Existing-Home Sales Surge to Record Pace in June

Existing-home sales rebounded at a record pace in June, following three consecutive months of sales declines, the National Association of REALTORS® reported on Wednesday. Each of the four major regions of the U.S. posted month-over-month increases in June, with the West posting the largest jump.

Total existing-home sales—completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condos, and co-ops—increased 20.7% from May to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.72 million in June, NAR reports. Sales, however, are still down 11.3% from a year ago.

“The sales recovery is strong, as buyers were eager to purchase homes and properties that they had been eyeing during the shutdown,” says Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. “This revitalization looks to be sustainable for many months ahead as long as mortgage rates remain low and job gains continue.”

Housing inventories, a big obstacle for buyers before the pandemic, have tightened further. Inventory levels in June fell 18.2% compared to a year ago, NAR reports. The low inventories continue to press on home prices. NAR pegs current inventory to be 4.0 months, down from 4.3 months one year ago.

“Home prices rose during the lockdown and could rise even further due to heavy buyer competition and a significant shortage of supply,” Yun says.

Solidarity Talk, mural in Breckenridge work to break down stereotypes

As the paint dried on Denver-based artist Latasha Dunston’s solidarity mural, the second monthly Solidarity Talk run by Solidarity Nation brought together local residents, town officials, business owners and other leaders on the lawn of the Riverwalk Center on Sunday. 

Spectators gathered at 11 a.m. at Washington Avenue near Main Street to hear Dunston speak about the context and inspiration behind the mural on the pavement there, which she finished painting Sunday morning. The center of the mural features the word “solidarity” painted among aspen trees with a fist placed at the top. 

The grove’s foliage contains questions written in English and in Spanish, asking things like, “How am I practicing anti-racist principals in my daily life?” and “How can I support Black, Indigenous and people of color?”

Dunston said she hopes these questions will be used by people to self-reflect. She said that while she feels the town is overall supportive of her art, she did experience a racist encounter while creating her mural. 

She recounted this experience during the Solidarity Talk and said that her goal with this mural is to break down the stereotypes that are present. Dunston said that the questions painted into the foliage can spark conversations among families and other passersby.

Keystone Resort extends summer operating days

Summer 

Keystone Resort has expanded summer operations to include Thursdays, according to Keystone spokesperson Loryn Roberson.

Scenic gondola rides now will operate from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. Tickets are available at the ticket windows in River Run Village. The Summit House also will be open during these times, offering prepackaged food and drink options.

The Keystone River Course is open seven days per week with tee times available upon reservation.

The resort’s summer closing date is Sept. 7, according to Roberson

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 20, 2020

Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit http://www.summitcountyco.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.

Cats

ASPEN, 6 months, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female

BABY, 4 years, domestic shorthair, black and white, neutered male

BINX, 7 weeks, domestic shorthair, black, neutered male  

EVIE, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, gray tabby, spayed female

MILLICENT, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, brown tabby, spayed female

MITTENS, 11 months, domestic mediumhair, black and white, spayed female

MULAN, 7 years, domestic mediumhair, brown, spayed female

PEACH, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, black, spayed female

PENELOPE ANNE, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female

PICKLES, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, black and white, neutered male

SHELBY, 9 weeks, domestic shorthair, dilute tabby calico, spayed female

ZELDA, 7 years, domestic shorthair, gray tabby and white, spayed female

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

BRUNO, 2 years, Rottweiler mix, black and tan, neutered male

CHEDDAR, 6 months, beagle mix, red and white, neutered male

DICE, 1 year 2 months, Siberian husky and Australian cattle dog mix, white and black, neutered male

FETA, 6 months, Chinese sharpei mix, red and white, spayed female

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

GINGER, 1 year 7 months, German shepherd dog, black and tan, spayed female

GOUDA, 6 months, Chinese sharpei mix, red and white, spayed female

RED, 9 years, beagle mix, red and white, neutered male

SOFIA, 6 years, Mastiff mix, white and brown, spayed female

ZOSO, 2 years, Australian cattle dog mix, black, neutered male

Properties maintain their value, as buyers take advantage of record low interest rates

Despite the economic uncertainty surrounding the novel coronavirus, the Summit County real estate market has stayed strong. 

Although April and May showed almost no activity, real estate professionals saw booming business in June. While people thought the pandemic might be an opportunity to snag a less expensive home, the county’s property values have continued to stay at or above pre-pandemic levels. 

There were four fewer real estate sales in June 2020 than there were in June 2019, but the total volume of sales was about $1.5 million higher this year than last year, according to Summit Realtors data.

Average sales price for all types of properties in June 2020 was $758,398, around $33,000 more than the average price in 2019, according to Summit Realtors data.

June Real Estate by the Numbers

Total real estate sales: 134

Total real estate sales in June 2019: 138

Total volume of sales: $101,625,391

Total volume of sales in June 2019: $100,102,553

Number of sales at or above $1 million: 26

Number of sales at or above $1 million in June 2019: 25

Source: Summit Realtors

Breckenridge Grand Vacations presents transit area redevelopment options

Option

Mike Dudick, chief executive officer of Breckenridge Grand Vacations, led a presentation to the Breckenridge Town Council on Tuesday regarding options for redevelopment of the North Gondola and Gold Rush lots and land.

The redevelopment of these parcels — which Breckenridge Grand Vacations is under contract to purchase from Vail Resorts — would be part of a reconfiguration of the Breckenridge Station transit area on Watson Avenue that is a hub for recreationists in the downtown area using the BreckConnect Gondola to get to Breckenridge Ski Resort. The company’s plans would be part of a greater redevelopment of land at the gondola’s base.

On Tuesday, Dudick presented to council multiple ideas for the redevelopment.

The difference between the options, he said, is the direction of bus traffic, number of lanes of bus traffic and ingress and egress from proposed roundabouts. Breckenridge Grand Vacations and the town would need to come to an agreement specific to the company’s redevelopment plans for the North Gondola Lot and Gold Rush land.

“I’m here to work together with the town to figure out what’s best for the community,” Dudick said. “… Option 1 is going to have the multidirection movement of the buses. Option 2 is going to have the two (bus) islands with one direction of movement of buses. Option 3 is going to have one movement of buses and one lane of bus traffic.”

In all the options, the existing Breckenridge Station building would be removed and replaced by smaller structures that would provide a covered waiting area without the large indoor spaces that town engineer Shannon Smith and Public Works Director James Phelps wrote “are currently problematic.” Smith and Phelps added that restrooms and skier services displaced by the plan would “be fulfilled elsewhere in the development.”

Whatever option the board selects, Dudick said the company intends to build multiple pedestrian bridges, one from the Gold Rush parcel over Park Avenue to the North Gondola Lot parcel and two over the Blue River Recreation Path to the Main Street area. The developments also would include workforce housing, a public park in the parcel of wetlands south of the Gold Rush Lot and mixed-use buildings on the North Gondola site.

“There is a pretty strong assumption that (Dudick) will end up owning this land, but nobody in this town knows what is going to happen in November of this year right now,” Breckenridge Mayor Mamula said. “So to make any decisions on anything based on what little we know about the economy of our community into this winter, I got to tell you, I think is a little premature.”

Frisco promenade to stay through Labor Day; leaders strategize as winter approaches

There’s no question that the Frisco Main Street promenade has been a hit among visitors. Now town leaders are looking at ways to keep the street alive as winter looms. 

At a virtual business meeting Wednesday, July 15, the Frisco Town Council and local business leaders discussed strategies to increase traffic for lodging business and ways in which the town could keep the promenade running into winter. Council member Dan Fallon confirmed the promenade will remain at least through Labor Day. However, council members are looking at ways to keep it in place as the pandemic continues.

“There’s always that hope, of course, that if the status quo stays at least the same, if not improves, then the promenade itself becomes a certain kind of an attraction,” Fallon said. “It will start to have its own weight of success and hopefully attract more people.”

At the beginning of June, the town of Frisco launched the Live Frisco, Shop Frisco campaign along with the promenade. As part of the campaign, people are able to purchase from the town e-gift cards for discounted prices at Main Street businesses. As of Tuesday, the gift cards have generated $130,000. Of that revenue, $70,000 has been put back into local businesses through the gift cards, according to the Town of Frisco website.

Colorado Gov. Polis issues mask mandate across Colorado

Face coverings or masks will be required statewide after Gov. Jared Polis issued an executive order, which goes into effect at midnight.

In a news conference Thursday, Polis announced the mandate, which requires masks for everyone over the age of 10 while inside buildings open to the public. The mandate doesn’t change anything for Summit County, which already requires masks whenever people are in a public building and outside when a 6-foot distance from others isn’t possible.

According to Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment survey results presented at the conference, counties in Colorado with no mask order have seen 49% of their population wearing masks and 80% maintaining a 6-foot distance from others. Counties with some sort of mask order have seen 57% wearing masks and 83% maintaining a 6-foot distance. 

 I want to make sure mask-wearing ordinances don’t make people think everything is safe, and they can forget about social distancing,” Polis said. “Mask-wearing complements social distancing.”

Polis also said areas of Colorado with mask ordinances have had a slower spread of the virus. 

 “We have a choice in Colorado: either more mask-wearing and more attention to social distancing, or more damage to our economy and loss of life,” he said.

Breckenridge Sunday Market finds new footing amid COVID-19 restrictions

#Breckenridge #Colorado

As with most events in the time of the novel coronavirus, the Breckenridge Sunday Market has had to adapt, making changes on location, market size and customer protocol. 

The market, which used to be located at Main Street Station, has moved to the Village at Breckenridge resort plaza, allowing for the Main Street shops and restaurants to use the outdoor space for extra seating. Because of the new location, business has been relatively slow in the market’s first few weeks, Kristi Rashidi, owner of Rocky Mountain events, said. However, the number of visitors was starting to pick up Sunday morning, July 12.

“The village plaza is a little easier to control the traffic flow and maintain a constant live count of the number of people in the market, which is what we have to do to adhere to the guidelines from the health department,” Rashidi said.  

The new location isn’t the only change. The market, which opened on June 28, had to cut its vendors down from 40 to 20 and increase the number of food and produce vendors because of public health restrictions.

“Things are definitely different this year, but we felt compelled to continue the tradition of the market and not be broken by COVID-19,” Rashidi said.  

The market is doing everything it can to prevent the spread of the virus. Market employees have put down painter’s tape in the shape of arrows to direct the flow of traffic and everyone is required to wear a face covering or mask. The market also has an employee offering hand sanitizer to all customers as they enter.

“After everything that everyone had been through we felt strongly about giving the opportunity to the community for people to come,” Rashidi said. “We didn’t want to give up. We wanted to fight to do what we have to do to keep the market going.”

The market is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday.

Shop owners, workers see widespread compliance in Breckenridge mask zone

Breckenridge’s walkable Main Street looked a little bit different this weekend as people were required to wear face coverings or masks while in the town’s new mandatory mask zone. 

After hearing reports of people not wearing masks when walking around, the Breckenridge Town Council voted Thursday, July 9, to require masks for the entire walkable Main Street. Signs went up around town on Thursday informing people they were in the mandatory mask zone. 

The mask zone extends from the Blue River on the west to South Ridge Street on the east. The north boundary is at North French Street while the southern boundary extends past the southern end of Main Street.  

The council took Summit County’s requirement that everyone wear a face covering in buildings open to the public and outside when a 6-foot distance isn’t possible one step further in its emergency ordinance. Under the ordinance, people are required to wear a mask whenever entering or inside a place of business, in an outdoor public place while in the mask zone and outside of the mask zone if a 6-foot distance isn’t possible. 

The town placed two community service officers on Main Street while shops are open in order to inform people of the ordinance. If a person is caught without a mask they can be fined $50 for the first offense, $250 for the second offense and $500 for the third and all subsequent offenses.

“If people don’t want to be compliant with this, we’re going to try to educate them,” he said. “Then if they’re going to be obstinate and they’re going to mistreat the (community service officers) or our front-line workers then there will be a fine structure. That’s how we’ll see this proceeding.”  Said Mayor Eric Mamula  

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 12, 2020

The following animals are available for adoption at the Summit County Animal Shelter. Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit http://www.summitcountyco.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.

Cats

ASPEN, 6 months, domestic shorthair, tortoiseshell, spayed female  

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray and gray tabby, neutered male

LUCKY, 7 years, domestic shorthair, dilute calico and white, spayed female  

PEPPER, 7 years, domestic shorthair, black, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

CHANCE, 2 years, border collie mix, black, neutered male

DAISY, 11 months, great Dane mix, white and brown, spayed female

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

JAKEY, 5 months, Rhodesian ridgeback mix, red, neutered male

SOFIA, 6 years, Mastiff mix, white and brown, spayed female

YETI, 3 years, border collie and Labrador retriever mix, black and white, spayed female

ZOSO, 3 years, Australian cattle dog mix, black, neutered male

My newest listing - Pine Ridge Condos Unit 13-A

Click the link below to take an interactive tour of my newest listing - Pine Ridge Unit 13-A

https://view.ricohtours.com/aab9f351-9755-4f93-96e6-4469f25d9ac3

Enjoy the lifestyle of Breckenridge with this much sought after ground floor condo. Nicely updated with new kitchen appliances and new TVs throughout. 

The Snowflake Lift is just a block away and the free town shuttle stops right at the condo complex to whisk you to the lift. Ski home via Four O'clock ski run. 

And it's just steps to the River-Walk Center to enjoy a concert and take advantage of all the ambiance that our Downtown offers for shopping, people watching, cocktails and fine dining.

Contact me today for more information:  nyearout@colorado.net, 970-485-0293

Breckenridge designates mandatory mask zone, creates penalty for health order violations and is set to impose a curfew

Breckenridge Town Council on Thursday unanimously passed an emergency ordinance to establish a mandatory mask zone in the core of town. Council also unanimously passed a second emergency ordinance to create a process for penalizing businesses that violate the public health order. Both ordinances took effect immediately. An order from the town manager’s office to impose an 11 p.m. curfew on drinking and dining establishments also was agreed upon.

The first ordinance requires facial coverings to be worn in public at all times, including when outdoors, in a specified area. The previous rule only required masks outdoors when a 6-foot distance could not be maintained.

The boundary for mandatory masks generally extends from the Blue River on the west to Ridge Street on the east with the north boundary at North French Street. The southern boundary extends past the southern end of Main Street, including the gondola base area. The boundary includes the Riverwalk Center lawn and the Tiger Dredge parking lot.  

“While people are in an outdoor public place located within this mandatory mask zone, they are required to have a mask on,” Town Manager Rick Holman said. “It is no longer discretionary if they’re only within 6 feet.”

Outside the mandatory mask zone, Holman said, masks must be worn outdoors only when physical distancing cannot be maintained. Of course, a mask is not required while eating or drinking, and performers do not have to wear a mask if they are 25 feet from spectators, Holman said.  Violators can be fined $50 for a first offense, $250 for a second offense and $500 for a third and subsequent offense. Mayor Eric Mamula noted that someone would have to “really be a nuisance to get a fine.” He said the town is looking at an ambassador program that would focus initially on education. 

“I don’t think there’s any doubt right now in the country — with what’s going on immediately around us, in the states immediately around us — we’re in the middle of a firestorm of the virus right now, and this is an action that this Town Council can take to potentially stem the tide in our community to keep our businesses open,” Mamula said. “That’s what this is all about.”

As for enforcement, Holman said community service officers would be reassigned immediately to help enforce the mandatory mask zone and that additional staff members could be implemented later. Holman said signage alerting people about the mandatory mask zone was expected to be up by the end of the day Thursday.

The second ordinance authorizes the suspension or revocation of Breckenridge business and occupational tax licenses for violation of the Summit County public health order. If a hearing determines that there is cause for sanctions, a license can be suspended for 30 days, and the establishment will be fined $2,650. 

Council member Erin Gigliello said she is not concerned with business compliance but advocated for a curfew. Council discussed a restaurant and bar closure time, which Holman said has been proposed as a countywide measure. Council member Kelly Owens said she would prefer Breckenridge to take the lead on this concept as it could take time for a countywide rule to take effect. 

Gigliello was concerned that issues could arise if Breckenridge has a curfew but the rest of the county does not. The majority of council members agreed to an 11 p.m. curfew, which will be set by order from the town manager’s office. Holman said he expects the order to take effect Thursday night and that it would apply to all businesses that serve alcoholic beverages or food.

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area is open for summer operations

Arapahoe Basin Ski Area, which opened for summer July 2, is offering scenic chairlift rides, outdoor dining, yoga classes, hiking, mountain biking and disc golf.​ Lift hours are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and require a ticket. 

The disc golf course, hiking and biking trails are open every day and are free to use. Outdoor yoga classes require a reservation and are offered at 11 a.m. Fridays and Sundays.

The Arapahoe Sports retail store and Black Mountain Lodge also are open with the lodge operating from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and the retail store open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays. The ski area’s 6th Alley Bar & Grill is operating, as well.

Breckenridge to require masks at all times in designated downtown area

Breckenridge Mayor Eric Mamula called a special town council meeting Tuesday morning, July 7, to discuss facial coverings in town, including an idea that would require masks at all times, including outside.

Mamula said he called the meeting to address his concerns about the lack of people wearing facial coverings. Mamula said he has had constant interactions with people who walk into places of business with their shirt or jacket up around their mouth or otherwise have no mask present. 

Council members all agreed the lack of compliance with the mask rule was a problem. 

 Town Manager Rick Holman said there’s been a lot of discussion in the community about how to increase compliance of the town ordinance requiring facial coverings to be worn in public when physical distancing cannot be maintained. He said that while enforcement inside businesses has been a challenge, there are also issues with compliance on Main Street and in the core of town with large numbers of people visiting.

Holman suggested creating mandatory mask areas in certain parts of town but said he doesn’t think law enforcement should be handing out tickets to those who do not comply.  Mamula said the town needs to spend money on community service officers or ambassadors to remind people about the rule, and council was largely in support.

Mamula suggested requiring masks in all areas within a certain boundary, from the gondola through Main Street Station and including Ridge Street, Main Street and part of French Street. 

“I think this is how we support our business community: We make the entire downtown area a mandatory mask zone,” Mamula said.

Council member Erin Gigliello said she was concerned that a wider-ranging mask ordinance could divert attention from the priority of keeping the local workforce safe. Council member Dick Carleton said he believed a mask zone actually would help the restaurant and retail community. 

Making people wear masks in the downtown area at all times also could take some of the pressure off business owners from having to educate customers about the rule, Mamula said.

Council member Jeffrey Bergeron called the move necessary, and councilor Kelly Owens said it could help create clarity on when and where facial coverings are required.

“This is all about, (at) the end of the day, Breckenridge not having to shut itself down,” council member Gary Gallagher said, expressing his support of a mask zone, though he said it should be a larger area. “Because when that happens, we all know we’ve got employees that aren’t working, we’ve got employees back in food lines, we’ve got employees looking for rent assistance. The whole thing just turns on itself and it’s really not just about somebody’s health, which is important, but it’s also what it does to the economy.”

Holman said Breckenridge would reassign community service officers into the downtown area to work on mask compliance. He said paid ambassadors would take time to hire but that the town could look into reassigning employees or consider volunteers as an option. He also said the council should be realistic about the size of the mask zone, keeping in mind that it would need to be signed and controlled.

Holman proposed amending the emergency ordinance to require facial coverings at all times in certain areas. Council plans to reconvene at 8 a.m. Thursday to approve the amendment and have the updated order active over the coming weekend. At the meeting, council will finalize the area where masks are required at all times and how it will be enforced.

Summit County extends safer-at-home order, discusses next phase of reopening

 Summit County’s extended safer-at-home public health order went into effect Wednesday, July 1, allowing for buses to hold up to 50% capacity and maintaining the county’s mask requirement.  

Public Health Director Amy Wineland signed the order Friday, June 26. It’s now set to expire July 31. The order continues to follow the lead of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment with minimal exceptions. 

Summit County’s order requires masks or face coverings whenever people are in a building open to the public or outside and a 6-foot distance isn’t possible. The state’s order only “urges” the public to wear face coverings.

Summit County’s adoptable pets for the week of July 5, 2020

 Call the shelter at 970-668-3230 with questions. The most recent list of animals available for adoption can be found via their website.

Note: The animal shelter is now open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Please visit SummitCountyCo.gov/animalcontrol for physical distancing protocols.  

Cats

ACE, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, white and black, neutered male  

ASPEN, 5 years, domestic shorthair, calico, spayed female

CEDRIC, 7 years, domestic mediumhair, white and gray tabby, neutered male  

CREEK, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, dilute calico, spayed female

FINNEGAN, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, black, neutered male

FOG, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male

GYPSY, 6 years, domestic shorthair, gray and white, neutered male

LEONARD, 8 years, domestic shorthair mix, gray tabby, neutered male

LUCKY, 7 years, domestic shorthair, dilute calico and white, spayed female

MIST, 1 year 6 months, domestic shorthair, white and brown tabby, spayed female

PEPPER, 7 years, domestic shorthair, black, spayed female

SHEBA, 7 years, domestic shorthair mix, brown tabby, spayed female

STREAM, 13 weeks, domestic shorthair, dilute calico, spayed female  

Dogs

ALEXANDRIA, 5 years, pit bull terrier, blonde and white, spayed female

BILLY, 16 weeks, pug and schnauzer — miniature mix, tan and black, neutered male

BLONDIE, 1 year 7 months, Labrador retriever and pit bull terrier mix, white, spayed female

BUZZ, 16 weeks, pug and schnauzer — miniature mix, black, neutered male

GECKO, 2 years, pit bull terrier mix, black and white, neutered male

MILLIE, 9 months, Australian cattle dog mix, blue merle and tan, spayed female

Summit County realtors see big boost in business in June

Despite a dismal April and May, Summit County Realtors are seeing a shocking jump in the market. 

The past two weeks have been record-breaking for Land Title Guarantee Co., which oversees 90% of business in Summit County. Land Title Director of Sales and Marketing Brooke Roberts said June orders were up 116% from June 2019. 

 A major factor in Land Title’s jump in business is that the company recently hired two additional closers from Stewart Title, who brought their business with them. However the jump in activity is being seen across Summit County and in other resort markets. 

Roberts said her counterpart in Eagle County is seeing a similar jump, and she’s even heard of a steady market in Tahoe, California.  

“This was a complete shock to me and my entire staff at Land Title,” she said. “We had absolutely no idea this was going to happen.”   

The demographics are changing. Rental income is not as important.  Mountain property has become more of an oasis for people to enjoy time with their family. If they can’t move here full time, many are fully expecting that their careers will allow them to spend a significant amount of time here and work here rather than tethered to an office.

Regardless of the reasoning behind the boom, Realtors agree it’s a promising sign for the future of the county’s real estate market. 

Frisco business owners share mixed reaction to Main Street promenade

It’s been two weeks since the town of Frisco opened its Main Street promenade, and business owners are starting to see its effects. 

At a virtual business meeting Wednesday, July 1, Frisco Town Council members spoke with business owners about their reactions to the promenade. The results were mixed. While some business owners felt the promenade gave them a much needed boost, others worried that blocking off Main Street is a detriment to their revenue.  

Town Manager Nancy Kerry shared a message from Mayor Hunter Mortensen, who was unable to attend the meeting:

“We are health-forward. Everything is about making sure we meet the health standards first so that we can allow businesses to stay open,” Kerry said on Mortensen’s behalf.  In general, restaurant owners are pleased about the outcome of the promenade and are seeing business pick up. 

“Being here in the core of the promenade, I just want to reiterate again, (it has been) extremely successful,” Greco’s Pizza owner Jonny Greco said. “Probably, for my business, saving it for the summer.”

However, some retailers and lodgers said the promenade is taking away from their business, with many people just perusing the stores rather than buying anything. 

“I’ve heard this from some retailers, that (the shoppers) are millennials that don’t have the money to spend,” council member Dan Fallon said. “They’re just out enjoying the social aspect of the promenade. They’re not out there to shop.”

Susan Wentworth, who owns the Frisco Lodge Bed & Breakfast and the Frisco Inn on Galena, said in the chat room of the meeting that “the promenade is not highly utilized by any shoppers.”

“Don’t see any guests carrying shopping bags,” she wrote. “Just restaurant areas busy. I sit at 4th and Main and watch kids and bikers cruise into (the) intersection without even slowing down or looking for vehicles crossing. It’s just a matter of time until someone gets injured. It appears great for the restaurants but no one else.”

Bruce Knoepful, owner of Frisco Lodge and Frisco Inn on Galena, said the promenade has hurt his businesses and many of his guests are worried that people aren’t social distancing and wearing masks. 

“My guests continue to pass on to me when they go on the promenade they’re extremely worried about the lack of social distancing and mask wearing on Main Street,” he said. “It’s a huge turnoff for them. I just feel the promenade, if it’s going to continue, it needs to be done in a safe way. I don’t think that’s happening.”

Knoepful said he also depends on people being able to see his business, which is not possible with Main Street closed to traffic. 

“We’re really struggling with the promenade because both at the Frisco Lodge and the Frisco Inn on Galena, we depend on people being able to see our businesses,” he said. “Just yesterday, I saw three cars come down Main to the Fifth Avenue barricade, turn around, go back to the Summit Boulevard and leave. I’m just very concerned about the promenade.”

Mary Waldman, owner of Summit Mountain Rentals, said her customers have had a different reaction to the promenade. 

“All the guests that I’ve booked to come into town are excited about Main Street being a walkable Main Street,” she said. “Whether they actually come and partake and spend money, but the idea of it is very appealing for them to choose Frisco. … I think it’s fantastic, and I’d love to see the Main Street promenade stay open.”

Bob Kato, owner of Tavern West, said that although his business is not included in the promenade, he’s supportive of anything that brings visitors to town.

“It doesn’t help me out at all down where I’m at,” Kato said. “The main thing about the promenade, and I’ve gotten feedback from my customers that come there, is that it’s a real good experience. Even though the promenade probably hurts me, if it’s bringing people into Frisco … then it’s good for everybody.”

Any changes that might be made to the regulations surrounding the promenade will be determined at the Town Council meeting July 14.

Summit County to close bars at direction of the governor

 Less than two weeks after Colorado bars opened at 25% capacity, Gov. Jared Polis has closed them once again. 

At a news conference Tuesday, Polis announced bars and nightclubs, which were allowed to open at 25% capacity June 18, will have to close in response to rising case numbers of the novel coronavirus in Colorado and nearby states like Texas and Arizona. 

“In my eagerness to get Colorado reopened and back to a semblance of normalcy, our guidance on June 18 allowed bars and nightclubs to open in a reduced capacity,” Polis said at the news conference. “I was excited. … I know they’re important. They’re important economically, not only for the people that work in bars but an important way to get your frustrations out.”  

The news also impacts restaurants, which will have to close their bar areas again. While bartenders can use the area to make drinks, customers will not be allowed to sit at the bar, Wineland said. 

Bars still will be allowed to offer takeout drink options. 

Polis said the nature of bars and nightclubs makes it increasingly difficult to prevent the spread of the disease.