Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — For years, Routt County residents speculated about when Stagecoach, once shadowed by bankruptcy and bust, would come back to life.

If initial interest in The Neighborhoods at Young's Peak is any indication, Stagecoach is well on its way to becoming a thriving community.

In just three days, potential buyers reserved more than half of 31 available lots. There will be 111 lots in the subdivision, which will border Routt County roads 16 and 212.

"This is unheard of," said listing broker Chris Wittemyer, who has dealt in Stagecoach-area properties for 20 years.

Reservations on lots, which range between about $92,000 and $150,000 and average about half an acre, emphasize the pent up demand for affordable property in the vicinity of Steamboat Springs and other resort towns, he said.

"I think it shows the demand for Western Slope properties not geared toward millionaires," Wittemyer said.

Routt County Commissioners this week will consider final approval of the Young's Peak project, slated for 93 acres of meadows and rolling hills bordering Coyote Run, Eagle's Nest, Wagon Wheel and Meadowgreen at Stagecoach developments.

Don't expect a cookie cutter development: Developer Brian Stahl plans to create visually pleasing neighborhoods with "new urbanism" elements that accommodate active lifestyles and connections among residents, Wittemyer said.

Twenty-five acres of open space and more than two miles of soft-surface trails will intermingle with neighborhoods and tunnel under paved roads. There also will be a large community green.

Neighborhoods, for the most part, are designed around the topography of the land, which will offer varying views from every lot, said Jim Walters, a member of Wittemyer's marketing team.

All lots have an added bonus: Prices include pre-paid water and sewer tap fees or the option to build a caretaker unit on an attached or detached garage.

Residents at Young's Peak also will enjoy nearby amenities, including a convenience store and market planned adjacent to the project on C.R. 212.

Stahl donated 10 acres of land north of C.R. 16 to the South Routt School District. District officials anticipate a growing need for a school in Stagecoach but have no immediate plans for the land.

Overall, Stagecoach is becoming a viable option for young families seeking a good quality of life and elbowroom, Wittemyer said.

"It's really turned a corner on being accepted and desired," he said.

Stahl hopes to break ground on roads and utilities in The Neighborhoods at Young's Peak in spring 2006.

Potential buyers can reserve lots for $2,500. For more information, call Wittemyer, Walters or Melisa Owens at Prudential Steamboat Realty, 879-8100.

-- To reach Tamera Manzanares, call 871-4204 or e-mail tmanzanares@steamboatpilot.com