The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Past the time for more space…
[ By Mark Reaman ]
The Crested Butte town council gave both moral and financial support to Crested Butte Nordic’s upcoming Outpost building project during the May 16 council meeting. They approved a $184,531 grant for the project, approved a Tenant Improvement Agreement and all expressed appreciation for what the organization does and the sustainability elements of the proposed building that CB Nordic representatives said exceeded the latest 2021 building code.
“We are an organization that is reliant on snow,” explained CB Nordic marketing and development director Laura Puckett Daniels. “We feel an obligation to be as close as we can be to net zero in terms of energy.”
The $1.3 million facility will be entirely electric and use a variety of innovative design techniques and mechanical systems with green technology and energy efficiency. Solar panels will also help get the project to approach net-zero status. The two-story, 2,880-square-foot building will be next to the current Nordic Cat Barn and be owned by the town. As such, several town fees will be waived.
Puckett Daniels reviewed the “exponential” growth CB Nordic has seen in the last decade going from about 500 season pass holders in 2010 to more than 2,300 (including dogs) last year. She said the programs were continuing to expand with significant growth in the kid and senior programs. She said that growth has taken place basically in the same facility they’ve had since the 1980s.
“We are at a place now where we desperately need program space and that’s the intention of the building,” Puckett Daniels said. “We are also a positive contributor to the town economy and have committed to have a minimum $20/hour wage for staff.”
Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Trails director Janna Hansen said the CB Nordic request was similar to what the town provided the Center for the Arts expansion. Town owns the property, the building and made a major financial contribution to the project. “Like the Center for the Arts, Crested Butte Nordic is a keystone institution of town,” she said.
Puckett Daniels said the organization is still engaged in private fundraising and is also planning to approach other public entities for contributions.
“It is awesome that CB Nordic is exceeding the building codes and aware of the current world situation,” said councilmember Mallika Magner.
“I appreciate the leveraging of funds and getting broad support,” added mayor Ian Billick.
Council voted unanimously to both fund the project and enter into a Tenant Improvement Agreement with CB Nordic.
