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Frisco building to be torn down, replaced

ASHLEY DICKSONsummit daily newsSummit County, CO Colorado
Summit Daily/Mark Fox
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FRISCO Things will soon be looking a little greener on the corner of Summit Boulevard and Granite Street, as construction crews prepare to demolish an abandoned shopping complex and break-ground on a new development.Water Tower Place which replaces the 1973-era Frisco Boardwalk building will offer 42 housing units and more than 14,000 square feet of commercial space and will be constructed under the Green Globe Standard, marking Friscos first certified green project. The building design ensures energy efficiency, waste minimization, and long-term sustainability.This is a really great project for the town, and its one of the biggest we have had in recent years, Frisco community planner Suzane Kelley said. The design has been very well thought out and the new area will almost act as an extension to Main St.Water Tower Place will be five separate buildings with an accessible pedestrian plaza in the center. Two of the buildings will be entirely residential, and those buildings facing Granite Street will offer ground-level commercial space in addition to housing units on the second and third floors. The new development will also provide eight affordable housing units, specifically aimed at those who currently work in Frisco. Those units will be priced by the Summit County Housing Authority according to area median incomes. Project owner Paul Verallli, a veterinarian at the Frisco Animal Hospital, began brainstorming development options in 2005, vowing to transform the ugliest corner in Frisco into one of the most attractive parts of town.I approached the town of Frisco with the idea and the decision was made to make it a certified green project, Veralli said. The added cost varies from 5 percent to 8 percent, but the savings will be realized for years to come. It really is a win-win for everyone.Boulder-based company AGR Builders was hired to construct the development, the same construction company that built the Marina Park Condominiums off of Main Street in Frisco. Water Tower Place will offer two and three bedroom residences, ranging from $600,000 to $900,000, and luxury townhomes priced up to $1 million. The properties appeal to those people looking for top-quality living in an area central to all the ski resorts, Slifer Smith & Frampton Real Estate broker Don Thomas said. Thomas also hopes the commercial space available on Granite Street will attract Frisco-based business looking for Main Street appeal. Right now Frisco is limited on Main Street locations, and we believe this new commercial space will provide the same atmosphere and ambiance found in the center of town, Thomas said. This project is creating an amenity and not just a commercial answer.Demolition and construction are slated to begin by the end of the month, and the first priorities for construction crews will be to construct a new road on the south side of the parcel bordering the Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue station. Water Tower Way will replace an alley that previously ran through the property, connecting Granite Street to 8th Avenue. Ashley Dickson can be reached at (970) 668-4629, or at adickson@summitdaily.com.


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