Mark Hunt to put “Base 2” Plans “On Ice”
Developer Mark Hunt is asking Aspen City Council to extend the review of his affordable lodge proposal on Main Street until at least March 9. Hunt will go before council on Monday, when elected officials were set to review his two lodge applications. But in somewhat of a surprise move, Hunt has separated out what’s known as Base 2. What will be left is Base 1, another affordable lodge proposal on Cooper Avenue. Hunt says his decision to delay Base 2 is to see if Base 1 can stand on its own merits and is ultimately what the community wants.
“Well, listen, first of all I’m not pulling it. I’m putting it on ice so to speak. You know, listen, I got excited. I’m out there trying to be part of the solution of providing additional beds and affordability, designing something for the next gen and you know, quite frankly I think that putting both out there was too much.”
Hunt will hold a question-and-answer session with community members at BB’s Kitchen tonight. The event is hosted by Aspen Business Events, an offshoot of the Aspen Business Luncheon. The 5 p.m. gathering sold out the day it was announced earlier this week and was expanded to include close to 70 people.
EPA Administrator Talks Climate Change in Aspen
The head of the U-S Environmental Protection Agency told a small crowd in Aspen today action on climate change is needed now. Administrator Gina McCarthy timed her visit with the Winter X Games to reach a younger crowd.
McCarthy’s visit was in conjunction with Protect Our Winters, a climate change advocacy group led by snow sports athletes. Standing next to the ski gondola, McCarthy emphasized how action on climate change is important to economies like Aspen’s.
“Having snow here is an important thing. It’s not just important for the athletes that come here and for the families that come, but it’s an economic issue for this local community.”
McCarthy was joined by the head of the Aspen Skiing Company and X Games athletes. Her agency is implementing President Obama’s Climate Action Plan which calls for reducing pollution from power plants and cutting energy waste in homes and businesses.
Aspen Local and X Games
One competitor in this year’s Winter X Games is Alex Ferreira. The 20-year-old Aspen local who hopes to continue his positive streak. Last year, the freeskier took home bronze.
Ferreira competes in freeskiing halfpipe. This is his third X Games. Earlier this season, he scored in the top five in two separate events. He says competing in the X Games is a unique experience.
“It’s the mecca of freeskiing and there’s a vibe to it. When you get your first X Games invite, it’s like a dream come true. It’s a crazy feeling, it’s really cool.”
Ferreira trained with the Aspen Valley Ski and Snowboard Club and will compete against one of his best friends, another valley local, Torin Yater-Wallace. Ferreira’s first event is Friday evening. If he does well there, he’ll move onto the finals on Sunday afternoon.
Carbondale Elementary School Seeking New Principal
The Roaring Fork School District has begun a national search for a new elementary school principal. That’s after the top official at Crystal River Elementary School in Carbondale announced plans to step down at the end of this school year.
Principal Heather Cremeans submitted a letter of resignation earlier this month. It comes in the middle of the district’s efforts to turn around the school. Rob Stein is Chief Academic Officer for RE 1.
“If you rank all the ratings of the schools in Colorado, and look at Crystal River, it’s kind of hovered in that bottom fifth for a number of years. And what we want for all of our schools and all of our children-- and I’m sure what the community wants-- is to be in the top fifth.”
A big challenge is the gap in test scores between native English speaking kids and children who have another language at home. Cremeans would have been principal for two academic years.
Fire Destroys Carbondale Home
A Carbondale home is considered a total loss today following a fire, last night. Just after 8pm Wednesday night, the Carbondale and Rural Fire Protection District was paged to a fire at the Mountain Valley Mobile Home Park. When the firefighters arrived they found flames and heavy smoke. No one was home when the fire broke out. The blaze was under control about 15 minutes after the firefighters arrived. There is no word at this time on the total cost of the damage. But, the home and contents are believed to be a total loss. The cause of the Carbondale fire remains under investigation.
