Written by the Ouray County Watch
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
TELLURIDE – Hollie Hannahs has been named director of lodging for Telluride Ski Resort and will oversee the resort’s property management arm, Telluride Resort Lodging, including the luxury Platinum Properties sector.
“Hollie’s longtime industry experience and knowledge of the market will be an invaluable addition as TRL continues to grow and establish itself as one of the premier property management companies in the region,” said Matt Skinner, executive director of sales and marketing for the resort.
Hannahs has been a vital player in the resort lodging industry with ResortQuest for almost ten years. Beginning her career in Breckenridge at the Great Divide Lodge in 1996 as front desk manager, Hannahs eventually moved to Crested Butte, then to ResortQuest here in Telluride where she worked as tour and travel sales manager from 2000-2005. She moved back to Breckenridge to take the reservations sales manager position, and then returned to Telluride as general manager for ResortQuest.
“I am excited to join the great team at the Telluride Ski Resort,” said Hannahs. “I look forward to effectively managing Telluride Resort Lodging, creating a smooth transition for our current owners as well as adding additional properties to our portfolio.”
Hannahs currently lives in Telluride with her husband Tom. She participates in the Telluride Association of Realtors highway clean up projects, and enjoys skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. Her tenure at the ski resort begins Thursday, April 16, and she can be reached at hhannahs@tellurideskiresort.com or 970/728-7457.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
La Capella in Telluride
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Written by: Seth Cagin
Nine years and a reported $200 million later, there is a major new hotel in the Telluride region.
The Capella Telluride was scheduled to open its doors today to fanfare, high hopes, and, it is safe to say, some measure of relief as well. The opening of the Capella could be deemed to be the region’s very own economic stimulus. But as is true of President Obama’s national stimulus plan, there is no way to know in advance how well it will work.
The road from conception to completion of the largest construction project ever undertaken in the Telluride region was not only long and expensive, but fraught with peril, including an arduous approvals process that saw numerous compromises with respect to the structure’s mass, scale and design and more than a few occasions when it looked like it would never break ground.
Today’s grand opening could be taken as evidence that long-range community planning can sometimes yield a result. But it remains to be seen whether the economic impact will be all that has been hoped. That is true particularly since the Capella opens its doors in the midst of a deep and possibly deepening local, national and global economic slump.
The most recent data provided by the Telluride Visitors Bureau are not encouraging. Hotel occupancy in the Telluride region was down 17.5 percent in January compared to last January, with revenue per available room down by an even more impressive 30 percent, due to falling room rates. Advance bookings for the next six months are down by a whopping 32 percent compared to last year at this time, with only one bit of hopeful datum: in January, 18.6 percent more visitors booked their accommodations in the same month they planned to arrive compared to last January.
That last statistic suggests an opportunity for recovery ahead, and one that a sparkling, new, full-service hotel like the Capella might help to realize. Bookings at the Capella for the rest of this ski season are encouraging, the hotel’s general manager John Volponi said this week, and the summer looks strong, particularly around major festivals. As an example, this year’s bigger Gay Ski Week, which starts Feb. 21, has booked rooms and has scheduled a number of events at the Capella.
Among the opportunities the Capella should afford the region is the possibility of booking more groups utilizing the adjacent Telluride Conference Center. With the addition of the Capella, Mountain Village now offers a far larger assortment of rooms suitable for hosting groups, and, of possibly even greater importance, there are now break-out meeting rooms at the Capella for groups that use the conference center as their primary venue.
“The group market is extremely challenging right now for not only destination markets but all conference markets,” Scott McQuade, CEO of the Telluride Visitors Bureau said this week, explaining that corporate travel has been severely cut back due to the economy. “But there is hope on the horizon,” McQuade added. “We are already seeing both large and small groups book for 2010 and the Capella has certainly been of primary interest for many of these group leaders. The Capella has also helped the group effort in giving customers more options, and the destination the ability to accommodate larger groups.”
Once a Muddy Parking Lot
The Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, then called Mountain Village Metro Services, quietly acquired the bulk of the property now occupied by the Capella in the fall of 2000, precisely with the objective of ensuring it would be developed as a hotel, and that it would incorporate other needed community amenities, and would not be developed as condominiums. Then, as today, there was a concern, expressed at that time by Telluride Ski and Golf Co. CEO Ron Allred and expressed today by current Telski CEO Dave Riley, that creating bedbase is essential to the region’s economic sustainability. But the last remaining sites in Mountain Village and Telluride that were suitable for hotel development were being developed instead as condominiums, which generally have a far lower occupancy rate than hotel rooms do.
Metro Services subsequently entered into an agreement with Robert Levine, who developed the adjacent Inn at Lost Creek, to take on the project. There were then hundreds of hours of public meetings to hammer out details of the project, specifically how big it would be and what it would include.
Twice in 2004, as the project neared final approval, Mountain Village voters rejected arguments that the project was too big, first defeating a measure (with 73 percent opposed) that would have restricted the town council’s ability to award height variances and the second defeating a measure (80 percent opposed) that would have overturned the town council’s final approval of the project. The project also survived a legal challenge from the developer of the neighboring Franz Klammer Lodge.
After all of that, what was long a muddy parking lot at the center of the Mountain Village Center, and was once the location for trailers where lift tickets were sold and skis and boots were rented, is today a complex of two large structures containing 100 hotel rooms, 48 condominiums, two restaurants, a ballroom, a spa, new retail space, an underground parking garage, and an ice rink in a new public plaza.
The Capella Telluride is the first Capella hotel to open in the United States, the American flagship of a new international luxury brand founded by Horst Schulze, the legendary founder of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain. Capella hotels will be less formal than Ritz-Carltons, somewhat smaller in size, and will deliver an even more highly personalized level of service, Schulze has decreed.
For example, each Capella guest will have the use of a “personal assistant,” who will first contact them even before they arrive to determine the guests’ interests and to begin making arrangements for their stay. Rather than a grand public lobby, the hotel has a “living room,” whose access is restricted to hotel guests, where the personal assistants maintain their desks. The two restaurants, Onyx, featuring fine dining, and the Suede Bar, with a more casual menu, are open to the public.
New staff was busily training this week, as an army of construction workers scurried about to meet the deadline for today’s opening, with Schulze, who began his career as a waiter in his native Germany, on hand to personally lend a hand. The hotel has a staff of about 100 people, about half of them recruited locally, Volponi said.
“It’s all about service,” Volponi said, and indeed this reporter and a photographer were greeted warmly as we toured the facilities. “‘We, the service professionals of Capella place our guests at the center of everything we do,’” Volponi added, quoting an excerpt from the company’s “service training” that is reviewed with all employees.
“I think that sums up our philosophy. The significant idea that is emphasized over and over again in our training is that we provide ‘warm and caring service.’”
The Capella Telluride is offering an introductory rate of $295 this winter and for much of next summer. In an interview a year ago, admittedly before the scale of the current economic downturn was clear, Schulze expressed confidence that the Capella would be successful within three years, building that success on his philosophy emphasizing guest, employee and owner satisfaction, and commitment to community.
The hope expressed by Schulze then and by Volponi this week is that the Capella will someday be as strongly identified with Telluride as the Little Nell is with Aspen, the Sonnenalp is with Vail, and the Hyatt Regency is with Beaver Creek.
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Written by: Seth Cagin
Nine years and a reported $200 million later, there is a major new hotel in the Telluride region.
The Capella Telluride was scheduled to open its doors today to fanfare, high hopes, and, it is safe to say, some measure of relief as well. The opening of the Capella could be deemed to be the region’s very own economic stimulus. But as is true of President Obama’s national stimulus plan, there is no way to know in advance how well it will work.
The road from conception to completion of the largest construction project ever undertaken in the Telluride region was not only long and expensive, but fraught with peril, including an arduous approvals process that saw numerous compromises with respect to the structure’s mass, scale and design and more than a few occasions when it looked like it would never break ground.
Today’s grand opening could be taken as evidence that long-range community planning can sometimes yield a result. But it remains to be seen whether the economic impact will be all that has been hoped. That is true particularly since the Capella opens its doors in the midst of a deep and possibly deepening local, national and global economic slump.
The most recent data provided by the Telluride Visitors Bureau are not encouraging. Hotel occupancy in the Telluride region was down 17.5 percent in January compared to last January, with revenue per available room down by an even more impressive 30 percent, due to falling room rates. Advance bookings for the next six months are down by a whopping 32 percent compared to last year at this time, with only one bit of hopeful datum: in January, 18.6 percent more visitors booked their accommodations in the same month they planned to arrive compared to last January.
That last statistic suggests an opportunity for recovery ahead, and one that a sparkling, new, full-service hotel like the Capella might help to realize. Bookings at the Capella for the rest of this ski season are encouraging, the hotel’s general manager John Volponi said this week, and the summer looks strong, particularly around major festivals. As an example, this year’s bigger Gay Ski Week, which starts Feb. 21, has booked rooms and has scheduled a number of events at the Capella.
Among the opportunities the Capella should afford the region is the possibility of booking more groups utilizing the adjacent Telluride Conference Center. With the addition of the Capella, Mountain Village now offers a far larger assortment of rooms suitable for hosting groups, and, of possibly even greater importance, there are now break-out meeting rooms at the Capella for groups that use the conference center as their primary venue.
“The group market is extremely challenging right now for not only destination markets but all conference markets,” Scott McQuade, CEO of the Telluride Visitors Bureau said this week, explaining that corporate travel has been severely cut back due to the economy. “But there is hope on the horizon,” McQuade added. “We are already seeing both large and small groups book for 2010 and the Capella has certainly been of primary interest for many of these group leaders. The Capella has also helped the group effort in giving customers more options, and the destination the ability to accommodate larger groups.”
Once a Muddy Parking Lot
The Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association, then called Mountain Village Metro Services, quietly acquired the bulk of the property now occupied by the Capella in the fall of 2000, precisely with the objective of ensuring it would be developed as a hotel, and that it would incorporate other needed community amenities, and would not be developed as condominiums. Then, as today, there was a concern, expressed at that time by Telluride Ski and Golf Co. CEO Ron Allred and expressed today by current Telski CEO Dave Riley, that creating bedbase is essential to the region’s economic sustainability. But the last remaining sites in Mountain Village and Telluride that were suitable for hotel development were being developed instead as condominiums, which generally have a far lower occupancy rate than hotel rooms do.
Metro Services subsequently entered into an agreement with Robert Levine, who developed the adjacent Inn at Lost Creek, to take on the project. There were then hundreds of hours of public meetings to hammer out details of the project, specifically how big it would be and what it would include.
Twice in 2004, as the project neared final approval, Mountain Village voters rejected arguments that the project was too big, first defeating a measure (with 73 percent opposed) that would have restricted the town council’s ability to award height variances and the second defeating a measure (80 percent opposed) that would have overturned the town council’s final approval of the project. The project also survived a legal challenge from the developer of the neighboring Franz Klammer Lodge.
After all of that, what was long a muddy parking lot at the center of the Mountain Village Center, and was once the location for trailers where lift tickets were sold and skis and boots were rented, is today a complex of two large structures containing 100 hotel rooms, 48 condominiums, two restaurants, a ballroom, a spa, new retail space, an underground parking garage, and an ice rink in a new public plaza.
The Capella Telluride is the first Capella hotel to open in the United States, the American flagship of a new international luxury brand founded by Horst Schulze, the legendary founder of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel chain. Capella hotels will be less formal than Ritz-Carltons, somewhat smaller in size, and will deliver an even more highly personalized level of service, Schulze has decreed.
For example, each Capella guest will have the use of a “personal assistant,” who will first contact them even before they arrive to determine the guests’ interests and to begin making arrangements for their stay. Rather than a grand public lobby, the hotel has a “living room,” whose access is restricted to hotel guests, where the personal assistants maintain their desks. The two restaurants, Onyx, featuring fine dining, and the Suede Bar, with a more casual menu, are open to the public.
New staff was busily training this week, as an army of construction workers scurried about to meet the deadline for today’s opening, with Schulze, who began his career as a waiter in his native Germany, on hand to personally lend a hand. The hotel has a staff of about 100 people, about half of them recruited locally, Volponi said.
“It’s all about service,” Volponi said, and indeed this reporter and a photographer were greeted warmly as we toured the facilities. “‘We, the service professionals of Capella place our guests at the center of everything we do,’” Volponi added, quoting an excerpt from the company’s “service training” that is reviewed with all employees.
“I think that sums up our philosophy. The significant idea that is emphasized over and over again in our training is that we provide ‘warm and caring service.’”
The Capella Telluride is offering an introductory rate of $295 this winter and for much of next summer. In an interview a year ago, admittedly before the scale of the current economic downturn was clear, Schulze expressed confidence that the Capella would be successful within three years, building that success on his philosophy emphasizing guest, employee and owner satisfaction, and commitment to community.
The hope expressed by Schulze then and by Volponi this week is that the Capella will someday be as strongly identified with Telluride as the Little Nell is with Aspen, the Sonnenalp is with Vail, and the Hyatt Regency is with Beaver Creek.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Cornerstone Colorado
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Cornerstone Named Best Private Course by Golf Magazine
Greg Norman Course to Host Senior Tournament
MONTROSE – The unparalleled beauty of Cornerstone’s setting atop the Uncompahgre Plateau is enough to set it apart from other mountain developments. But add to that a Greg Norman-designed golf course and be prepared for national recognition.
The January 2009 issue of Golf Magazine, currently on newsstands, has named Cornerstone the #1 Best New Private Golf Course in the country.
The 7,945-yard, par 72 course was touted by the editors at Golf Magazine as “easily the best high-altitude course in the nation, and quite possibly the world.” They called it Norman’s “finest North American project to date.” This prestigious recognition, which bested Donald Trump’s National Bedminster in New Jersey (#2), comes six months after all 18 holes were opened in July.
“This is something we are certainly proud of,” Head Golf Pro and Golf Manager Sean Tannehill said in an interview last week. “This is a golf course that is designed for everybody. My favorite thing about the course is the possibility of playing a multitude of different approaches, which enables a lot of bump and runs and a lot of great shots.”
The editors at Golf Magazine also made note of the way the course uses the natural landscape: “Purists will appreciate the tough forced carries and greens that often demand run-up approach shots, and the fast greens and shaved surrounds even things up for players of all abilities.”
The course was designed according to Norman’s well-known “least disturbance” philosophy, which curtails massive earth movement, reduces large-scale clearing and takes full advantage of the natural features on the landscape. The course covers more than 300 acres and is designed to provide golfers at all skill levels an enjoyable game.
“When Greg Norman first toured the land on snowmobile, he immediately saw the potential for the golf course and we partnered with him knowing that we had selected the best designer in the business,” said Larry Corsen, senior vice president of Hunt Realty Inc., a privately held real estate investment company, and owner and operator of Cornerstone. “We are thrilled to see our dream of Greg’s talent come to fruition and be recognized as the number one private golf course by Golf Magazine. We are truly honored to be at the top of this revered category of golf course in the United States.”
As if the #1 ranking wasn’t enough, Tannehill said that Cornerstone will be hosting the Colorado Senior Amateur Championship the first week in September.
“For us, it is a great way to get senior competitive players to play our course and to this part of Colorado,” said Tannehill. “All of these championships have always been held out on the Front Range [of Colorado] and it is a great opporunity for us.”
Members of Cornerstone have access to a 20-plus acre practice facility and some of the finest golf professionals and staff in the nation. Mark Wood has consistently been ranked one of the top 50 instructors in the country for the past 10 years, and Kathy Hart-Wood, former LPGA touring pro and also a celebrated top 50 instructor as named by Golf for Women, is director of women’s golf. Cornerstone also recently celebrated the opening of its clubhouse, which includes a casual bar and grill, outdoor dining and the Village Mercantile, featuring a golf pro shop and outfitters’ headquarters.
Written by Gus Jarvis
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Cornerstone Named Best Private Course by Golf Magazine
Greg Norman Course to Host Senior Tournament
MONTROSE – The unparalleled beauty of Cornerstone’s setting atop the Uncompahgre Plateau is enough to set it apart from other mountain developments. But add to that a Greg Norman-designed golf course and be prepared for national recognition.
The January 2009 issue of Golf Magazine, currently on newsstands, has named Cornerstone the #1 Best New Private Golf Course in the country.
The 7,945-yard, par 72 course was touted by the editors at Golf Magazine as “easily the best high-altitude course in the nation, and quite possibly the world.” They called it Norman’s “finest North American project to date.” This prestigious recognition, which bested Donald Trump’s National Bedminster in New Jersey (#2), comes six months after all 18 holes were opened in July.
“This is something we are certainly proud of,” Head Golf Pro and Golf Manager Sean Tannehill said in an interview last week. “This is a golf course that is designed for everybody. My favorite thing about the course is the possibility of playing a multitude of different approaches, which enables a lot of bump and runs and a lot of great shots.”
The editors at Golf Magazine also made note of the way the course uses the natural landscape: “Purists will appreciate the tough forced carries and greens that often demand run-up approach shots, and the fast greens and shaved surrounds even things up for players of all abilities.”
The course was designed according to Norman’s well-known “least disturbance” philosophy, which curtails massive earth movement, reduces large-scale clearing and takes full advantage of the natural features on the landscape. The course covers more than 300 acres and is designed to provide golfers at all skill levels an enjoyable game.
“When Greg Norman first toured the land on snowmobile, he immediately saw the potential for the golf course and we partnered with him knowing that we had selected the best designer in the business,” said Larry Corsen, senior vice president of Hunt Realty Inc., a privately held real estate investment company, and owner and operator of Cornerstone. “We are thrilled to see our dream of Greg’s talent come to fruition and be recognized as the number one private golf course by Golf Magazine. We are truly honored to be at the top of this revered category of golf course in the United States.”
As if the #1 ranking wasn’t enough, Tannehill said that Cornerstone will be hosting the Colorado Senior Amateur Championship the first week in September.
“For us, it is a great way to get senior competitive players to play our course and to this part of Colorado,” said Tannehill. “All of these championships have always been held out on the Front Range [of Colorado] and it is a great opporunity for us.”
Members of Cornerstone have access to a 20-plus acre practice facility and some of the finest golf professionals and staff in the nation. Mark Wood has consistently been ranked one of the top 50 instructors in the country for the past 10 years, and Kathy Hart-Wood, former LPGA touring pro and also a celebrated top 50 instructor as named by Golf for Women, is director of women’s golf. Cornerstone also recently celebrated the opening of its clubhouse, which includes a casual bar and grill, outdoor dining and the Village Mercantile, featuring a golf pro shop and outfitters’ headquarters.
Written by Gus Jarvis
Saturday, December 20, 2008
County to buy Telluride Real Estate
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
County to Buy Property
by Karen JamesDec 18, 2008 | 173 views | 0 | 0 | | First In-Town Purchase Since 1999
TELLURIDE – The San Miguel County Board of Commissioners passed two resolutions on Wednesday that will advance its plans to purchase property located at 335 W. Colorado Ave.
When finalized, the transaction will represent the county’s first purchase of property within Town of Telluride boundaries since buying the second floor of the Miramonte Building in 1999, according to County Attorney Steve Zwick.
“It has been a long time since the county has acquired property inside the town,” he said, adding that the county hopes to close on the deal by Dec. 24.
“We had the opportunity and we needed to take advantage of it,” said County Administrator Lynn Black.
Legally described as Lots 1, 3 and 5, Block 1, Town of Telluride, Needle Rock Fiber Arts currently occupies a ground level commercial space in the property’s main building and will remain a tenant there following the sale, Black confirmed. Stewart Title of Colorado previously had ground floor offices there until the company moved.
In addition to the main building, some sheds located behind it are also part of the property.
Black said that over the next few months the county plans to consider which of its personnel should relocate to the new building to alleviate overcrowding in its current offices. It will also be looking at ways to make the building more “livable” as it considers future development there, she said.
One of the two resolutions authorizes the financing mechanism by which the county will purchase the property, while the other authorizes Commissioner Chair Joan May to execute all closing documents related to the $4 million acquisition from its current owner, Fruen Properties LLC.
The county plans to enter into a lease/purchase agreement with Salt Lake City-based Zions First National Bank to finance $3 million of the purchase at an interest rate of 5.26 percent that will reset after five years, according to Zwick.
Lease/purchase provides local governments with a method to finance the acquisition of large capital assets such as buildings or cars through a series of one-year payment installments. Renewed annually, these payments do not extend into subsequent years and, therefore, are not technically considered debt according to state law, Zwick said.
“You are not legally obligated, you can walk away at any given year,” he explained. “It’s used by local governments to finance all sorts of things.”
As a result, lease/purchase agreements do not require voter approval according to the state Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, or TABOR, Amendment that requires a public vote to authorize all new government debt.
“Colorado law allows local governments to finance acquisition of capital assets with lease/purchase,” said Zwick.
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
County to Buy Property
by Karen JamesDec 18, 2008 | 173 views | 0 | 0 | | First In-Town Purchase Since 1999
TELLURIDE – The San Miguel County Board of Commissioners passed two resolutions on Wednesday that will advance its plans to purchase property located at 335 W. Colorado Ave.
When finalized, the transaction will represent the county’s first purchase of property within Town of Telluride boundaries since buying the second floor of the Miramonte Building in 1999, according to County Attorney Steve Zwick.
“It has been a long time since the county has acquired property inside the town,” he said, adding that the county hopes to close on the deal by Dec. 24.
“We had the opportunity and we needed to take advantage of it,” said County Administrator Lynn Black.
Legally described as Lots 1, 3 and 5, Block 1, Town of Telluride, Needle Rock Fiber Arts currently occupies a ground level commercial space in the property’s main building and will remain a tenant there following the sale, Black confirmed. Stewart Title of Colorado previously had ground floor offices there until the company moved.
In addition to the main building, some sheds located behind it are also part of the property.
Black said that over the next few months the county plans to consider which of its personnel should relocate to the new building to alleviate overcrowding in its current offices. It will also be looking at ways to make the building more “livable” as it considers future development there, she said.
One of the two resolutions authorizes the financing mechanism by which the county will purchase the property, while the other authorizes Commissioner Chair Joan May to execute all closing documents related to the $4 million acquisition from its current owner, Fruen Properties LLC.
The county plans to enter into a lease/purchase agreement with Salt Lake City-based Zions First National Bank to finance $3 million of the purchase at an interest rate of 5.26 percent that will reset after five years, according to Zwick.
Lease/purchase provides local governments with a method to finance the acquisition of large capital assets such as buildings or cars through a series of one-year payment installments. Renewed annually, these payments do not extend into subsequent years and, therefore, are not technically considered debt according to state law, Zwick said.
“You are not legally obligated, you can walk away at any given year,” he explained. “It’s used by local governments to finance all sorts of things.”
As a result, lease/purchase agreements do not require voter approval according to the state Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, or TABOR, Amendment that requires a public vote to authorize all new government debt.
“Colorado law allows local governments to finance acquisition of capital assets with lease/purchase,” said Zwick.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Telluride Real Estate Update
Written by Ouray News
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
December 12, 2008
TELLURIDE — An ordinance that proposes to relax Telluride's Planned Unit Development process — allowing the town's planning and zoning commission more negotiation powers in dealing with PUD applicants — divided the town council on Tuesday.
On one side of the issue were council members who wanted the ordinance — a dense and complicated document — continued until January for more public digestion. On the other were members who said they were ready to pull the trigger on the ordinance, which has been in the works since April.
After a drawn-out hearing that saw one motion narrowly defeated and a spate of public comment for and against passage, the ordinance was approved by a vote of 4-3.
The ordinance was created by P&Z and staff as a way to allow for more flexibility in the design and development of a PUD project — larger type developments, such as condominiums, that eclipse the town's regular review process. The entities have been hammering it out since last April, on direction of council, and it was born as part of an effort to create more vitality in the town's commercial area.
Under the ordinance, rather than developing a project under the basic zoning requirements, applicants and the P&Z commission would negotiate in an exchange of variances for public benefits.
This way, drafters say, the town could get things like common open space, commercial space or parking spaces in exchange for say, increased building height or floor space, making the PUD process more effective.
But some have criticized it for giving P&Z too much oversight and for opening opportunities for developers to provide less affordable housing.
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
December 12, 2008
TELLURIDE — An ordinance that proposes to relax Telluride's Planned Unit Development process — allowing the town's planning and zoning commission more negotiation powers in dealing with PUD applicants — divided the town council on Tuesday.
On one side of the issue were council members who wanted the ordinance — a dense and complicated document — continued until January for more public digestion. On the other were members who said they were ready to pull the trigger on the ordinance, which has been in the works since April.
After a drawn-out hearing that saw one motion narrowly defeated and a spate of public comment for and against passage, the ordinance was approved by a vote of 4-3.
The ordinance was created by P&Z and staff as a way to allow for more flexibility in the design and development of a PUD project — larger type developments, such as condominiums, that eclipse the town's regular review process. The entities have been hammering it out since last April, on direction of council, and it was born as part of an effort to create more vitality in the town's commercial area.
Under the ordinance, rather than developing a project under the basic zoning requirements, applicants and the P&Z commission would negotiate in an exchange of variances for public benefits.
This way, drafters say, the town could get things like common open space, commercial space or parking spaces in exchange for say, increased building height or floor space, making the PUD process more effective.
But some have criticized it for giving P&Z too much oversight and for opening opportunities for developers to provide less affordable housing.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Capella Telluride announces February 2009 Opening
Posted by Erin Eddy
Nov 20, 2008
TELLURIDE – Skiers and snowboarders in the know consider the month of March prime time for skiing in Telluride, when the snowpack is often at its peak. And now, a new level of mountain luxury awaits skiers, as Capella Telluride announces its Feb. 15, 2009 opening. The resort enjoys an ideal ski-in/ski-out location on the mountain, with every detail designed for the most discerning traveler.
Resort guests and owners will benefit from the thoughtful architectural design and layout of Capella Telluride, realized by developers RAL Companies and Affiliates. Nestled in the heart of Mountain Village, the 100 guest rooms and 48 condominium suites afford convenient access to the 1,700 skiable acres of Telluride Ski Resort, complemented by Capella Telluride’s Nordic Lounge. Here, guests will enjoy a taste for Capella’s unparalleled service, as ski valet warm boots, offer hot beverages, assist with and ultimately store guests’ equipment.
And Telluride’s 2008/09 ski season will introduce the new Revelation quad chair lift, giving Capella Telluride skiers access to the challenging Revelation Bowl. For beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders looking for a more recreational ride, the Telluride Ski Resort offers a variety of trails suited for every level of downhill enthusiast.
Off the mountain, the hotel’s world-class indoor amenities including the exclusive Capella living room, alpine-inspired spa, indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling retractable windows, fitness center, entertainment venues, climate controlled parking, kids’ club and retail facilities. The resort’s three dining venues will include Onyx Restaurant, featuring haute alpine cuisine, the casual Gray Jay Café for quick gourmet treats and the elegant Suede Bar offering après ski tapas and evening cocktails. Capella Telluride will also introduce a new community ice skating rink, which will act as a meeting place for guests and locals alike.
“We envision Capella Telluride as the vibrant center of this world-class resort town, yet have designed the experience to offer guests the privacy and exclusivity that only Capella can provide,” commented Horst Schulze, CEO of Capella Hotels and Resorts. “Capella Telluride will encompass laid-back elegance reflecting the mountain lifestyle for which the area is renowned.”
Ultimately, the intimate setting of Capella Telluride will honor the unspoiled mountain grandeur that has made Telluride a storied year-round destination. During the height of ski season, outdoor enthusiasts might also try heli-skiing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and ice climbing, in addition to traditional mountain skiing and snowboarding.
To introduce Capella Telluride, the resort is offering special winter rates starting at $295 and summer rates starting at $195. Reservations can be made over the phone at 877/247-6688. For more information, visit www.capellatelluride.com.
Nov 20, 2008
TELLURIDE – Skiers and snowboarders in the know consider the month of March prime time for skiing in Telluride, when the snowpack is often at its peak. And now, a new level of mountain luxury awaits skiers, as Capella Telluride announces its Feb. 15, 2009 opening. The resort enjoys an ideal ski-in/ski-out location on the mountain, with every detail designed for the most discerning traveler.
Resort guests and owners will benefit from the thoughtful architectural design and layout of Capella Telluride, realized by developers RAL Companies and Affiliates. Nestled in the heart of Mountain Village, the 100 guest rooms and 48 condominium suites afford convenient access to the 1,700 skiable acres of Telluride Ski Resort, complemented by Capella Telluride’s Nordic Lounge. Here, guests will enjoy a taste for Capella’s unparalleled service, as ski valet warm boots, offer hot beverages, assist with and ultimately store guests’ equipment.
And Telluride’s 2008/09 ski season will introduce the new Revelation quad chair lift, giving Capella Telluride skiers access to the challenging Revelation Bowl. For beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders looking for a more recreational ride, the Telluride Ski Resort offers a variety of trails suited for every level of downhill enthusiast.
Off the mountain, the hotel’s world-class indoor amenities including the exclusive Capella living room, alpine-inspired spa, indoor pool with floor-to-ceiling retractable windows, fitness center, entertainment venues, climate controlled parking, kids’ club and retail facilities. The resort’s three dining venues will include Onyx Restaurant, featuring haute alpine cuisine, the casual Gray Jay Café for quick gourmet treats and the elegant Suede Bar offering après ski tapas and evening cocktails. Capella Telluride will also introduce a new community ice skating rink, which will act as a meeting place for guests and locals alike.
“We envision Capella Telluride as the vibrant center of this world-class resort town, yet have designed the experience to offer guests the privacy and exclusivity that only Capella can provide,” commented Horst Schulze, CEO of Capella Hotels and Resorts. “Capella Telluride will encompass laid-back elegance reflecting the mountain lifestyle for which the area is renowned.”
Ultimately, the intimate setting of Capella Telluride will honor the unspoiled mountain grandeur that has made Telluride a storied year-round destination. During the height of ski season, outdoor enthusiasts might also try heli-skiing, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, and ice climbing, in addition to traditional mountain skiing and snowboarding.
To introduce Capella Telluride, the resort is offering special winter rates starting at $295 and summer rates starting at $195. Reservations can be made over the phone at 877/247-6688. For more information, visit www.capellatelluride.com.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Telluride and Fat Tire?
New Belgium Brewing Announces Partnership With Telluride Ski Resort
Written by the Ouray County Watch
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
FT. COLLINS, Colo. – The makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, New Belgium Brewing Company, announced a sole partnership with the Telluride Ski Resort this week. Eight of the resort’s mountain bars and restaurants will feature New Belgium’s full portfolio of seven year round beers in Telluride. New Belgium will also serve more esoteric beers including the hand-bottled La Folie, a wood-aged beer, and selections from New Belgium’s Lips of Faith program, which enables New Belgium employees to creatively brew their own specialty beers for distribution.
“We are looking forward to partnering with Telluride Ski Resort, as both our companies focus on providing a great product while practicing sustainable business solutions,” said Colorado Beer Ranger Edward Hines. “We’re also very excited to offer some of our harder-to-find beers like Lips of Faith selections, Trippel, Abbey and La Folie to an audience from around the world.”
New Belgium Brewing is nationally recognized for its progressive environmental activities. From its inception, New Belgium has made every effort to minimize resource consumption, maximize energy efficiency and recycle at every opportunity. In fact, New Belgium became the country’s first brewery to subscribe to wind energy after employee owners voted to help finance the transition with a portion of their bonuses in 1999.
“The Telluride Ski Resort is committed to offering exceptional products at our resort, and New Belgium Brewing Company is the perfect fit,” said Matt Skinner, vice president of sales and marketing for the resort. “We are excited to present New Belgium as our partner to our national and international winter enthusiasts and beer connoisseurs.”
Written by the Ouray County Watch
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
FT. COLLINS, Colo. – The makers of Fat Tire Amber Ale, New Belgium Brewing Company, announced a sole partnership with the Telluride Ski Resort this week. Eight of the resort’s mountain bars and restaurants will feature New Belgium’s full portfolio of seven year round beers in Telluride. New Belgium will also serve more esoteric beers including the hand-bottled La Folie, a wood-aged beer, and selections from New Belgium’s Lips of Faith program, which enables New Belgium employees to creatively brew their own specialty beers for distribution.
“We are looking forward to partnering with Telluride Ski Resort, as both our companies focus on providing a great product while practicing sustainable business solutions,” said Colorado Beer Ranger Edward Hines. “We’re also very excited to offer some of our harder-to-find beers like Lips of Faith selections, Trippel, Abbey and La Folie to an audience from around the world.”
New Belgium Brewing is nationally recognized for its progressive environmental activities. From its inception, New Belgium has made every effort to minimize resource consumption, maximize energy efficiency and recycle at every opportunity. In fact, New Belgium became the country’s first brewery to subscribe to wind energy after employee owners voted to help finance the transition with a portion of their bonuses in 1999.
“The Telluride Ski Resort is committed to offering exceptional products at our resort, and New Belgium Brewing Company is the perfect fit,” said Matt Skinner, vice president of sales and marketing for the resort. “We are excited to present New Belgium as our partner to our national and international winter enthusiasts and beer connoisseurs.”
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