Last chance for Lionshead pitchmen

VAIL — The people of Vail own the Lionshead parking garage land, so the people of Vail should decide whether the garage is rebuilt, said Craig Arford.

“Have a vote,” said Arford, owner of Vail Ski Tech, a Lionshead store.

Arford’s own opinion is that the redevelopment of the 6.3-acre Lionshead garage should wait.

“Get some other projects done,” said Arford, whose store is in the shadow of the large Arrabelle at Vail Square hotel-condo project, which has been under construction for almost two years. “There’s no hurry on (the Lionshead garage). There will always be people lining up to do that.”

Nevertheless, the town is aiming to make a decision on the Lionshead project by next month.

Two developers have proposed new parking, condos, hotels, timeshares, conference centers, stores and restaurants for the Lionshead property. Each proposal is worth more than a half-billion dollars.

The developers — East West Partners of Beaver Creek and Open Hospitality Partners/Hillwood Capital of Dallas — have a final chance to present their proposals to the Vail Town Council tonight.

The town is looking to choose whether to rebuild the garage — and with which developer — by March, said Town Manager Stan Zemler.

“I think it’s time to choose one or the other, or choose to not proceed,” Zemler said.

Timber Ridge, too

A new wrinkle was thrown into the process last month when East West Partners added the redevelopment of Timber Ridge — Vail’s aging affordable housing complex — into its proposal.

Although the final deadline had passed, the Open-Hillwood group said it was also working on a proposal for Timber Ridge, too.

“We have come up with a very exciting plan which creates a total of 1,200 employee pillows,” said Mark Masinter of the Open-Hillwood group.

Still, some say Timber Ridge isn’t going to be the reason why one group gets picked over the other. Timber Ridge won’t be part of his decision on the Lionshead garage, said Councilman Mark Gordon.

“I think that muddied the water, and I want to make sure we get the best Lionshead parking structure and the best Timber Ridge,” Gordon said. “If that’s the same person, that’s great, but I’m not going to let that decision-making make compromises on either of those projects.”

Decision soon? The town of Vail could decide by next month whether to pick a plan to rebuild the Lionshead garage. East West Resorts proposes: More parking. A Hyatt On hotel. Condos. Timeshares. A civic center. Stores. Restaurants. A wellness center. Bus station. Recreation center. Information center. Open-Hillwood proposes: More parking. A W Hotel. A St. Regis Hotel. Condos. Timeshares. Spas. Stores. Restaurants. Conference center. Information center. Bus station. Recreation center.

Hold off?

Harry Frampton, managing partner of East West Partners, touted the experience that his company has in Eagle County — some 45 projects here in the last 20 years.

“Doing it 45 times, you learn something,” he said.

Ross Perot Jr., president of Hillwood Capital, is the son of the former presidential candidate. Masinter said he has vacationed for many years in Vail, and added that the Perot family has owned a home in Vail for more than 30 years.

“We’ve assembled a team of very best in class who have developed in the Vail Valley,” Masinter said.

Bob Isom, an owner of Bart and Yeti’s in Lionshead, said he’d like to see a break from construction. His business is also adjacent to the Arrabelle.

“If (the Lionshead garage) begins within a year, we’ll have another hole for another three years,” he said.

Chris Manning, owner of the Swedish Clog Cabin in Lionshead, said he needs to find out more information before he chooses one proposal over the other. And he wants to make sure there will be enough parking while the project is being built, he said.

“I’m a little tired of the construction,” Manning said. “But I understand that if the time is right and the money is good, it’s hard for the town of Vail to say ‘no,’” he said.



Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.