By Daniel Smith Large-scale growth has arrived in Chaffee County; from Poncha Springs to Buena Vista to Salida; construction, houses and development all reflect that growth. The growth trend recently was focused on a proposed large development north of Salida at the historic Centerville ranch; a sprawling 950-acre parcel just off U.S. Hwy. 285, across …
By Daniel Smith
Photos by Mike Rosso
From cattle ranch to golf course subdivision, center for natural resources to concert venue, on to citizen-driven development: WHAT’S AHEAD?
Over the years, various visions for the 192-acre property have been floated by planners and city leaders. The former Vandaveer Ranch property on Salida’s eastern border has been a work in progress more than a decade and appears to be moving closer to fruition.
Brief by Allen Best
Development – July 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
The planning commission for Teton County, Wyo., has recommended that new gated communities be barred. A staff planner says there are anywhere from five to twenty gated communities in Teton County. One of those gated developments, a place called Teton Pines, is the declared primary home of Vice President Dick Cheney.
Brief by Allen Best
Development – July 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
Million-dollar house sales now common in Basalt
Despite the slowed economy, a new record has been established in Basalt for real estate with a $3.4 million closing. The Aspen Times says that the 4,184-square- foot house has views, views, views, plus other splendors.
Brief by Allen Best
Development – July 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
The planning commission for Teton County, Wyo., has recommended that new gated communities be barred. A staff planner says there are anywhere from five to twenty gated communities in Teton County. One of those gated developments, a place called Teton Pines, is the declared primary home of Vice President Dick Cheney.
Column by George Sibley
Development – February 2008 – Colorado Central Magazine
CRESTED BUTTE has been getting media attention lately that ranges from the haughtily skeptical to the outright critical. A full-fledged resort community today — skiing in the winter and a diversity of mountain recreations in the summer — Crested Butte is now faced with a proposal from a mining company to put a major molybdenum mine near the town. Molybdenum is a mineral that could be considered foundational to the modern resort economy. A super lubricant and an alloy that makes steel lighter and harder, it is used in everything from the airplanes and autos the resort habitués arrive in to the skis and bikes they use while here.
Letter from Charlie Green
Development – May 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editors:
Regarding Pagosa Springs’ future [“Another town that doesn’t want to be like Aspen,” April edition], the last time I passed through the town some years back, my immediate reaction was “Woodland Park Southwest.” Same strip malls and commercial development along the highways. But now that is changing with an influx of big money. By the time this is published, the Mayor’s race, essentially a referendum on development, will be decided. The long-time incumbent, Ross Aragon, unabashedly supports the growth.
Article by Allen Best
Development – May 2006 – Colorado Central Magazine
BILLY JOE “RED” MCCOMBS, the billionaire from Texas intent on building a part-time city at Wolf Creek Pass, now has a permit to build a road across the national forest. Whether he’ll keep it is the question in what has become a major story of big bucks, thin air, and allegations of unethical meddling by Bush administration appointees in Washington D.C.
Essay by Linda M. Hasselstrom
Development – July 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
I’M A RANCHER, so almost every day some Realtor explains how much money I could make if I sold the ranch. Developers are subdividing pastures nearby, and soon, it’s true, I may not be able to afford ranching.
So, I’m studying up on the new real estate lingo and — in typical friendly Western fashion — offer this handy dictionary for prospective New West landowners. Words, it turns out, don’t always mean what they seem:
Letter from Laird Campbell
Development – January 2005 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editors:
I am sure that the good folks of Custer County will be happy to coöperate with Hal Walter’s affluent neighbors in the gated community.
Essay by Mary Sojourner
Development – March 2002 – Colorado Central Magazine
LUPINE LODGE. Del Mar at the Sea. Massive Mountain Manor. Harbor House at the Pines. I have changed the names to protect the ostentatious; to protect those who not only must own four luxury homes in four different places, but also pick registered names for them.
I didn’t think I was capable of being surprised at any excess of the rich and insecure, but the article in the Phoenix, Ariz., paper rocked me.
Column by George Sibley
Development – June 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
SOMETIMES IT SEEMS like the best thing to do would be to just laugh out loud. Everybody all together, although not at each other — or at anyone else — but just about the strange situations we’ve all gotten ourselves into. A good laugh might be the first step in getting beyond these situations. But of course some will say that these things are no laughing matter.
Column by George Sibley
Development – May 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
THERE ARE NEW SITES for us mountain folk making our spring trek to see how the other 99% live. The “New Urbanism” [Colorado Central, April, p. 9] has claimed two of Denver’s old meccas. Cinderella City and Villa Italia, “regional malls” of the Sixties and Seventies, are both being supplanted by “New Urbanism” developments.
Brief by Central Staff
Development – April 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
When it comes to development patterns, we’re partial to the “New Urbanism,” which is pretty much like the “Old Small-townism,” which can be seen in the mature portions of Salida: narrow streets, apartments over stores, mother-in-law houses along the alleys, and above all, sidewalks and a geography congenial to foot and bicycle travel.
Brief by Jim Stiles
Development – April 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
One contentious issue in Moab, Utah, is “Cloudrock” — a luxury development atop a mesa overlooking town. It has inspired these observations from Jim Stiles, publisher of the Canyon Country Zephyr there:
Since the Cloudrock development was first introduced to the citizens of Grand County, its promoters have been trying to convince us that the ultra-high-end luxury lodge/condo/home project will add needed revenues to our tax base….
Brief by Clint Driscoll
Development – April 2001 – Colorado Central Magazine
Beginning on May 25, Chaffee County will be serenaded by cowboys singing under the stars at the foot of Mount Princeton. That prediction comes from Michael Martin Murphey, known by older listeners as the Cosmic Cowboy and by many Coloradans as the host of Westfest.
Brief by Central Staff
Development – January 1998 – Colorado Central Magazine
Some Leadville residents are more than annoyed at the U.S. Forest Service for a proposed “Public-Private Venture” to expand facilities at Turquoise Lake.
The Forest Service says it doesn’t have enough money to manage the popular campground, so it wants to bring in a private party.
Private-contractor management has already happened at most other area campgrounds, without notable complaint from the public, but the Turquoise proposal takes it a few steps further.
Letter from Laurence Budd
Development – October 1997 – Colorado Central Magazine
Jeff Donlan had it right
Dear Mrs. Quillen,
I have just read the September 1997 copy of Colorado Central, and did not miss the point that Salida is having growing pains. We live near a small town in central New Mexico, and we too are having similar pains.
Letter from William I. Jack
Development – April 1994 – Colorado Central Magazine – No. 2 – Page 5
We bought a 160-acre ranch near Westcliffe a couple of years ago, mainly because it is a beautiful area that has not been exploited. We are currently farming it from a distance with the great help of some wonderful people there, though we plan to become permanent residents there soon.
Essay by Hal Walter
March 1994 – Colorado Central Magazine
In the beginning, the town of Westcliffe was founded on a land scam.
It worked something like this. The railroad built a spur from the main line along the Arkansas River to the boom town of Silver Cliff so that miners, ranchers and farmers could ship their goods. It sounded like a great idea. But lo and behold, if you wanted to locate your business at the railhead, the railroad executives owned all the land around it, sly devils. Westcliffe was born, limey spelling and all, a scandalous mile or so west of Silver Cliff.