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Volume 15, Number 35
October 5 - 11, 2023
Seeing the Forest Service for the trees By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent
Construction on the new Aspen-Sopris Ranger District buildings in Carbondale is one step closer to becoming reality. The White River National Forest (WRNF) awarded a $6.3 million contract to Dare-Case Contracting Services LLC of Grand Junction on Sept. 28 — one day after WRNF Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams signed a new decision memo for the project. And, the plan to demolish the existing, 84-year old buildings
and remove landmark trees from the lot at the corner of Weant Blvd and Main has attracted the attention of local residents. Close to 100 people attended the Aug. 22 Carbondale Board of Town Trustees (BOTT) meeting where Kevin Warner, district ranger for the Aspen/Sopris Ranger District, updated the trustees about the project. Most of those who spoke after Warner were upset about losing mature trees on the property to make room for a building they said would render Carbondale unrecognizable. “We are losing what I would call a cultural landscape,” said Laura Kirk. “It is
something that has defined the character of our town as you enter on Main Street.” The original project design included taking a wrecking ball to all buildings on the lot, pulling out seven trees, including the spruce trees facing Main Street, and staging the new building to accommodate a drive-through for large vehicles. In May 2023, the WRNF told The Sopris Sun it will attempt to save the “community tree” at the corner of Weant and Main.
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