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CRESTED BUTTE MOUNTAIN RESORT UNVEILS TOWN CENTER PLANS
Crested Butte Mountain Resort is planned to see an all-inclusive face-lift for the space that is now the town center base area and parking lot. The plan proposes changing not only what we see above ground, but what is underground as well.
John Norton, CBMR projects consultant, would provide an opportunity "for Crested Butte to become a competitive ski area once again. [The plan] includes everything we'd like to see-conference centers, a recreation center-to give tourists a high-quality place to stay."
The estimated $200 million project proposes revamping the town center completely; knocking down buildings and constructing new ones. "[The town center] is the key to our future," said Norton, "It will set the tone and bar for everything. It is the keystone of what Mt. Crested Butte is trying to do… the village is the first step-the major step-in our mountain getting 600,000 skier days a year," he said.
According to Norton, the foundation of the plan lies on seven words; intelligent, warm, social, pedestrian, contextual, conservation-minded, and authentic.
Development proposals within the plan include the addition of approximately 800 commercial bedrooms with supporting parking. There would also be a new transportation center; a properties check-in and outfitters and activities desk (to be known as the Village Concierge); skier services that will remain in the new and improved Gothic Building; ski company offices and professional office space; conference space eventually accommodating up to 500 people; restaurant space that serves the conference centers; a general store/deli; a recreation and aquatics center; and affordable housing, for which specifics have not yet been determined.
"This is going to be the branding statement of CBMR," said Tim Mueller, CMBR president and CEO.
Lodging and transportation, both vehicular and pedestrian, are the foundation for improving the resort's infrastructure, as the plan attempts to make the best possible use of the base area space. Pedestrian flow is of primary importance in the plan and, as a result, the base area is proposed to be flattened, making pedestrian travel easy and accommodating. Public transportation will have the premier spot, but will take up as little space as possible," says Norton. This plan would make the route from drop-off to parking far more friendly, since it would be shorter and skiers would not be required to cross traffic. The plan is very pedestrian-friendly, limiting motorized traffic to the periphery.
Cars will no longer be directed to a large dirt lot, but instead will have access to the approximately 1000-costing $20,000 each to build- underground parking spaces planned. According to Norton, virtually no surface parking will remain. The underground garages will sit below a few of many proposed new buildings that will provide conference space and lodging in the form of condominiums, townhouses and hotel rooms.
According to Norton, CBMR executives envisioned a design that simulated "authentic Colorado," which they thought did not include stucco or big logs. The plan proposes buildings with stone bases and vertical and horizontal planking, with a large proportion of glass. Norton says the design "will have a nice energy. Not rock 'n roll like Whistler/Blackcomb, but good vibrations like you get in Sun Valley. It is high quality without shouting opulence."
If all goes according to plan, "We will start building as soon as the lifts close next year… but there is a lot of work to be done between now and the holidays," said Norton. Construction is proposed to be divided into two phases and is scheduled to take between five and 10 years to complete.
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Real Estate in the Crested Butte Valley
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