HomeMy WebLinkAboutcoa.cclc.min.010709COMMERCIAL CORE & LODGING COMMISSION
MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2009
Vice-chair, Mark Goodman called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.
Commissioners in attendance: Andrew Kole, Bill Dinsmoor and Don Sheeley.
Excused where Terry Butler, Fred Ayarza, Roger Haneman and John Starr.
Andrew explained the history of the market and the expansion to South Hunter.
The event is over an 18 week period and we estimate 50,000 people walk through
the two blocks. The idea would be to move the people from the park to the
expanded area.
The park would be family oriented for kids etc. Seth is a big draw with the dog
adoption and with added space we might be able to do a dog grooming area.
If we expanded to E. Hyman there would be approximately 8 to 12 vendors.
The market is an amenity for the town. 70% of the non-food customers are
tourists. We would also offer stores space in front of their stores.
Bill said we estimate 40 to 50 thousand people that are drawn to the market. Terry
Butler's tourists that stay at her hotel ask where the market is. To expand to E.
Hyman would draw people toward the mall.
Bill said the push back is parking and customers parking in front of their stores.
Garrett Brandt, attorney. We are concerned about our businesses and the impact
and loss of parking. I represent the parking lot owner and the Benton bldg. and
Little Annie's building.
Garrett addressed Aspen employees and Aspen businesses. 41 out of 60 vendors
are not Aspen vendors in the market. Local businesses should be represented.
The proposal is to block off the south side of E. Hyman. Bringing people into the
parking lot is difficult.
Trash pickups, delivery vehicles and the chain by the
parking lot would have to be redone. Huntsman gallery has many issues. We are
trying to rent it and if the tenant finds out there is no parking it might be a
detriment to renting it. Emergencies are an issue. Our experience with the X
games is that people tend to throw trash in front of the building. Little Annie's is
mostly impacted. It distracts from people wanting to eat there.
The logistics of moving tables out on the street is not practical. Restroom use is
also an issue. Mike Otte who has an office in the area is opposed to the location at
this time without working things out further.
Jeanie Leinos read a letter regarding the expansion. Closing off the driveway to
the lot would cause shutting down the business. It is not possible to remove the
cable. Truck deliveries are also an issue. I have a contract with renters with
unrestricted access. As a suggestion what if the CCLC moved the market one
block east on E. Hopkins.
Stephen Isberian said they have some feeling of what retail, parking etc. is. There
have been many studies. No one has asked us about circulation etc. and ask us
what has worked and what hasn't worked. The CCLC only has people coming to
the meetings that have issues. Times are challenging. Vitality has occurred from
the market. There are no businesses on E. Hopkins. There is congestion from the
trailers and there is no sidewalk area. If you close off Hyman Avenue you are
murdering downtown circulation. New Years Eve is a good example. What are we
gaining by coming around the corner? Why don't we look at going down E.
Hopkins as it is a natural continuation and in the residential area? Or the idea
would be going to the west end of E. Hopkins. It is ridiculous to close off E.
Hyman for ten booths.
Heather Isberian said the fire dept. said the Elks bldg. can't be blocked due to the
height etc. of the building. What about our buildings that is used 24/7 and has
housing and a pent house above. Parking on the block is a concern. Clients will
have to go to the back alley and the alley is used heavily on Saturday. How do
people carry a rug three blocks?
Andrew said going further on Hopkins was somewhat addressed and the parking
and transportation departments wanted to keep it open. Regarding the traffic
pattern for markets, people like to make loops and not a T.
Brian Leach, Wind River gallery commended the CCLC for trying to make vitality
downtown. The lack of communication is horrible. The people who are here at this
meeting, it means something that they are here. Parking is a foregone conclusion.
Galena one way and the flow and ease of access are extremely important.
Everyone finds the market. The idea of helping merchants that are here is
paramount. Igo down one side of the entire market and then go back the entire
other side. I am strongly opposed. Little Annie's has a narrow entrance and I
cannot see people getting outside.
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Rusty Cross, manager of Little Annie's. The biggest issue with this is parking.
Eliminating more parking is not positive. No one will come up to get a rug on
Saturday if they cannot get a rug into their car. Expansion on Hyman is negative.
The parking spots are paid for and to mix automobile flow is inviting disaster.
Rusty thanked the CCLC for having the meeting.
Andrew said if the merchants want to be proactive CCLC is here. It would be nice
if businesses could help us.
Heather Isberian said she is begging for the beautification of Aspen to be
improved. We are all in this together. I was told the budget wouldn't allow it.
Heather said things are changing in town.
Mark said we are always trying to make changes to the market and integrate it with
the merchants. On Saturday's I am slow in the store. If the market was on the
mall or close I feel it would be a huge benefit. Anytime there is change in the
market people come in and say it is devastating to their businesses. It has helped
people on the street.
Bill said spacing and access can be addressed to have more access between the
booths on the street so that you can get to the stores.
Bill said we are trying to get people out of their cars. Our notion is to have
businesses benefit with the expansion of the market.
Heather said her landlord won't allow rugs outside her store for display.
Brian Leach said you are discounting the risk factor. I am not a volume business.
I am looking for one or two people to come in and help pay my rent. Saturdays are
important when people fly in and they come in Friday and fly out Sunday and they
come into the store on Saturday's.
Russ from Little Annie's said parking is an issue. If parking can't be resolved why
go forward with the expansion.
Andrew commented that the CCLC and the market benefit the downtown core. I
have yet to see the downtown core unite together.
Don Sheeley said we are trying to create a better downtown. I agree with the
Hopkins idea as opposed to Hyman. Don thanked the people for their support on
the one way on Galena Street. Don said he could bring people into little Annie's to
eat.
Stephen Isberian said we had a restaurant association and a real estate association.
We are not negative people. The Retail association never got off the ground.
Mark said this is an exercise for the CCLC. Our motivation is to add vitality. The
last thing we want to do is hurt our local businesses. Mark also pointed out that
one thing missing in this town is a BID to draw businesses together. If we had that
vehicle we could do big things.
Andrew said he and Don would like to explore E. Hopkins.
MOTION: Don moved to discontinue the forward thinking of extending the
market on E. Hyman and pursue another area; second by Andrew. Motion carried
4-0.
MOTION.• Andrew moved to adjourn; second by Bill. All in favor, motion carried.
Meting adjourned a~-1 .30 ~m.
Kathleen J. Strickland, Chief Deputy Clerk
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