Vuelo Leading Renovation of 160 Mountain

By Erin Udell, Fort Collins Coloradoan

The proposed redevelopment of a longtime Old Town law office is "moving full steam ahead" on finalizing its designs and securing restaurant and retail tenants, Realtor Josh Guernsey told the Coloradoan on Monday.

The proposal for the William S. Hill Building, 160 W. Mountain Ave., includes an extensive overhaul of the interior and exterior of the building — transforming it from an office building into a space for restaurants and shops, according to Guernsey, managing partner for Vuelo Investments. Vuelo Investments is leading the renovation, Guernsey said.

The building — which now caps off a block of bars and restaurants like the neighboring Steakout Saloon and nearby Trailhead Tavern — dates back to the early 20th century and has been in the Hill family for generations, starting when William S. Hill purchased the Standard Mercantile Co. there in 1927, according to his obituary.

William S. Hill's son, Alden T. Hill, started practicing law in Fort Collins in 1932, per historic newspaper accounts. Alden T. Hill's son, Alden V. Hill, joined his father's law practice in 1963, and it eventually became the Hill & Hill law firm. It moved to 160 W. Mountain Ave. around 1969, according to city directories, and remained there until Alden V. Hill's death in 2022.

The building is now owned by Alden V. Hill's daughter, Christina Hill Dishun, and her husband, Kevin, according to past Coloradoan reporting.

"We want to respect the history of that building and corner," Guernsey said. Fittingly, it will be called the William S. Hill Building and — pending final design approval — will feature a ghost sign honoring the elder Hill.

William S. Hill — Christina Hill Dishun's great-grandfather — went from schoolteacher to superintendent of Laporte schools in the early 20th century and was elected to the Colorado legislature in 1924. He operated the Standard Mercantile Co. at 154 W. Mountain Ave. until 1953 and farmed southwest of Fort Collins later in life. He died in 1972 at 86 years old, his obituary reads.

The building was not found to be eligible for local landmark status late last year, according to the city's Historic Preservation office website, and doesn't "appear to have any historical constraints" related to its renovation, Guernsey said.

Guernsey said user-tenant agreements for the building are currently being finalized. While he declined to name the tenants, he said they will "provide a mix of restaurants and retail" in the building.

Construction on 160 W. Mountain Ave. may start in the spring, with sights set on a fall 2025 opening, Guernsey said.

Former Coloradoan reporter Pat Ferrier contributed to this report.

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