It's no secret, and it is not up for debate. We are going luxury. From the Boulder Bay project renovating the Biltmore by the lake, to the Ritz-Carlton at Northstar, to Placer County's vision for the entire North Shore, these high-end properties will bring clientele that price out most of our local residents.
But we do not want to suffer the same pitfalls as the Aspens of the world, who lost its identity in the 90s when its leaders traded local residents for fur shops and real estate offices. To this day, workers are forced to live at least 30 minutes away from the reason they moved to the mountains, ensuring that the same lifestyle that put Aspen on the map no longer exists. So let's learn from them instead. Here's advice from one long-term Aspen resident on what Tahoe should do:
“In the next decade,” he said, “Tahoe will need to recruit and facilitate long-term, diverse industries. You must implement coordinated policies to protect local businesses and workforce — like affordable housing and rent programs — in order to welcome in the new era of luxury in good conscience. And most importantly, you will always need to improve your environments for shopping local — which includes affordable rents, interesting inventory and a good workforce. If we had done that before, and not after the luxury invasion, I'd still live in Aspen, and that's where my children would be growing up.”
These tenets he speaks about will only become more challenging to accomplish as the region changes.
In the next decade, luxury will be booking itself a permanent stay in the region, and the mint on the pillow will not be meant for locals. Our “mint” will be public policies handed down by leaders to protect our quality of life, and our opportunity to live in such a beautiful place. So let's learn from Aspen, instead of repeating it.
Coutesy, the Sierra Sun
