Two local men are looking to start a new whitewater rafting company that would take customers down sections of the Crystal and Roaring Fork rivers.
Author Archives: Brent Gardner-Smith
Brent Gardner-Smith founded Aspen Journalism in 2011. He also served as AJ’s first executive director, from 2011 until 2021, and as its first editor, until 2020. He's also been the news director at Aspen Public Radio and a reporter at The Aspen Times and the Aspen Daily News. Brent also worked at ProPublica in 2010, as a communications intern, while earning his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri.
Base Village owners want to lower its valuation by $94M
SNOWMASS VILLAGE — The Pitkin County assessor has estimated the value of the properties in Base Village, now held by four European banks in the name of Snowmass BV HoldCo, to be $190 million. But the banks’ representatives have appealed a portion of the county’s valuation to the state and are seeking to shave $94 […]
Aspen property owners give millions to Romney super PAC
Of the nearly $37 million raised by the super PAC supporting Romney, Restore Our Future, over $4.85 million — 13 percent of the total — came from people who own luxury homes in Pitkin County.
Related loses appeal in suit against Hypo
A panel of judges in a New York state appeals court Feb. 16 unanimously dismissed $406 million in damage claims from an entity controlled by The Related Cos. against Hypo Real Estate Capital Corp. and three other Base Village lenders.
Base Village receivership ends, project still for sale
SNOWMASS VILLAGE — A chapter in the ongoing saga of Base Village quietly ended on Jan. 28 when a local judge officially approved of the “winding up” of a court-appointed receivership.
Groups call for new stream gauges to measure rivers
Two groups critical of the city of Aspen’s proposed hydropower plant along the banks of Castle Creek are now raising funds to install stream gauges on that stream, as well as Maroon Creek.
Local donors to Colorado congressional races
Public information from the Federal Election Commission shows that in 2011, Aspenites made 99 donations to Rep. Scott Tipton (R-Cortez), totaling $50,322. In the same year, they made 79 donations totaling $20,585 to Sal Pace, Tipton’s Democratic challenger.
The Related Cos. refutes charges from Hypo over bonds tied to Base Village metro districts
SNOWMASS VILLAGE — Attorneys for The Related Cos. have responded to charges in a lawsuit by its European lenders that it fraudulently moved $32.5 million tied to bonds issued by the Base Village metro districts from one corporate entity to another.
Aspen’s request for faster review of hydro draws opposition
The city of Aspen’s request to the feds to use an expedited review process for its Castle Creek hydroelectric project has run into stiff opposition
Top end of the Aspen market strong in 2011
ASPEN – For many watching Aspen-area real estate, 2011 will be remembered for its large volume of high-end home sales. Twenty-two residential properties in the upper Roaring Fork Valley changed hands for $10 million or more last year — equivalent to nearly two each month.