BRECKENRIDGE — Last week, Vail Resorts and the town of Breckenridge announced their plans to build a long-awaited gondola connecting Peaks 7 and 8 with the town below.

This week, Vail announced that the project to develop the area around the gondola stop at Peak 7 is also finally under way.“Between the gondola announcement and this (news), the past week or two has been great for Breckenridge,” said Alex Iskenderian, vice-president of development for Vail Resorts Development Company (VRDC).“We’re really taking Breckenridge real estate to a new level with this project,” Iskenderian said.

VRDC and locally owned Grand Timber Development Company are partners on the project to develop the new base area at Peak 7. Plans call for 44 whole ownership condominiums developed by VRDC and a 114-unit fractional ownership facility developed by Grand Timber.

Work began last week clearing trees in the Cucumber Gulch area, so that County Road 3 (which winds from the top of the Peak 8 base area, past the popular Peaks Trail trailhead, and descends back to town) can be moved down the hillside lower than it currently runs.

Eventually, to take the new road from Peak 8, drivers will hang a right where the current Stables Lot is. That will run them smack-dab into the new development, and the road will reconnect on the other side near the Peaks Trail lot.

Along with the road shift, developers will be moving the relatively new Peak 7 Independence SuperChair about 100 yards down from where it loads skiers and riders today.

Vail Resorts will add a couple of towers to relocate the lift, and the new base area will spring up around the new lift site. Development timeline runs through next year. The work begun last week kicks off the project and sets in motion the infrastructure development phase of the project. Work to move the road, and to begin to develop the necessary utilities, will happen throughout the spring and summer, Iskenderian said.

Developers have also reached an agreement with the town to build a long bridge spanning a wetlands area near the development. That bridge construction will start later this summer.

As far as construction of the development itself, both the Vail Resorts piece and the Grand Timber section are likely to begin going up in spring 2007. Each group will hire their own general contractor, but they’ve worked together throughout the planning and design phases of the project.“We’re designing this village as one village, and it will be consistently themed,” Iskenderian said.

Sales of the properties will follow different schedules for the two development groups, however. Vail Resorts plans to take their units to market later this year, pre-construction.

They’ve set completion targets for the new gondola for around the same time.For Grand Timber, sales of their fractional ownership units won’t happen until the buildings go up. They’re expected on the market by Christmas 2007.“Not much” commercial development planned for Peak 7A concern of a number of Breckenridge business owners over the planning stages of the project had been how much commercial development would be included in the new Peak 7 base area.

Maintaining the vibrancy and commercial traffic in Breck’s Main Street district as new development grew up-mountain had been an issue raised during the process. Iskenderian allayed those concerns, saying the amount of commercial development around Peak 7 would be “not much.”Included in the development plans on the Vail Resorts’ side is a 4,000-square-foot restaurant that the resort will operate, and a 4,000-square-foot skier services facility which will be “a place to buy lift tickets, rent some skis, and buy some sunscreen,” Iskenderian said.

Grand TImber’s commercial plans are more geared toward amenities for the guests of the resort. They plan an upper-end spa similar to the one at their Grand Timber Lodge, and an expansive indoor-outdoor combination pool and hot tub facility. They’ve also set aside more than 2,000 square feet for a “family funcenter” — the details of that are still being worked out.“In our business model, having a really exceptional amenity package is a key element to the success of the project,” said Grand Timber’s Mike Dudick, a co-owner and developer of the project.

Resort amenities are really the only commercial development included in the project.“The (Breckenridge Town) Council was very much interested in not seeing the commercial development compete with the downtown. And our dealings with the (Breckenridge Resort Chamber) and the restaurant association and the retail group all confirmed that same concern,” Breckenridge town manager Tim Gagen said. Gagen added that the current commercial plans more than meet with the town’s approval.“I think our argument really played out that the wise thing was to minimize commercial ... and focus more on the residential and amenity package,” he said.

The question of density for the new development was settled back in 2003, when Vail Resorts transferred a number of high-density units planned for development in the Sawmill and Watson parking lots to the projects at Peak 7 and 8. Some commercial density still remains in the parking lot areas, but Vail Resorts also extinguished some that didn’t get transferred.

Iskenderian called the density swaps a net decrease, and a “great win for the town.” Gagen echoed those thoughts. “It was win-win for us in the sense of both less density, but also achieving getting the density off of those big lots, and putting it in a place that we thought better served the town,” he said. Vail’s sunsetting of a certain amount of density upheld the goals of the Upper Blue Master Plan, and was “a very strong commitment on their part,” Gagen said.

Impacts to the protected Cucumber Gulch area Tree cutting within the environmentally sensitive Cucumber Gulch area near the new development is happening now, as per an agreement with the town that includes a number of protections for the area.

Developers are removing trees now because it’s the best time of year to do it with the least impact to the ecosystem there, before migrating birds come back to the area to nest. Iskenderian points out that the project agreement actually sets aside a portion of the gulch once zoned for development.“Probably the biggest protection is the fact that we’ve dedicated 56 acres of the gulch to the town as part of the approvals,” he said. As to the proposed development for the Peak 8 area, no timetable has been set, but Iskenderian was “optimistic that Peak 8 is going to follow in the footsteps of Peak 7.”

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Breckenridge "momentum" is at its Peaks

Vail Resorts has plans for two ski-in/ski-out villages for hills 7 and 8, including 450 residential units.

Vail Resorts Inc. announced plans Monday for The Peaks of Breckenridge, two master- planned, ski-in/ski-out villages located at Breckenridge's Peaks 7 and 8.

Vail Resorts Development Co., the company's development subsidiary, plans to build a combined 450 residential units in two villages, along with 22,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and 57,000 square feet of skier-services space.

"There is just so much momentum at Breckenridge right now," said Alex Ifkenderian, the company's vice president of development. "This land is one of the best real estate opportunities in ski country anywhere."

Site preparation began last week, and construction on the Peak 7 Village will start next spring. It will feature 44 whole-ownership condominiums built by Vail Resorts Development and a 114-unit fractional resort by Breckenridge-based Grand Timbers Development Co.

The units are expected to range in price from $400,000 to more than $1 million, said Eric Thompson, managing broker for Slifer, Smith & Frampton Real Estate's Summit County office, the development's listing broker.

"It will certainly be at the high end of the market for Breckenridge," he said. "But given the location, we'll be able to justify the price."

A sales office for the Peak 7 Village is scheduled to open by Christmas.

The company announced last week that it would break ground this summer on a $20 million gondola to connect the two villages to the town of Breckenridge.

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More Information on the Breckenridge Gondola!

BRECKENRIDGE -- A modern, $17 million gondola to whisk skiers and riders to the base areas of Breckenridge Ski Resort has been on the towns wish list for more than 20 years. It seems Santa was listening this year.

Monday, resort operator Vail Resorts and the town of Breckenridge announced that construction of a four-stop, eight-passenger gondola would begin this spring, with a completion date estimated for this coming Christmas.

When finished, the gondola will carry up to 3,000 powderhounds per hour from the free skier parking lots, up through the tony Shock Hill neighborhood, and on to both the Peak 7 and Peak 8 base areas at the resort in seven-and-a-half minutes.

The idea of a gondola has been swirling around town for more than 20 years. Today, skiers and riders, if they want to park for free, are compelled to park well below the lifts, and hop shuttle buses for a winding trip up to the base areas of the resort.

But ideas are making their way from the drawing board to reality in fast fashion these days in Breckenridge. The gondola project is one of the last major steps toward implementing a comprehensive development and transportation plan formalized by the town and Vail Resorts in May 2002.

When finished, the gondola will carry up to 3,000 powderhounds per hour from the free skier parking lots, up through the tony Shock Hill neighborhood, and on to both the Peak 7 and Peak 8 base areas at the resort in seven-and-a-half minutes.

The idea of a gondola has been swirling around town for more than 20 years. Today, skiers and riders, if they want to park for free, are compelled to park well below the lifts, and hop shuttle buses for a winding trip up to the base areas of the resort.But ideas are making their way from the drawing board to reality in fast fashion these days in Breckenridge. The gondola project is one of the last major steps toward implementing a comprehensive development and transportation plan formalized by the town and Vail Resorts in May 2002.

That plan included the Skyway Skiway ski-back project and the Mountain Thunder Lodge real estate development — both projects completed in the past year well ahead of schedule. The May 2002 plan also outlined redevelopment details for the Peak 8 base area of the resort, as well as an ambitious expansion of the newer Peak 7 base area.

The town itself is in the midst of a sweeping transportation project that will re-route the majority of vehicular traffic away from the town’s historic Main Street, making that part of town more pedestrian-friendly. The new main traffic corridor will run right by the site of the gondola’s new town terminal, where a brand new intermodal center will be built.

Of the estimated $17 million cost for the gondola, the town will contribute $6.7 million, and developers of the Shock Hill neighborhood where the gondola will have a stop will ante up $500,000.Roger McCarthy, co-president of the mountain division for Vail Resorts and chief operating officer of Breckenridge and Keystone, has been a key decision-maker in the redevelopment process between Vail Resorts and the town, crafting much of the original details of the overall plan over five years.“In this business, you don’t get to build too many gondolas,” McCarthy said. “I have to say that I’m thrilled. It’s such a huge change for the ski area.”

In a press release, Breckenridge Mayor Ernie Blake lauded the cooperation and investment.“We recognize that Vail Resorts has many choices for its investment dollars and appreciate the confidence it has shown in Breckenridge with this announcement,” Blake said. The gondola will allow room for ski and ride gear inside, rather than in carriers outside the cabin area. The resort plans to operate the gondola in both the winter and the summer seasons.

Through an agreement with the town, the ski area has guaranteed that it will provide 1,550 parking spaces in the town of Breckenridge, and McCarthy said “they’ll be right around the gondola.”Today, people park for free in the lots surrounding the site of the proposed new gondola town terminal. That might not be the case next season.“(Charging for parking) is clearly one of the things that we’re reviewing,” McCarthy said.

Peak 7 development project nearly under wayA partnership between Vail Resorts Development Company and the locally owned Grand Timber Lodge Development Company is behind the expansion and development of the Peak 7 base area at the resort, which currently is but a clearing and the high-speed Independence SuperChair.

The new gondola will have a stop at the Peak 7 base area, before traveling to the final Peak 8 terminal.After winning final inclusion into the local sanitation district Thursday, the Peak 7 project is set to start Wednesday, with tree clearing near the protected Cucumber Gulch area that abuts the Peak 7 development area.

The new gondola will travel through the environmentally sensitive Cucumber Gulch area, but the town and Vail Resorts have agreed on a number of specific protections in order for the gondola project to move forward.

Gondola details— 7.5-minute ride time from Transit Center to Peak 8 terminal— Two mid-stations at Shock Hill and Peak 7 base area— 25 towers— 7,842 ft. in length— 391 ft. vertical rise— 143 cabins— Capacity of 3,000 riders per hour

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Summit Daily News for Breckenridge, Keystone, Copper and Frisco Colorado - News: "BRECKENRIDGE - The Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) announced on Wednesday the hiring of a new executive director, Bruce Fitch. As the outgoing president of Outward Bound Wilderness, Fitch will begin work at the BOEC on March 13.

'It is an honor to be selected for this opportunity,' Fitch said. 'The BOEC is legendary for helping children and adults discover their abilities, rather than focus on their disabilities.'

Fitch was involved with the Outward Bound organization for 28 years. He began as an instructor with the Colorado Outward Bound School in Golden in 1977, and moved through the ranks until 1995, when he began his post as the executive director until 2002. He became the president and executive director of Outward Bound West, which merged two Outward Bound schools, and was named president of Outward Bound Wilderness, the largest division of the newly reorganized Outward Bound system, in March 2005.

'Bruce has done a great job of building Colorado Outward Bound School and we look forward to his patient leadership of the BOEC,' said Brownell Bailey, chairman of the BOEC Board. 'He has demonstrated an aptitude for building an organization while participating in the community.'

Fitch lives in Frisco with his wife, Gini Bradley, a longtime participant in the local nonprofit community and former BOEC ski director herself, and his two children, ages 11 and 8."

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Town of Breckenridge announces their Grants Programs for Non Profits- Launching the town's 2006 grants program, Towncouncil Members J.B. Katz, Larry Crispell and Jim Lamb handed out checks worth a total of $231,423 at Tuesday's council meeting to nonprofit groups based in the area.

In all, the town estimates it will provide cash grants and in-kind services totaling more than $1.9 million to nonprofits and community programs. Additionally, the town budgeted $21,000 for two scholarship programs for 2006 for Summit High School senior and junior athletes, administered by the Breckenridge Elite Athletes organization.

An additional $946,400 has been awarded to the Breckenridge Resort Chamber for townwide marketing and Friends Welcome programs.

Organizations receiving 2006 funding from the town of Breckenridge include:

- Advocates for Victims of Assault, $1,000 for agency support as a whole;

- Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center, $2,000 for scholarships;

- Bristlecone Health Services, $15,750 for scholarships for low-income residents and a toximeter;

- Carriage House Early Learning Center, $12,323 for capital expenditures;

- CASA of the Continental Divide, $1,100 for agency support as a whole;

- Colorado Avalanche Information Center, $1,300 to continue program of public safety;

- Colorado West Mental Health - Summit, $5,000 to provide indigent care to low-income residents;

- Early Childhood Options, $1,500 support for Financial Assistance Program for Breckenridge families;

- Family & Intercultural Resource Center, $4,000 for emergency services assistance;

- Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness, $100 for training of volunteers "

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