Big potential for ConocoPhillips site, an article from The Rocky Mountain News, reports that on Thursday, several experts said the 432-campus in Louisville purchased by ConocoPhillips could be rezoned to easily handle 10,000 or more people. Tom Clark, executive vice president of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., said if you do the math the land easily supports well in excess of 10,000 on the site. Clark said, "This would dwarf any economic development deal in the history of the state." Paul Wood, planning director for Louisville, said ConocoPhillips could easily rezone the property from industrial, allowing 5 million to 5.5 million square feet of a wide range of buildings, from offices to industrial to research and development facilities, and even retail and hotels. Bill Tanner, a ConocoPhillips spokesman, said it would be "speculative and premature" to comment on the number of people who ultimately will work on the campus. He said, "We'll be putting teams together to work out long-range plans."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/feb/22/big-deal-on-road-ahead/

Foreclosure prevention plan under attack, an article from CNNMoney.com, reports there are two bills before Congress that would give bankruptcy court judges the authority to reduce mortgage debt, which could save thousands of borrowers from foreclosure. The prospect of having judges seize control of their mortgage portfolios has lenders angry and consumer advocates argue that such a move makes sense given the current mortgage crisis. Both the Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007 and the Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 aim to provide relief for some home owners in bankruptcy. Only borrowers who live in their homes and hold subprime or non-traditional mortgages, like interest-only loans, would be eligible. Ellen Hornick, an attorney for the Center for Responsible Lending said, "This will help 600,000 households avoid foreclosure this year and next." Steve O'Connor, the senior vice president for government affairs at the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), claims this could add upwards of one-and-a-half percentage points to everyone's interest rates. A vote on the Senate bill could come as early as next week.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/21/real_estate/cram_downs_coming/index.htm?postversion=2008022113

Additional articles that you may find of interest:

Some starting own downtown improvements
http://www.reporterherald.com/news_story.asp?ID=15100

Loveland homebuilder captures national honor
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/LOVELAND01/80221042/1192/LOVELAND

Grand Station delayed but not out
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/LOVELAND01/80221040/1192/LOVELAND

Local reaction to ConocoPhillips' plans: ‘Huge!'
http://www.timescall.com/News_Story.asp?id=6701

Downtown Regency Hotel sells, will become a Clarion
http://www.greeleytrib.com/article/20080221/NEWS/520307979

Museum plans roll forward
http://www.ncbr.com/enews.asp

Investor Report: The Year to Invest
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080222_investorreport.htm

Real Estate Outlook: Positives Taking Shape
http://realtytimes.com/rtpages/20080221_realestateoutlook.htm

Pinpointing an Opportune Time To Build That Brand-New Home
http://www.realestatejournal.com/columnists/housetalk/20080221-fletcher.html