Confronting Community Changes in Gateway and Natural Amenity Regions BY CHRIS ROMER, PRESIDENT & CEO, VAIL VALLEY PARTNERSHIP THE BOOM OF ZOOM TOWNS including Steamboat Springs, Vail and Breckenridge. GNAR communities often place at least as much value on their community’s character as they do on their surrounding natural amenities. These destinations maintain a strong sense of place and identity, including a “small town feel.” This happens intentionally—through the ways the community Small cities and towns outside of significant natural amenities such as national parks, public lands, ski areas and scenic rivers throughout the western United States are becoming increasingly popular places to visit and live. Naturally, many of these Gateway and Natural Amenity Region (GNAR) communities are found throughout Colorado, interprets and shares its history, designs and maintains built environments, and protects and provides access to recreational opportunities and natural landscapes. As a result of their proximity to popular natural attractions, these communities are grappling with a variety of “big city” issues, including congestion, lack of affordable workforce housing Vail, Colorado 22 Business in Colorado Magazine 2021 KEVIN RUCK/ADOBE STOCK
Business in Colorado May 2021: Page 22
