Pat Ferrier

patferrier@coloradoan.com

Ben Mozer has big plans to bring his Lyric Cinema Cafe that's outgrown its home to a part of Fort Collins ready to come into its own.

Mozer recently reviewed preliminary plans with city officials to move the Lyric from 300 E. Mountain Ave. in the heart of Old Town to what is now vacant land at 1209 N. College Ave., across the street from Jax Outdoor Gear.

The move would give Mozer room to expand from two screens to three, and to add an 80-seat restaurant.

The Lyric's lease expires next year and Mozer worries that Old Town's growing rents will be "getting a little cost prohibitive," given that the Lyric has no room to expand from its 130 seats across two theaters.

"At this point we are operating at capacity and fitting as many people as we can in this building, so we have more demand than we have room," he said. "It's time to move."

Still, plans are preliminary, Mozer said. He needs to secure financing, file official plans, get permits and "make sure we can actually build something on this lot," he said.

City planner Jason Holland said zoning in the area along College north of the Poudre River permits both restaurants and theaters.

Moving to North College — a part of town Mozer called "up and coming" — allows him to get in on the ground floor and help "set the vibe" for the area.

"Somebody has to go down there and establish the vibe you want," he said. "Frankly, I would prefer to be the establisher of my own vibe rather than adhering to someone else's restrictions."

North College is an area on the move with the new Aspen Heights student housing that opened this year, and the resurrection of Old Town North and Revive housing projects expected to bring dozens of new homes to the area.

Construction of the final piece of North College Avenue, which doubles as U.S. Highway 287, between Conifer Street and Willox Lane, is expected to bring sidewalks, medians and other infrastructure, and be completed next year.

What the area still needs are some destination locations like a restaurant and movie theater, said Neil McCaffrey, longtime business owner and member of the North Fort Collins Business Association. "So, personally, I like to hear this. That piece of property has been sitting there a long time."

Mozer's preliminary plan includes a two-story, 12,000-square-foot building including three movie theaters, one of which would be suitable as a venue for live music. It also includes a restaurant with a possible rooftop patio, ample parking and retail space for local artisans selling everything from handmade mittens to paintings and sculptures.

In talking with people about a potential move, Mozer said "they tell me I can't move out of Old Town because that's where all the cool stuff happens."

That's "how it used to be," he said. Now, "it's headed the way of Boulder with more chain restaurants and high-end retailers who can afford higher rents."