By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Despite overwhelming and steadfast opposition from Girdwood residents, the Anchorage Assembly approved a proposal Wednesday for a sprawling, 60-acre subdivision dubbed "Holtan Hills".

Members debated just over an hour before voting 9-3 in favor of a three-phase plan for single-family homes, duplexes and condominiums that would be carved out of a rainforest between Crow Creek Road and the Girdwood School.

Supporters of Holtan Hills said market forces, the development's profit-sharing arrangement with the municipality and "price points" of smaller lots in the $2.1 million sale made the housing venture desirable. Further delays, they said, would only harm the developers ``business model".

Other members gave variations of a familiar talking point used by proponents of the land disposal: any housing is better than no housing.

"I think every time we are looking at bringing in more housing density we are going to be asked and pressed for more time and all the while the housing crisis looms in the background and goes unaddressed. I think the time is now," said member Dan Volland.

The Holtan Hills plan has been widely criticized for its failure to address Girdwood's need for affordable and, especially, workforce housing, as well as its lack of public process, its reliance on out-dated plans, and its disregard for Girdwood's limited local services.

Residents testified that homes in the subdivision would end up as short term rentals or so-called "dark homes'. Currently 70 percent of Girdwood's homes are unoccupied, according to data compiled by Girdwood's Board of Supervisors.

But some assembly members argued anyone can buy Holtan Hills lots, including Girdwood residents.

"Every lot is for a Girdwood resident," said Assembly member Kevin Cross.

Based on current real estate prices, the cheapest residence would cost more than $800,000, said Jennifer Wingard, co-chair of Girdwood's Board of Supervisors.

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

A heliport and munitions depots filled with up to 20 tons of explosives are planned for construction at the foot of Orca Mountain, 0.8-mile from Old Girdwood, to improve avalanche control along Turnagain Arm.

In a presentation before Girdwood's Land Use Committee, Timothy Glassett, manager of DOT's avalanche program, said the Howitzer cannons the department currently uses are no longer viable. 

Technicians from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson no longer maintain the cannons, so DOT has to fly specialists up from Colorado. Meanwhile, the artillery program is getting more expensive, with the cost of ammunition going up "five fold", Glassett said.

Seward Highway has one of the highest avalanche risks affecting traffic in the state. Avalanche experts use a complicated mathematical formula called an "Avalanche Hazard Index" to assess the amount of mitigation required for control. The Seward Highway along Turnagain Arm has an index one-and-a-half times greater than that of Thompson Pass, near Valdez.

Before a section of Seward highway near Girdwood was moved to tidewater, it was the most dangerous highway in North America, Glassett said.

Glassett showed a video of a massive avalanche racing down the Peterson runout just south of Girdwood and across Turnagain Arm. There were audible gasps from the audience.

DOT's avalanche control division is trying to get funding for a newer method of control, Remote Avalanche Control Systems (RACS), which detonates explosives over a snowpack.

By Soren Wuerth

TNews Editor

Alyeska Resort announced it will build a 40-room, dorm-style housing complex near its hotel in the upper valley in coming years, a project that is part of a three-phase housing plan that would add 200 to 300 beds to the valley's rental market.

A Resort spokesperson made the disclosure Wednesday during a meeting of Girdwood's Housing and Economic Committee. Postcards from the Resort advertising a Feb. 7 community meeting began appearing in Girdwood post office boxes this week.

"We wanted to be a part of your conversation in workforce housing and let you know how many units we're planning in the years to come. and, ahead of the community meeting, it makes sense to keep an open dialogue with the [Housing and Economic Committee]," Willam Laurie, a planner for Alyeska's owner Pomeroy, told the group.

The dorm building would be followed by a cluster of six-plex and eight-plex apartments and, eventually, townhomes near the Resort's hotel. All the units would be open to residents of Girdwood and others, Laurie said.

Apartments in the dorm building would each have a bedroom and bathroom. The "co-housing" concept has tenants sharing a kitchen, laundry and communal space. The lower part of the dorm building would be lined with storefront and retail space would be "available to all Girdwood businesses and not just the Resort," Laurie said.

Laurie said the concept follows a survey of Alyeska staff in which the company received "400-500 responses". 

"The upshot was they wanted private space. So private space with affordable housing," Laurie said.

While Laurie was vague on details, his news offers promise to a sorely-needed affordable housing crises, a demand cited by proponents of a massive subdivision of mostly single-family homes they call "Holtan Hills", which would be behind Girdwood's school. The Anchorage Assembly will hear testimony on the Holtan Hills plan Tuesday night.

By Brielle Rice

TNews Contributor

Turnagain News’ first ever Dog of the Month, Raven, is the lucky pup-in-training at Alyeska’s avalanche rescue team. Her owner is Ryan Hutchins-Cabibi, who is Alyeska’s assistant patrol director.

The energetic and playful British black lab was born at the Southern Oaks Kennel, Great Lakes. This bundle of energy has come really far; her training started with puppy classes in Anchorage, but now she is learning about how to locate survivors, and communicate with ski patrollers. 

“[Avalanche training] full time since August,” says Hutchins-Cabibi, in an interview with him (and Raven) last Wednesday. “What we are trying to do with Raven, and both of the avalanche dogs, is train them to find human scent buried under snow. It is really important here because Alyeska is considered a Class A resort in the avalanche world, and that means that most of our terrain is either avalanche terrain, it’s possible to avalanche, or is threatened from above.” 

By Jon Scudder and Anneliese Kupfrien

TNews Contributors

Alyeska Resort recently hosted a mesmerizing Torchlight Parade and Fireworks display New Year’s eve, creating an enchanting spectacle that captivated both locals and visitors alike. The event, held under the crisp winter night sky, showcased the resort's commitment to providing unforgettable experiences for winter enthusiasts.

One of those snowboarders, was photographer Anneliese Kufrian, who captured the event and thoroughly enjoyed the evening, “It was sure a good time,” she said.

Read the story and see more photos at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/spectacular-torchlight-and-fireworks-illuminate-alyeska-resort

By Jennifer Wingard

It’s back. Certain Assembly members recently revived a substantial disposal of the Girdwood Valley’s most developable lands, the Holtan Hills parcels. The debate the disposal caused last year has been characterized by a vociferous few as local “NIMBYs” blocking affordable housing. It’s time to put that fable to rest. The project’s supporters claimed that its lowest-price condos in the first 60-acre phase would start at $500,000, an estimate that was either poorly researched or deliberately misleading. Actual comparisons for similar condos in the area were at least a quarter of a million dollars higher then, and now exceed $800,000.

Read more of the Opinion at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-its-past-time-to-reimagine-anchorages-heritage-land-bank

By Brooke Lavender

In the quest for suitable spaces to address the pressing need for workforce housing, the Girdwood Housing and Economic Group found itself contemplating an unexpected location-the soccer field near Moose Meadows. Nestled in an area endowed with utility access, a flat terrain, and proximity to public transportation, this site emerged as a candidate for affordable housing development.

Recognizing the scarcity of viable locations and the importance of community input, the group explored the possibility, acknowledging that this was merely a discussion. The intention was never to deprive local children of their soccer field, but rather to propose a land swap that would relocate the field near the park and softball area. The idea was discussed several times at the GHEC meeting which is a public meeting that occurs monthly. All community members are encouraged and invited to come and collaborate.

Despite the group's altruistic efforts, some community members directed harsh criticism towards the volunteer committee, which I will add that I am a part of, that dedicate a lot of their time (for free!) to enhance the community. This underscores the challenges faced by those striving to address housing issues, and the need for constructive dialogue and participation in shaping a better future for all.

Read the entire Opinion at:

https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/opinion-navigating-workforce-housing-challenges