Ginn Brings In New Management

It seems Ginn's presence will be felt a little less around Burke Mountain. The Florida real estate developer announced recently that they would be handing over management and development operations of Burke Mountain to another firm. Ginn has never been known for its ski resort development, they have always focused on the sunnier side of real estate. However, Crave Real Estate, is just the opposite. A Montreal based company led by Lorne Bassel, their focus is mainly four season mountain resorts. Unlike Ginn, Bassel's team is well versed in this type of cold weather development. Bassel was former executive vice president of Intrawest Corporation, and considered a leading expert in the creation of village centered resorts. He has led development at Whistler-Blackcomb, Mammoth, Tremblant, and even left his imprint on Vermont with Stratton Mountain Resort. The question many are asking is whether Ginn is taking steps to permanently relieve themselves from Burke, or if this is a genuine attempt to call in expert help. It is no secret that Ginn has had financial problems in the past. They have handed over management of two their other resort communities in Florida, and had to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy on others. Tim Mcguire, Ginns Vice President for Development at Burke, has reassured everyone that this in fact is good news, and that now is the perfect time to bring Crave's expertise to the development table. They expect to move forward with Act 250 permits and plan to reassess the scope of the project in the near future.

Town Office Expansion Draws Concerns

Progress on the Burke Town Office expansion has slowed since town meeting day. Fear of hasty planning has brought about concerns from the abutting property owner. A 235,000 dollar price tag for the project was overwhelmingly passed by Australian ballot on town meeting day. It appeared this had set the stage for quick action. The plan is for an addition to the existing building that would house a community building and a senior meal site. Roger Laramee, owner of the property next to the office, feels the town should consider more than just the construction. In a letter he wrote to the Development Review Board, he stated, "This project has been hurried along by the select board so as to be on the town warning." His main concern was a lack of information available to the DRB. Without this information, architecture designs, building placement, driveway and parking plans, and so on, he feels the DRB may have made a rash decision. He and his wife are hoping the town will enact limits on the hours of use for the building and think of ways to reduce traffic flow on the small residential street. They expect the senior meal site will be used more heavily than the DRB has noted. The town is attempting to address these concerns while moving forward with the project.

Kingdom Trails Expansion

Burke is not the only local entity to see change. Kingdom Trails, on a more positive note, will be adding a mile and a half of new dirt to its award winning trail system. On June 6th, National Trail Day, they will dedicate this new path in honor of Robert A. Burnham, a former interim president at Lyndon State College. Burnham Down, the new trails name, will connect Burke Mountain to the Village of Burke. Director Tim Tierney says the new trail will provide a much needed addition. The connection between the two locations will bring convenience and much easier access. However, eager peddlers have no need to wait until June to ride. Much of the trail system opened on May 1st. The only trails left closed are those located on the mountain, where lingering snow and moist soil create a situation that could damage both the trails and the riders. When asked whether the recent management changes at Burke may cause concerns for the trails system, Tierney emphatically said no. He feels they could easily re-route certain trails if location ever became a problem. Right now Kingdom Trails is focused on expansion and dedication to the existing system. This approach is working too. Tierney says they have seen about a twenty percent increase in daypass purchases every year for the past five years. He says this year should be no different.