Ski Resorts
The Affordable Housing Issue
Keeping with the politics theme, apparently…
I came across an interesting snippet
in the Vail Daily News touching on the issue of affordable housing in
the Colorado resort town. I haven’t done much research, but it sounds
like some residents are wary of affordable housing being built in their
neighbourhoods. The Vail Daily News quotes a defending the concept. The
letter points out:
“We have all looked at the evolution of other
mountain resorts… we know that locals can’t compete with
big-city money. Big-city money means higher property values and the
local workforce moving out and then commuting back to work. This
creates a town with no soul.”
mountain resorts… we know that locals can’t compete with
big-city money. Big-city money means higher property values and the
local workforce moving out and then commuting back to work. This
creates a town with no soul.”
I would
argue that this is a major problem in Whistler. The town has become so
popular and commercialized that housing prices have gone through the
roof, making it difficult for local workers to find affordable
accomodations. Instead, many end up living in Pemberton,
a nearby town that is growing quickly, but has intermittent bus service
at best. This makes it a serious pain in the ass for locals to get tow
work, and many of them actually hitchhike in each day. Apparently most
locals don’t think twice about it; the concept of hitchhiking anywhere
in Toronto freaks me out. (If you ever have the chance to visit Pemberton, be sure to visit the Pemberton Hotel,
where the drinks are cheap and adventures are plentiful. I once watched
two guys on horses ride through the bar. How often do you see that?) I also get the impression that some Vancouver residents are becoming more fond of places like Kicking Horse
due to Whistler’s immense popularity. I wonder what Kicking Horse’s
numbers were like this year. I myself will probably stick to Whistler
for at least the next couple of trips, due to its sheer size and fun
factor…
argue that this is a major problem in Whistler. The town has become so
popular and commercialized that housing prices have gone through the
roof, making it difficult for local workers to find affordable
accomodations. Instead, many end up living in Pemberton,
a nearby town that is growing quickly, but has intermittent bus service
at best. This makes it a serious pain in the ass for locals to get tow
work, and many of them actually hitchhike in each day. Apparently most
locals don’t think twice about it; the concept of hitchhiking anywhere
in Toronto freaks me out. (If you ever have the chance to visit Pemberton, be sure to visit the Pemberton Hotel,
where the drinks are cheap and adventures are plentiful. I once watched
two guys on horses ride through the bar. How often do you see that?) I also get the impression that some Vancouver residents are becoming more fond of places like Kicking Horse
due to Whistler’s immense popularity. I wonder what Kicking Horse’s
numbers were like this year. I myself will probably stick to Whistler
for at least the next couple of trips, due to its sheer size and fun
factor…
Discussion
2 comments for “The Affordable Housing Issue”
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Huge industry problem. The Salt Lake area resorts have less of a problem because they are right near the city, but Park City is damned near unaffordable.
Wages that most resorts pay are peanuts. They pay lift line operators $6-7 per hour, but that person gets a free season pass. So we end up with most folks that work at resorts living like Illegal Aliens in the US. 20 single dudes in a 2 bedroom condo all paying $150 a month in rent to afford to live there. Sleeping bags and beer cans.
And all so that some rich guy from Cali or NYC can come in and drop $1000 on a jacket at the ski shop, $2000 on skis, $5000 on a condo rental, and spend the time on the green runs all day.
There are a lot of things that really bother me about the industry and the economics of it. Slowly, the middle class has been priced out of the industry, and furthermore, with $75 lift tickets, most locals cannot even afford a day on the mountain. At $75 per lift ticket day, an average resort worker making $10 an hour has to work an entire eight hour day to be able to afford a lift ticket. The guy working at McDonalds in the resort town cannot afford to ski. No one can. Cuts down on crowds, but makes the sport impossible for anyone but the upper middle class to enjoy.
Sounds very much like Whistler. It seems to me like many folks simply work for the pass. It’s like you have to make a conscious lifestyle choice (work to ride) in order to survive a season out there.
Interesting about the “Richie Riches” you mention, I totally agree. I am by no means loaded, but now I have lots of people saying “snowboarder, eh? You must be rich.” Sooo not true!! But that’s the stigma attached to skiing/snowboard, and I’m not so sure I disagree. There *are* lots of Richie Riches at these places.
Thanks for the comment.
–adam
–adam