|
|
<$BlogRSDURL$> Archives
|
Revelstoke's choice: authenticity or profit? Also found on the Calgary Herald QThe sleepy town of Revelstoke was just awoken by a $1 billion economic boom. Revelstoke, British Columbia is a town of roughly 8,100 people with the majority of the residents between the ages of 45-64 with 32% of the residents making less than $15,000. Only a 4 and a half hour drive from Calgary, Revelstoke is the perfect get-a-way town.  Everyone knows each other, Coopers Grocery Store is always open, the sound of the locomotives have a consistent echo through the valley, and the picturesque mountain views are second to none. For those who visit Revelstoke, (which according to Revelstoke stats is roughly 1.1 million visitors during the summer season) they love it and long for the day they can call it home.I spend most of my summers and long weekends at our family house in Revelstoke and have become quite familiar with the quaint town over the past 24 years. Built on 3 lots right in the heart of the town, I consider it my second home. Members of my family have been residents of Revelstoke since the early 1900's when the CPR was still stationed there. However those who only visit Revelstoke won't realize the effects the massive mega million dollar development could have have on the town. The town has now been faced with a bittersweet reality; for the sake of more tourism, they come face to face with the possibly of losing the authenticity of the historic town. It will be a hard pill to swallow for those who like the town the way it is and who moved there just to be away from the hustle of the city life. They will now face the certainty that the Revelstoke Mountain Resort will be host to North America's longest vertical descent mountain, boasting an incredible 6,000 feet, and bring in numbers similar to Whistler. Not only that, but it will create over 16,000 bed units which include condos, townhouses, hotels and luxury mountain homes; something Revelstoke hasn't yet warmed up to. After years of rumours floating around the ski industry and the town itself about the existing ski hill transforming into the next Whistler-type ski town, the contract was made official and and plans made public mid January. By next ski season, a high speed quad and an 8 person gondola will be packing people to the top of Mount Mackenzie. If you know the ski hill at all - you will agree this addition will make all the difference. Revelstoke is most known for it's cat skiing and heli-skiing, both of which have been acquired in the contract with the purchase of the ski hill. Not only will this hill be your one-stop destination for everything winter, but it is also boasting an incredible amount of summer activities which already bring in tourists from all over the world.  Thankfully, city council has vowed to keep house prices affordable. Their strategy is to develop more housing and Council has made that their number one priority this year. House prices in the past couple of years have already increased to numbers far above what some residents can afford. A quick look on MLS.ca shows a mobile home listed at $79,000, advertised as a great starter home. For those who are looking for an 1800 sq ft single family home - they'll have to cough up more than $219,000. I can't imagine what the homes at the ski hill will start at.The residents of Revelstoke do have something to keep in the forefront of their thinking though. With big box stores moving in on small towns lately with their Walmarts, Starbucks and Chapters, Council has to make sure the they keep these monsters out of the town and ensure the true identity of Revelstoke doesn't get lost in the shuffle. The beautiful thing about Revelstoke is that downtown is perfect with the historical buildings turned into local mountain equipment shops, bookstores, boutiques and bakeries.  Revelstoke has the potential of becoming the next big tourist destination but also has the potential of losing the identity it has worked so hard to keep. It would be sad to see Revelstoke become unrecognizable thanks to the behemoth mountain resort. I'm sure the residents of Revelstoke, whether they've been there a couple years or their whole lives, have good enough heads on their shoulders to keep the town on track with their mission statement: "We are committed to fostering a strong sense of community in Revelstoke, and we will be responsive and adaptive to changing social, political and economical conditions". I would hate for the town to turn into this mythical destination hotspot for the sake of tourists. Posted by Bella at 11:11 PM# 0 Comments:
|
