our stores are destination sites that are unique in design and quality so the construction process and timeline can vary. We want to ensure area residents and visitors get the best shopping experience possible.”
The Missouri-based mega hunting, fishing, boating and outdoor store will be located on 26 acres northeast of the Interstate 25 and U.S. 34 intersection and southeast of the Promenade Shops at Centerra.
Before Bass Pro Shops can break ground, McWhinney Inc., which owns the land, needs to deliver a pad on which the store can build.
That work is expected to start June 1 and take about 60 days.
“Depending on everything going well, we expect overall construction to be 11 to 12 months,” Jay Hardy of McWhinney said.
That would put the opening in the third quarter next year.
Because Centerra has already been approved by the city, Bass Pro will need only a building permit from Loveland officials.
In February, City Council approved using funds created through its master financing agreement with Centerrra to build parking for the store and surrounding shops that McWhinney expects to build. The store expects to generate about 250 jobs.
Money would come from tax increment financing and a public improvement fee from sales tax. Tax increment financing is a tool allowed under state urban renewal law. As property values within an urban renewal area increase through redevelopment, tax revenue generated above a base level is used to fund public improvements.
Bass Pro Shops will anchor a development that includes a Courtyard by Mariott hotel, and about 12,000 square feet of additional retail that McWhinney will develop simultaneously, Hardy said.
“We think this is a huge regional draw to the area …” Hardy said. “They’re expanding a lot internationally and nationally and getting into the queue of important projects like that has been the biggest priority for everybody.”
New development continues to come online in Timnath and Fort Collins. Warehouse giant Costco plans to open in Timnath in October; Sierra Trading Post and Trader Joe’s are expected to open at The Square in Fort Collins around the same time and a new shopping center taking hold at Foothills Mall plans to be fully open by the 2015 holidays.
“There’s a ton of boom going on. … It’s an exciting time and we’re happy to be a part of it,” Hardy said. “We’re happy to get this one to the goal line.”