'They came slowly out of the forest ...' - Bambi meets bulldozer

A deer jumps over the fence as the herd prepares to move - West Vine Outfall Project - Fort Collins - Colorado - 80521

A deer jumps over the fence as the herd prepares to move along the edge of the West Vine Outfall Project, North Shields Street, Fort Collins, Colorado

Herd of deer crosses North Shields Street, which is slated for major changes in 2015 - - access point - West Vine Outfall Project - Fort Collins - Colorado - 80521

Herd of deer crosses North Shields Street, which is slated for more major changes in 2015.

Cars slow down as remainder of the deer herd crosses North Shields Street - access point - West Vine Outfall Project - Fort Collins - Colorado - 80521

Cars slow down as the remainder of the deer herd crosses North Shields Street.

The deer are coping with construction on the West Vine Outfall Project, across the street, just southwest of our property. Starting tomorrow, North Shields Street is closed for about a week, and if you want to reach us, you need to come from the north.

Our entire neighborhood, including several historic properties, is planned for development as part of the North Shields Corridor Improvement Project starting in January 2015.

Along our border to the north, which fronts the Poudre River, big equipment has been digging for weeks to lower the river's north bank as part of the Shields Ponds and McMurray Natural Areas Project. In November, the city plans to build a sewer line to the other side of the river and stub it off.

The lowering of the river bank at the McMurray Natural Areas also marks the west gateway of the Poudre River Downtown Project, a plan to develop the river corridor for recreation, and bring big money to downtown Fort Collins.