Boise, Naples, Green Valley, Scottsdale, Temecula, Charleston, Corpus Christi, Bremerton and hundreds of additional communities are thriving. As the baby boomers part with their retirement funds they are buying new primary or second homes in areas they want to live and play. Communities all over America are seeing huge increases in property values as scarcity is driving the market. Community leaders are scrambling to keep up with the growth and the much needed services these newcomers require. Newfound communities (55 and above) that are attracting these retirees are providing great services such as performing arts centers, a multitude of activities, parks and recreation areas. The “young” retirees are an asset to the communities and act as real ambassadors to them. In other words, what we see in each of the communities, as reported by “Where to Retire” magazine, is a sense of belonging. Because each of the communities mentioned have seen huge increases in home values there have been many successful projects to insure affordable housing to the service industries; in this case applying to police, fire, teachers, etc.
Then we see Estes Park. The local government controls about $33 million as an annual budget (Repola isn’t sure what it really is saying their numbers are “shit”). But let’s assume that number he has used as somewhat accurate. In reality, our government has failed to meet the needs of the community which would make it more attractive to this new population and more beneficial to those that already live here. No performing arts, no parking downtown, no parkways in residential areas, no sense of community. Our government stifles growth because they have no vision. So, what are we left with? A community that has their home state groups because they don’t feel a part of Estes Park. No unifying sense of pride in who we are because we are nobody. Constant bickering between groups because we don’t have a clear vision of community because there is none.
Over the next few weeks be sure to look at the empty store fronts downtown, with particular focus on the building that houses Starbucks. That beautiful building is losing tenants because they can’t make it here. Our government insists on controlling all aspects of marketing and they are a complete failure. They don’t have anything to sell either visitors or potential residents. If there is any dissention they send one of their paid slugs like Pickering or Repola around to suck up to that individual and invite them to serve on a committee to shut them up. Individuals that appear to have promise, such as Homier, get elected as Trustee and almost immediately join the fraternity and become complete failures as servants of the public.
Note to Trustees: Listen up- you are supposed to serve the public. You are not elected to be a Gold Team member and shuffle off over some department. Get your collective heads out of you butts and begin service to the people.
What should we expect in a community like Estes Park?
A Performing arts center.
Ample Parking – 2,500 spaces based on national standards and our own Town development code.
Affordable housing – at least 100 new units, not 10.
A solution to the downtown traffic problem. Countless studies have been done, but nothing done with them.
Internet access throughout the Estes Valley. It isn’t that hard.
Hire a marketing company to expand our vision for the town and to market to visitors.
Perhaps Mayor Baudek could promote these things with a sky diving exhibition over Stanley Park (sans parachute).
Look around you people, we are in what is possibly one of the most beautiful places on earth and yet dozens of business fail each year and proclaim-
Get me out of this puke hole!
