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When I started this weekly diatribe in November of 1995, its focus was on a vision I had of making the Base Village the center of the business universe in Snowmass Village. We can all see how that turned out.
I'm still convinced that mine was an idea far ahead of its time that was stymied by people who had no interest in the future of Snowmass itself, just in their selfish bottom line. The self-interested entities that existed 14 years ago have evaporated as wisps of smoke and what is left is a bankrupt developer devoid of the funds to pursue its vision of sucking every dime from whatever hot air made up the real estate bubble that refuses to pop and is instead slowly deflating.
The diverging interests kept at bay any cohesive plan to remake Snowmass Village into a functional resort. The tri-nodal notion of a business district appeared and was embraced by the politicians that couldn't stomach the idea of flaunting the wishes of the powerful mall landlords. The argument that the mall is “downtown” Snowmass surfaced despite the fact that the lack of a functioning downtown is one reason Snowmass isn't taken seriously as a town.
The confusion over where “downtown” Snowmass Village would finally land reached its peak when the town council in charge of approving Base Village started vacillating over the amount of retail square footage that it wanted constructed in the Base Village. Should it be 100,000 square feet or 67,000? That council conceded to the mall owners and went for the lesser number.
The mall landlords used these arguments and protected their interests right up to the time they sold everything and walked away. Loyalty only goes so far when the price is right.
Related WestPac arrived with grand visions of gigantic buildings that this little valley's infrastructure could never support. We'll never have to worry about those problems because the George W Depression arrived and cut off all credit to construction of wasteful second homes for the mildly wealthy that could leverage themselves to live beyond their means.
And now we have nothing. The tri-nodal notion, which was arguably doomed to failure anyway, is totally on it heels now that the so-called “critical mass” is a critical mess. The Goldilocks theory of “just right” size will never be, so I won't be able to tell those supporters “I told you so.”
The reason I recount this sordid history of greed is to remind people not to let it happen again. The bottom line of the powerful is not what our council should be working for. The betterment of the town we live in is the only interest we should ever consider.
What can we do to save this disjointed town?
The planning rammed through by the Skico and Intrawest only planned for one thing – saving money. Most of the infrastructure already built at the Base is inadequate for what we have already constructed. The new transportation depot is a disaster waiting to happen. The arrival center's escalator only goes one way! Thanks Skico for building a joke for the town and our guests to laugh at for the rest of eternity.
Still, the Base is the only the hope for the town. There is talk of condemning it and taking it back from the mildly wealthy company that is about to lose it. There is talk of the Skico buying it back. I'd go for the former considering the latter's lack of good faith in this town. Why let Jim Crown buy it back for pennies on the dollar only to hand us another line of BS that makes him a few more millions he doesn't need?
The town should condemn and take over all of Related WestPac's holdings and sell it to a reputable developer for pennies on the dollar WITHOUT any approvals in place. The Goldilocks Base Village was a bad idea from the beginning. This is the reason half the village opposed it.
Instead of approvals for the Base the town can offer incentives by allowing condos at the Center and the Mall to make up for the loss of residential square footage at the Base that we must force this developer to accept. Instead of condos at the Base, we must leverage this new developer to build AFFORDABLE commercial space for our merchants to move into. And I mean every merchant from Gene Taylor's to the Village Market.
This town must come to the realization that in order to have a vital village, there has to be one node that has it all. It must cater to locals and visitors alike with corner bars alongside the post office. There has to be a reason for people to go there and it won't be done with Las Vegas entertainment done by mildly wealthy know-it-alls so arrogant that they call their business “fun” when it should be called sucks. Give me a local business like Zane's with Eddie Zane running it.
I stand by my original 1995 column. Move the Mall, the Center and the whole commercial core to the Base. Put this village in one spot and let the chips fall where they may.
Otherwise, we'll keep on falling.
Find a copy of Johnny's book, First Tracks, at Sundance Gifts, the Aspen Bookstore and online at www.ptopress.com <http://www.ptopress.com> . E-mail: snomasokist@msn.com
I'm still convinced that mine was an idea far ahead of its time that was stymied by people who had no interest in the future of Snowmass itself, just in their selfish bottom line. The self-interested entities that existed 14 years ago have evaporated as wisps of smoke and what is left is a bankrupt developer devoid of the funds to pursue its vision of sucking every dime from whatever hot air made up the real estate bubble that refuses to pop and is instead slowly deflating.
The diverging interests kept at bay any cohesive plan to remake Snowmass Village into a functional resort. The tri-nodal notion of a business district appeared and was embraced by the politicians that couldn't stomach the idea of flaunting the wishes of the powerful mall landlords. The argument that the mall is “downtown” Snowmass surfaced despite the fact that the lack of a functioning downtown is one reason Snowmass isn't taken seriously as a town.
The confusion over where “downtown” Snowmass Village would finally land reached its peak when the town council in charge of approving Base Village started vacillating over the amount of retail square footage that it wanted constructed in the Base Village. Should it be 100,000 square feet or 67,000? That council conceded to the mall owners and went for the lesser number.
The mall landlords used these arguments and protected their interests right up to the time they sold everything and walked away. Loyalty only goes so far when the price is right.
Related WestPac arrived with grand visions of gigantic buildings that this little valley's infrastructure could never support. We'll never have to worry about those problems because the George W Depression arrived and cut off all credit to construction of wasteful second homes for the mildly wealthy that could leverage themselves to live beyond their means.
And now we have nothing. The tri-nodal notion, which was arguably doomed to failure anyway, is totally on it heels now that the so-called “critical mass” is a critical mess. The Goldilocks theory of “just right” size will never be, so I won't be able to tell those supporters “I told you so.”
The reason I recount this sordid history of greed is to remind people not to let it happen again. The bottom line of the powerful is not what our council should be working for. The betterment of the town we live in is the only interest we should ever consider.
What can we do to save this disjointed town?
The planning rammed through by the Skico and Intrawest only planned for one thing – saving money. Most of the infrastructure already built at the Base is inadequate for what we have already constructed. The new transportation depot is a disaster waiting to happen. The arrival center's escalator only goes one way! Thanks Skico for building a joke for the town and our guests to laugh at for the rest of eternity.
Still, the Base is the only the hope for the town. There is talk of condemning it and taking it back from the mildly wealthy company that is about to lose it. There is talk of the Skico buying it back. I'd go for the former considering the latter's lack of good faith in this town. Why let Jim Crown buy it back for pennies on the dollar only to hand us another line of BS that makes him a few more millions he doesn't need?
The town should condemn and take over all of Related WestPac's holdings and sell it to a reputable developer for pennies on the dollar WITHOUT any approvals in place. The Goldilocks Base Village was a bad idea from the beginning. This is the reason half the village opposed it.
Instead of approvals for the Base the town can offer incentives by allowing condos at the Center and the Mall to make up for the loss of residential square footage at the Base that we must force this developer to accept. Instead of condos at the Base, we must leverage this new developer to build AFFORDABLE commercial space for our merchants to move into. And I mean every merchant from Gene Taylor's to the Village Market.
This town must come to the realization that in order to have a vital village, there has to be one node that has it all. It must cater to locals and visitors alike with corner bars alongside the post office. There has to be a reason for people to go there and it won't be done with Las Vegas entertainment done by mildly wealthy know-it-alls so arrogant that they call their business “fun” when it should be called sucks. Give me a local business like Zane's with Eddie Zane running it.
I stand by my original 1995 column. Move the Mall, the Center and the whole commercial core to the Base. Put this village in one spot and let the chips fall where they may.
Otherwise, we'll keep on falling.
Find a copy of Johnny's book, First Tracks, at Sundance Gifts, the Aspen Bookstore and online at www.ptopress.com <http://www.ptopress.com> . E-mail: snomasokist@msn.com
