Rollingstone Village: Project Story
Vertical Arts, April 2008
The design concept for Rollingstone Village was inspired by the current introspective atmosphere of the site, with a heavy emphasis on preserving existing environmental and historical features. Mature vegetation and the feeling of seclusion within the site provide a calming and natural experience that will serve as touchstone for the project.
Located behind Safeway and between Pine Grove Road and Fish Creek, the 2.79 acres for the proposed project is part of a large subdivision that was created in the late 1960's, which encompassed land from what is now McDonald's and stretching east beyond Pine Grove Road. Known as the Selbe Subdivision, this land included a parcel adjacent to Fish Creek that ultimately became an idyllic homestead for Jim Selbe and his family.
The parcel is heavily wooded with mature evergreen trees, cottonwoods, aspens, and groundcover. Over the years, landowners have taken great care to protect the evergreens from Pine and Spruce beetles, and today most of the large trees are in excellent condition, providing ample shade in the summer. This amount of natural vegetation in an otherwise developed commercial area provides a unique experience, with a feeling much like what is found well outside of the Steamboat Springs city limits.
The site also includes two single-family units, a small welding shop, and some adjacent outbuildings that are small in scale. Jim Selbe's background as a local artisan further provides a mystique to the parcel, with some of his creations drawing inspiration from the rich biodiversity that surrounded his shop.
Ownership of the parcel has changed, but the desirability for preserving the site remains. The parcel is being proposed for re-development but not without taking into consideration all of the elements that make the parcel what it is now. The design philosophy has been to create an intelligent and unique development that will serve the community while preserving zones of vegetation, primary existing buildings and the creek. New proposed buildings have been sited to retain as many of the large conifer trees as feasible, and a commitment to reduce surface paving has been made via an underground parking structure.
Since the majority of the mature trees and larger vegetation are located toward the interior of the site, the project has been laid out with buildings to the outermost areas of the site, away from the creek. This will allow for maximum preservation of green areas and vegetation. Historical preservation is also key to the concept of Rollingstone Village, as the two primary existing structures are being retained and incorporated into the overall concept. The project also strives to enhance community mobility with a new bus stop structure on Pine Grove Road and associated walkways around and through the site that connect to existing periphery pathways. Rollingstone Village will further strive to be a benefit to the community by attaining Public Easement status.
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