Alyeska Drops Employee Housing Plan

By Soren Wuerth
Turnagain News

Following sharp community criticism, Alyeska Resort has paused its plans to develop employee housing below a mountain known for risks of avalanche, according to a senior executive of the resort’s owner, Pomeroy Lodging.

“We got pushback, so we decided to put a stop to [the project],” said Thomas Meding, Pomeroy’s senior vice-president.

The one-and-a-half acre employee housing project, in the Daylodge parking area just below Max’s Mountain, drew written comments from numerous residents, particularly from those living in the area, to the municipal zoning department.

Concerns included avalanche hazard to the proposed development, the loss of available parking, traffic congestion on nearby narrow streets and compromised emergency access, among other issues.

Despite comments, on March 15, the municipal planning department gave conditional permission for the Resort to divide two tracts of land in the area. Before being granted final approval, Alyeska would have to resolve utility easements, provide stream locations, change street names, and pay attention to drainage patterns, among other considerations. The approval also notes that “property is located in an area which is subject to avalanche activity”.

In early April, an anonymous letter was attached to the doors of each of the five members of the Girdwood Board of Supervisors suggesting the firing of Alyeska’s Snow Safety Director Adam Smith was related to his concerns about the employee housing development.

“[Smith’s termination on March 30] is likely related to his tendency to stand up for his employees, the integrity of the avalanche mitigation program and his opposition to their proposed employee housing plan in what is now the Daylodge parking lot,” the letter stated.

Meding declined to comment on Smith’s resignation. He said the current snow safety director, Jeff Bristow, and the remaining team has extensive experience. “Rest assured, our current snow safety team is extremely knowledgeable,” he said.

The housing plan drew the attention of residents when it was brought up at community meetings.

Meding said the Resort is renting other housing in Girdwood and expects to add another 71 units, currently under construction by the Resort’s hotel by this summer.

The Resort houses about 200 of its employees currently, mostly in an apartment complex west of the hotel.

“We’re providing housing for about 50 percent of our employees,” said Meding.

Meding said his company is investigating options to build more employee housing to free up rentals taken in town by Resort workers. He said he wants his employees to stay and build a life in Girdwood.

“We want to be a good partner to the community,” he said.