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Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, April 2-5, 2011 The Park Record A-8 OUNTAIN TOWN NEWS A Roundup of News from Other Western Ski Resort Communities By Allen Best Record contributing writer Aspen gains, loses and grays in the last 10 years ment age. As they retire and leave for warmer places, their successors are much less likely to be part of the local workforce." Whitefish and Flathead ASPEN, Colo. - No Valley bulk up in 2000s other ski town in the West has been as aggressive as WHITEFISH, Mont. - The Aspen in trying to deliver Census has confirmed what affordable housing, to keep most people already knew, a critical percentage of the namely that Whitefish got a work force living within the lot of new residents in the town. But census numbers last decade, a 26 percent from the last decade seem to gain. The new population of confirm what Aspen's city 6,357 makes it the 14th leaders have long said, largest city in Montana. namely that it's an uphill Chuck Stearns, the city battle. manager, said he had expected the city to hit The larger story is that as long-time residents of 7.500. Flathead County, also includes Aspen retire, they are cash- which Kalispell, grew 22 percent. ing out, selling their freemarket housing acquired It has a total population of decades ago, when housing nearly 91,000 - larger even Gallatin, where costs were much less, and than Bozeman.and Big Sky area moving elsewhere. In most cases, the housing is being are located. purchased for second homes. Banff wants to keep That's the theory of trinkets in their place Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland, who points to new census BANFF, Alberta - Banff data for support. municipal officials have The U.S. Census found announced several proposthat the city grew 13 percent als to the public that would during the last decade, and more tightly regulate locanow has 6,658 residents. It tions of rubber tomahawk gained these new residents and burger joints. by building a major new Town officials are framaffordable housing project ing the proposals as necesat Burlingame Ranch and by sary to keep Banff competiannexing areas with a high tive in the global tourism concentration of worker marketplace. housing, such as at the base "When visitors are here, of Aspen Highlands. the municipality's job is to However, the Census also make sure they have an found that 41 percent of experience that makes'them housing was vacant, up from want to come back," said 33 percent the decade Mayor Karen Sorensen. before. Ireland's analysis "The Chinese market does showed individual neighbor- not want to buy things made hoods, including Red in China. If they are coming, Mountain and the West and we hope they are, they End, gaining houses but los- would like to buy something made in Canada." ing residents. The trend of the last Banff has 27 souvenir and decade will continue, per- gift stores. A municipal haps even accelerate, as 58 review committee considpercent of Aspen residents ered proposing a quota but are between the ages of 55 instead suggests the planand 69. ning commission approve As reported in The Aspen new locations. Times, Ireland sees big Similarly, the town implications from this baby- review team had considered boomer bulge, If many sell restricting fast-food restautheir houses purchased at rants to one area, kind of a free-market prices decades municipal food court. ago and the houses are used However, the new proposal for second homes, that will would more liberally restrict create more work for people their locations to back alleys who take care of the new or lower and upper levels, second homes. But, at the but not allow them at regusame time, Aspen - and lar street level. Snowmass Village - will In drawing up these prohave to import even more posals, the Banff team studworkers from down the val- ied what is allowed in the ley. French Quarter of New "I don't expect the next Orleans, Carmel-by-the-Sea decade will see a great deal in California, and Aspen, of growth as the local popu- Colo. In the French Quarter, lation in the free-market for example, new T-shirt and housing continues to souvenir shops are prohibitrecede," Ireland said. ed entirely in some parts. "About a quarter of the Meanwhile, the town has population in free-market joined forces with Parks housing is nearing retire- Canada, the agency that [EAT Summer? Register NOW for Basin Recreation Summer Camps! NEW camps this summer include: manages Banff National Park and a promotional group called Banff LakJ; Louise Tourism to study thjg broad market forces affecfr ing destination tourism, A! panel of industry leadeij chaired by Julie Canning^ chief executive of Banff} Lake Louise Tourism, wifi meet regularly during the; next three months. • Whistler vets potential cultural tourism themes WHISTLER, B.C. - A> report laying out how Whistler might go about developing its cultural tourism attractions and; economy has been issued. Called A Tapestry of Place, it identifies 115 cultural experiences that could be packaged into six different themes: 1) arts; 2) minds and mountains; 2) natural! experiences; 3) culinary; 4); human heritage; 5) First; Nation's heritage; and & health and wellness. *i The primary goal of thg| strategy now being estatg; lished is to reach and main* tain at least 60 percent! annual occupancy, up froqj 52 percent at preseng; Winter numbers are highelj; but summer is lower. -' John Rae, manager of strategic partnerships for the city government-, called the initiative "the bast big thing for this community," but warned that it's "nothing that's going to happen overnight." Piq ue Ne wsmagazin e says elected representatives did not see as many details as they had hoped, and the report as it exists consists of "details of details of what the strategy will eventually be and not remarkably different from a previous itera-. tion issued last July." Vail Resorts success shown in price boost / ' * * • •• : ' • Please see Mountain, A-9 --S • Register early for your summer of FUN! * Campsfillquickly so don't wait % 435.655.0999 B A fl I N www.basinrecreation.org Park City BLIND &'pESIGN www.parkcityblind.com *; *>'• BROOMFIELD, Colo. V Perhaps the most clear ev^ dence of an improving economy can be found in the' price increases announced by Vail Resorts. It debuted a good-eve ry where, all-thetime Epic Pass in 2008 for use at its four Colorado resorts. The cost was $479, but a new price for next winter will push the total to $649. Before the Epic Pass, a similarly unlimited season pass cost $1,849, notes the Vail Daily. In a recent call with analysts, Vail Resorts chief executive Rob Katz clearly indicated the company has done well this winter, and that his company intends to continue to reinvest in its product while commanding S/cate Board Camp v Rockers and Runners Camp Natural Adventures Camp Summer Blast is still a great value, and H20 Adventure is back by popular demand. r^i#- <-w'. %•> - ^ / Show your creative side in our Art Adventure Camp and hit the trails in our Mountain Bike Camp. i*- *' ! 800.264.9039 435.649.9665 I parktityblind@aol.com |
