YOUR AD HERE »

Vail Valley Voices: Building list grows longer

Vail Homeowners Association
Vail, CO, Colorado

Editor’s note: The following is an excerpt from the Vail Homeowners Association monthly report. We publish weekly excerpts from the association, which keeps a close eye on economic and political trends in and outside of the town. The newsletter electronic version with links to supporting documents is available at http://www.vail

homeowners.com.

The town has a large backlog of nearly 250 dwelling units to be constructed. These pre-recession approvals are sitting on the books because the town gave them an eight-year extension on their zoning approvals. Most received their initial approvals in 2007 or just prior.



Recently, one of those projects, a 152-unit limited stay suites (with kitchens), has received town approval for a modification to its original plan. The project is at Marriott Residences Inn on the Roost Lodge site in suburban West Vail.

It remains to be seen if the town’s strategy of continuing to give extensions could have a dampening effect, deterring capital from investing in other properties such as Ever Vail.

Support Local Journalism



The town, in preparation for another round of redevelopment should national economic conditions improve, is embarking on an evaluation of the need to preserve historical assets throughout Vail Village.

A desire for lower density has not been a strong sentiment exhibited or practiced by the Vail Town Hall in recent decades.

Some Town Council members are already talking about giving density increase incentives to preserve symbolic landmarks.

Density increases in Vail have always meant bigger buildings, which cause some to be concerned that the unique neighborhood character will be changed for the worse.

Some are of the opinion that the push for a makeover of Bridge Street and Gore Creek Drive is because of competition from the adjacent, extensively redeveloped East Meadow Drive commercial area that occurred in recent years.

Others say consumers don’t want mediocrity and that they seek out quality. Those businesses in the neighborhoods that do offer quality are doing very well.

Potential town projects:

Special interests seem to be readying for a town investment push in a conference-learning center, which has been mentioned in recent years as a facility that would assist the Vail Valley Medical Center and the local health and wellness initiative.

Others continue to pursue the acquisition of the former Colorado Mountain College building in Cascade Village, perhaps for similar uses as well as for cultural activities.


Support Local Journalism