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Hammering away at the renaissance

Edward Stoner

VAIL ” Vail is inching closer to its “billion-dollar renewal.” Here is a summary of projects ongoing in Vail Village and Lionshead.

A second tower crane is now on the site, and concrete is still being delivered. Mechanical work and plumbing are under way. Streetscape work for the Lionshead pedestrian mall will begin as soon as the ski season is over, said Paul Witt of Vail Resorts Development Company.

The building began in April and is slated to be completed by late 2007. The Arrabelle will have 67 condos and a 36-room hotel. The building is on the site of the old gondola building in Lionshead.



The easternmost townhouses are closest to completion, Witt said. Workers are doing interior work on the easternmost homes and framing the homes at the westernmost end.

There are 16 townhouses, each with four or five bedrooms. All have been sold. Vail Resorts Development Company hopes to finish the first homes by late spring. The entire project should be done by the end of the year, and the project began in late 2004. The Gore Creek Place townhouses are alongside Gore Creek behind the Vail Marriott in Lionshead.

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Steel installation should be done within a week or two, and concrete work should be finished in three weeks, said Michelle Willyard, project engineer. Work continues on framing, drywall and fireproofing, Willyard said, with 125-150 people on site every day.

The Vail Plaza Hotel and Club is between the frontage road and East Meadow Drive in Vail Village. The project includes 100 hotel rooms, 38 timeshares ” each with between one and four bedrooms ” two restaurants and a spa. The restaurants will be DaVinci, an Italian restaurant, and Milano, a casual restaurant, said Nicole Nuxoll, director of sales and marketing for the project.

The building is expected to be completed in December, and construction began in November 2004.

Work is continuing on the exterior of the building. Sidewalk work will begin at the end of ski season. The building will have 12 timeshares, 10 condos, two spas and an outdoor pool. On the first floor will be a store called Market Place on Meadow Drive, which will have a cafeteria, a bakery, a market, a sweet shop, a wine bar and a liquor store.

Work began in January 2005, and no completion date is set, said developer Bob McNichols. One Willow Bridge Road is at the International Bridge and East Meadow Drive in Vail Village.

Construction is starting on the inside of the restaurant, said Steve Kelsey of The Weitz Company. Workers are also working on an elevator building near the Talisman building, Kelsey said.

As soon as the mountain closes, work will begin on brick pavers, sidewalks, planters and other landscaping and streetscape work. Construction began in April 2005 and is supposed to be completed June 15.

The expansion includes 41 hotel rooms ” which are already being used by guests ” offices, underground parking and a restaurant. The Sonnenalp is on Vail Road at the corner of East Meadow Drive.

The developer is scheduled to begin excavation of the site in June. The building will have 120 hotel rooms, 16 condos and 19 timeshares. It’s supposed to be completed in 2008. The Four Seasons will be just southwest of the main Vail roundabout.

Construction work is finishing up on the conversion of the old restaurant into a four-bedroom home at the Tyrolean, said Larry Agneberg of Prudential Colorado Properties. Work began last August. The home is on the market for $7.8 million.

The Alpenrose restaurant in Vail Village doesn’t have a firm date to reopen, said Alex Rezate, who will manage the restaurant. It hopefully will open before the ski season ends, Rezate said. Construction began last November. The restaurant will have new floors and booths.

Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 14623, or estoner@vaildaily.com.

Vail, Colorado


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