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Aspen’s Sky Hotel developers formalize latest height reduction

Karl Herchenroeder
The Aspen Times

The proposal to redevelop the Sky Hotel is now absent any variance requests as lodge representatives have formalized a new plan that reduces the structure’s height from 45 feet to within code at 40 feet.

Plans submitted Wednesday by the Sky Hotel include a 50-foot elevator, an element seen in previous submissions. Long range planner Jessica Garrow said the elevator meets requirements because the lodge zone district includes a 10-foot exception.

The 90-room Sky Hotel, located at 709 E. Durant Ave., is currently 34 feet tall and 43,605-square-feet in floor area. The latest plan would see the floor area increased to about 91,550 square feet, which is within the lot’s 92,700 square-foot allowance, and the number of lodge units increased to 104. The total number of units includes 11 fractional ownership rooms. Additionally, plans include two affordable-housing units and no free-market residential units.



The re-submission marks the second height concession Sky developers have made during the application process. On Dec. 2, Sky owners hip lowered the height of the proposed east wing from 41 feet to around 34 feet. That portion of the hotel neighbors the Chateau Chaumont and Chateau Dumont, two properties where owners have adamantly opposed visual and structural impacts of the proposal as well as noise expected from the project’s rooftop swimming pool.

Hotel representative John Sarpa said Monday that the latest alteration, like the first, was a response to neighbors, the council and the community.




“It’s obviously in response to ongoing discussions with our neighbors and very clear comments that the City Council had made and of course the general sentiment in the community and sensitivity about heights,” he said.

He added that hotel representation is looking forward to continuing the discussion with the council Jan. 12, when the next hearing is scheduled.

Representing chateau ownership, attorney Jody Edwards called the Sky’s latest revision “another good step.” He said he couldn’t comment on whether the new structure fits in with the neighborhood, but he plans to speak at the Jan. 12 meeting.

“We’re in discussions with the developer, and I can’t comment on the status of those discussions,” Edwards said.

Garrow said the rooftop-deck design, located in the west wing of the building, includes a 10-foot trellis structure above the hotel’s bar area. She said the structure, along with its movable amenities, such as chairs and tables, are allowed.

herk@aspentimes.com