As the valley continues to grow in popularity, attracting visitors and potential residents alike, business is booming. Restaurants, shops and various services are hanging their shingles, but there’s one problem: it’s difficult to find people to work at existing establishments, much less these new businesses.
On Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 2 and 3, the NIMBY Jamboree will address this issue, collaboratively. A day and a half interactive program, the Jamboree has been designed to bring together a diverse cross-section of public and private members of the development community to engage participants and explore the problems, possibilities and solutions to achieving sustainable workforce housing.
NIMBY, which stands for “not in my back yard,” refers to a type of person who objects to something that they perceive as unpleasant when it’s located near them — but has no problem with it existing elsewhere. Workforce housing is an issue that attracts a lot of comments from NIMBYs in Vail, but they’re often a vocal minority. These sessions, which range from a panel discussion led by experts who have created successful projects to breakout discussions designed to educate and illuminate, are designed to help move past difference and discuss real solutions to the issues that the community is currently facing.
“The Vail Symposium’s mission is to provide educational programs for the Vail Valley community that are thought-provoking,” said Kris Sabel, executive director for the Vail Symposium. “I can’t think of another topic that impacts our community as much as workforce housing. We’re thrilled to be partnering with the Vail Valley Partnership to host this conversation and, hopefully, develop some real solutions.”
The NIMBY Jamboree is presented by the Vail Symposium and the Vail Valley Partnership and is underwritten with support from the Vail Board of Realtors.
“It’s important for our community to remain competitive to support our business community,” said Chris Romer, president of the Vail Valley Partnership. “Workforce and affordable housing has long been an issue in Eagle County, and addressing our affordable housing issue is essential to the continued success and growth of our community. The Jamboree gives us an opportunity to address this issue.”
The NIMBY Jamboree will take place at the Antlers at Vail. Sessions will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will include field trips to Miller Ranch and Lion’s Ridge Apartment homes. The event concludes on Thursday, Aug. 3 with a Town Hall meeting from 8 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. on affordable workforce housing, community impacts, and other related follow-up issues. This two-way conversation will not only provide local residents and others an opportunity to ask the experts questions that pertain to their unique situations, but will also provide the planners and developers with direct information as to what the end users of affordable housing in the Valley are looking for and what they expect in the next five years.
For a complete schedule, including topics that will be discussed and descriptions of breakout, please visit www.vailsymposium.org
IF YOU GO…
What: NIMBY Jamboree
Where: Antlers at Vail, Elk Room
When: Wednesday, August 2: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Thursday, August 3: 8 – 11:45 a.m.
Cost: $25 per session; $50 for all three sessions; $150 for professionals, which includes 11.5 LU/HSW continuing education credits available through the American Institute of Architects, Colorado Chapter.
For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit www.vailsymposium.org or call 970.476.0954.