Big Burke announcement

[SkiRaceParent]

The hotel is key for Burke. It was what Northern Star realized right before it was too late.

The hope from folks I've talked with is that it be personalized for Burke rather than just a "cut and paste" of the Tram Haus.

Aesthetics to me, from a business standpoint, is secondary. We just need the bed base! Of course, would love for it to fit in but we shall see.

 

[thetrailboss]

Aesthetics to me, from a business standpoint, is secondary. We just need the bed base! Of course, would love for it to fit in but we shall see.

Right, but Burke's strength has been its image and character. If you screw it up with a "cut and paste" job you become just another ski area making marketing tougher.

I get what you're saying though about the need. Absolutely. But it should be done right.

 

[SkiRaceParent]

Right, but Burke's strength has been its image and character. If you screw it up with a "cut and paste" job you become just another ski area.

I hear ya, but just another ski area, that is still open, might not be a bad outcome! I just want to see the construction equipment arrive and I'll breathe a huge sigh of relief. My over/under is second week of July.

 

[from_the_NEK]

The hope from folks I've talked with is that it be personalized for Burke rather than just a "cut and paste" of the Tram Haus.

That was a big part of the discussion during the panel session last year. The ship has pretty much sailed on the design of the new lodge hotel. At this point a redesign means a whole new round of Act 250 permitting since the exterior design is one of the criteria for approval. The Tram Haus is a nice design. True I wish the new lodge at Burke wasn't going to be EXACTLY like the Tram Haus but it could be worse. What design would you recommend? A faux barn (see Sugarbush). Maybe a giant sugarhouse?

 

[SkiRaceParent]

That was a big part of the discussion during the panel session last year. The ship has pretty much sailed on the design of the new lodge hotel. At this point a redesign means a whole new round of Act 250 permitting since the exterior design is one of the criteria for approval. The Tram Haus is a nice design. True I wish the new lodge at Burke wasn't going to be EXACTLY like the Tram Haus but it could be worse. What design would you recommend? A faux barn (see Sugarbush). Maybe a giant sugarhouse?

Yes, I'm pretty certain the design is set. The important thing to me is that the views of the gap were going to be highlighted in the lobby area which seems like its part of the current design. I know everyone views the NEK as rustic and homogeneous from an exterior style standpoint but the fact of the matter is that you see every kind of building (residential and commercial) design around here. Thus, except for those looking for an Epcot Center effect of having every building look like what you envision that country should look like, i think we get what we get and shouldn't be upset.

 

[VTKilarney]

I should hope that people are happy for a hotel, and they don't micro-analyze the design.

 

[thetrailboss]

That was a big part of the discussion during the panel session last year. The ship has pretty much sailed on the design of the new lodge hotel. At this point a redesign means a whole new round of Act 250 permitting since the exterior design is one of the criteria for approval. The Tram Haus is a nice design. True I wish the new lodge at Burke wasn't going to be EXACTLY like the Tram Haus but it could be worse. What design would you recommend? A faux barn (see Sugarbush). Maybe a giant sugarhouse?

What do you think is Burke?

In my mind it would be the gray clapboarding that they used to have on the lodges with white trim.

 

[VTKilarney]

Don't regional centers allow construction to commence before UCIS approval?

See: https://iiusa.org/blog/government-a...emo-published-30-2013-robert-divine-iiusa-vp/

So is the holdup more funding related or are investors skittish of eventual approval?

 

[from_the_NEK]

Don't regional centers allow construction to commence before UCIS approval?

I'm sure they do but why stick your neck out like that?

 

[thetrailboss]

I'm sure they do but why stick your neck out like that?

"They" as in Stenger and Company?

 

[from_the_NEK]

"They" as in Stenger and Company?

That was a reply to VTK's post. As for the grey clapboard with white trim color scheme, it is only that. A color scheme. I suppose they could paint the new lodge those colors.

 

[thetrailboss]

That was a reply to VTK's post. As for the grey clapboard with white trim color scheme, it is only that. A color scheme. I suppose they could paint the new lodge those colors.

True. I don't know what kind of architecture would be Burke. I really don't know. It would be very simple though I imagine.

 

[VTKilarney]

The condos have no common style.

 

[thetrailboss]

The condos have no common style.

Very true. In part because they were built at different times by different ownership.

 

[buellski]

Andrew,

What is the meaning of life and how will it impact EB5 funding?

42, but I have no idea how it will impact EB5 funding.

 

[VTKilarney]

My take, which may be completely wrong:
1) The delay is due to primarily to a lack of funding.
2) They are working aggressively to get funding (trips to China with influential people, a trip to Vietnam, etc.)
3) They believe that they will have funding in place to commence construction this summer.

I think the USCIS issue is a red herring. The regional centers are supposed to vet the projects for USCIS compliance. There have been no issues with Vermont's regional center. If anything, they have a great track record. Jay Peak's projects have all ultimately passed the USCIS test, as far as I know.

I could be wrong about this, however, because things have indeed changed over at USCIS. They are going from 9 relatively untrained (in economics) people to 55 very well trained people to review these projects. I can understand that this may make an investor skittish to commit their funds prior to actual USCIS approval.

One way or the other, if Burke does not break ground this summer, they have now built in their excuse - the Feds. The VT Digger piece was not an investigatory piece. So the question is whether or not Stenger and Quiros put this seed out to cook an excuse, or if the USCIS is really a factor for the delay.

 

[Masskier]

Well, just when you think you got it figured out, they go and change the web site again.

"Construction of the new 116-suite Hotel Burke is scheduled to begin in June 2014, under the direction of PeakCM, whose President and Owner - Jerry Davis - was responsible for building the Tram Haus Lodge, Hotel Jay and Pumphouse Indoor Waterpark at Jay Peak. The new Hotel Burke will take inspiration from the Tram Haus Lodge at Jay Peak, but have a connection to Burke that is obvious and important. The Hotel and Conference center will open in November of 2015."

 

[VTKilarney]

Maybe their trip to Asia has been fruitful.

On April 21, Peak CM announced that they will be breaking ground this spring.

 

[fbrissette]

Whatever the reason, this is good news.

 

[from_the_NEK]

For those that haven't seen this before, here is a rendering I did in Google Earth: