Ski huts are an exciting tradition in the Colorado Rock­ies...and this winter work will be under way to renew the ski hut experience here in Grand County, as volunteers build an overnight hut at tim­berline west of Berthoud Pass along the border of Vasquez Wilderness. The Broome Hut is seen as the first in a network of huts that will one day extend from Berthoud Pass north to Grand Lake, providing Rendezvous Colorado residents with an exciting outdoor re­source such as skiers access from around Vail and Aspen, Colorado.

Rendezvous is providing facilities in Winter Park, Colorado, to pre-fab components of the 28-by-64-foot cabin, designed to house 16 guests plus four vol­unteers. Rendezvous is also providing the cabin's main spruce beam. Around five tons of construc­tion material were hauled into the site this spring; to be assembled this winter for completion by fall, 2012. (Ski-Hi ran a comprehensive article on the project July 4th, see SkyHiDailyNews.com).

Are you interested in volunteering on the project? Sign up at GrandHuts.com or contact Marilyn Anderson at marilyn.anderson@q. com or 970-470-2398.

Article reposted from Rendezvous Colorado Community Newsletter by Mark Samuelson.

The national housing market is far from settled...but Rendezvous has already seen enough of an uptick in real estate buyer interest this past summer to move ahead with its next offerings of resort homes -- including six new Prong­Horn Townhomes that came out of the ground...four of them already sold.  Colonnade Communities President Keith Neale also announced plans for a newly designed series of luxurious BigHorn cabins, priced in the $600s-to-$800s, as well as a new series of ElkHorn townhome designs, offering spacious but attainably priced homes with attached garages, from the mid-$300s. "Although the overall market is unsettled due to continuing national economic uncer­tainty, strict lending requirements, and the national jobs picture, we're pretty optimistic for the future, and are making moves that will po­sition us in the best possible way," Neale said.

Meanwhile, Rendezvous current residents, who enjoyed special Memorial Weekend and Fourth of July events and one of the most beautiful mountain summers in memory, were finding new improvements in place, including a new trail system linking the community to the Town of Winter Park. "This was a summer that began with what seemed like endless rain," Neale continued. "Although that slowed some of our tasks, we're pleased with how much we've got­ten done," Neale added.

Rendezvous staff are busy planning a new season at Club Rendezvous, the highly successful resident's club that created new convenience for Rendezvous residents using the world-class ski mountain at Winter Park Resort.  Once again, a shuttle service will deliver families from their neighborhoods directly to Club Rendezvous, steps from the Zephyr Lift, where they can store equipment and warm up at day's end.

The preparations for three new series of Colonnade Communities homes at Rendezvous in Winter Park are topped by the new luxurious BigHorn Cabin series, featuring 2-car garages and walk-out lower levels with great areas for entertaining with wet bar, and for kids/guest bunkrooms. "These are homes that will offer maximum flexibility for hosting friends and family," said Neale. "And the home sites will be some of our most exceptional, with westerly views of Byers Peak and the valley." 

Prices for the inventory ProngHorn Town­homes are $449,900 and $469,900. Colonnade Communities will offer future homes in the collection at pre-sale prices from $419,900. For information contact the Rendezvous Discovery Center at 970-726-8200.

Artist's rendition of a new series of ElkHorn Townhomes, to be priced from the mid-$300s

Article for Rendezvous Homeowner Newsletter, by: Mark Samuelson

Koelbel Urban Homes, offering family-sized contemporary-styled attached row homes near Old South Pearl and Harvard Gulch, close to urban dining; 3 and 4-bedroom, 2,500 and 3,100 sq. ft. 

• South Sherman from $489,900; South Pearl from $622,000 
• TOUR:  By appointment 
• PHONE:  303-995-6363   EMAIL:  silvio@KoelbelCo.com

In popular Denver city areas like Highlands and Observatory Park, young families in small, older houses weigh their options as their kids grow toward school years:  'Why don't we take another look at suburban projects or at the big master-plans, where space costs less?'  Meanwhile, that question has planners at Koelbel and Company looking the opposite way - back at those older neighborhoods with their mature trees and fun little shopping districts, devising ways to deliver larger homes there at prices those families can afford.

Two of those opportunities come on the market this weekend, as Koelbel launches Koelbel Urban Homes, with family sized plans created for traditional city sites close South Pearl Street's shopping/dining district.  "This is an area that has maintained momentum right through the slower market," says Carl Koelbel, Director of Development at Koelbel Urban Homes.  "We're seeing a psychographic shift in favor of neighborhoods like this, with many qualified families who really love what they have now, but who move away because they can't find anything affordable."

Koelbel has six homes coming on line (a check was taken on one as soon as the new series was announced) in two locations:  The first is in Platt Park right on Pearl Street, a few blocks south of the shopping district, where two contemporary, attached homes are far enough along that visitors can tour them by appointment this weekend.  No's 2043 and 2045 S. Pearl are each in the 3,100 square-foot finished range -- four bedrooms and five baths, each showing an entertainment-styled kitchen-great room with fireplace, a rooftop deck that can glimpse the mountains, and 2-car garage.  They're priced from $622,000.

"Anybody that follows the custom home market around Pearl knows that this is a great price for this space," says Silvio DeBartolomeis, Koelbel Vice President of Sales, who can give tours by appointment. 

A mile south in Harvard Gulch, Koelbel is prepping a hillside site along S. Sherman Street for four more contemporary attached homes, ready to start construction for early spring delivery.  No's 2625 to 2637 S. Sherman are each 3-bedroom/3-bath with 2-car garages, ranging from around 2,500 square feet.  They'll be priced from $489,000.

All six homes are designed around sites that allow family outdoor living space, but that will be lower maintenance...something that works not only for young professionals dividing time between jobs and kids, but also for empty nest buyers who are giving up larger homes in Denver or Arapahoe County, in favor of the same neighborhood attractions.  "They're attracted to a smaller backyard," says Carl Koelbel.  "They may want to garden, but they don't want to be consumed by maintenance."

Buyers in either area will like the proximity to South Pearl's Sunday farmer's market and eating attractions such as Sushi Den and Park Burger.  Families in the S. Sherman homes will find themselves just a block from Denver's sprawling Harvard Gulch Park, and close to a new Starbucks and other dining attractions arriving along S. Broadway.

Meanwhile, the Koelbel team is already evaluating sites for new Koelbel Urban Homes offerings in the LoHi area of Highlands -- attainably priced row homes with roof decks.   "We have a company history of building in Denver city neighborhoods that goes back 59 years," says DeBartolomeis.  "This is a cool product, in a natural place for us."  He can offer advance tours of the S. Pearl homes nearing completion, as well as the S. Sherman site, by calling 303-995-6363.

PHOTO:  Koelbel Urban Homes starts construction this month on four contemporary attached homes on S. Sherman Street near Harvard Gulch Park.  Two larger homes are nearing completion on S. Pearl in Platt Park.

Article written by:  Mark Samuelson, Denver Post 9-30-2011