Soapbox: Aspen Club wrong site for lodging

ASPEN — The Aspen Club and Spa real estate deal is a Trojan horse. Before the gift horse was dragged into the gates of Troy and the Greeks jumped out in the night to sack the city, a Trojan warned, “I fear the Greeks even when they bear gifts.” This is the third time that the threat of losing the “community gift” of the club, use by locals, jobs and an Aspen homespun business tradition have been used as reasons to put more jumbo “homes,” and now timeshares, into the East End. And, lordy, lordy, townhomes could be built instead. Aspen Club membership is already too costly for most locals. In addition, the developers are not guaranteeing that the club will remain if they get what they want. Apparently they can turn around and sell those development rights in a package. The danger here is the first intrusion of a commercial... [read full story]