At the Lake: Storm hits with another on the way

After weeks of wait and worry, the Sierra was hit with a significant winter storm on Thursday, dumping more than a foot of snow at ski areas with more on the way.

The system moved into the Lake Tahoe Basin after midnight and will end by this afternoon, sans a few showers, according to the National Weather Service in Reno.

Another storm is expected to land in the Sierra by late Saturday, with about 6 inches expected at lake level and a foot or more above 7,000 feet.

Ski areas such as Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Heavenly Mountain Resort and Sierra-at-Tahoe have reported between 12 and 16 inches of new snow on their mountains.

"We've been patient with the weather gods, and they got the message - loud and clear," said Patrick Kaler, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. "It's snowing big, the conditions are awesome, and it's clearing in time for the weekend. Skiers, riders, the destination " we all just hit the jackpot."

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, nine inches of snow fell at lake level in South Lake Tahoe.

Avalanche danger could increase to the level of "Considerable" on Friday. For more information please see:

www.SierraAvalancheCenter.org.

The South Lake Tahoe premier of two area filmmakers' documentary about the growing pains of resort communities will be hosted by The Sierra Nevada Alliance at Lake Tahoe Community College on Friday evening.

Darin Campbell's and Hunter Syke's film, "Resorting to Madness: Taking Back Our Mountain Communities," looks at impacts of the similar patterns of development found in ski towns across the U.S.

Much of the film focuses on the societal and environmental impacts of ski resorts' desires to further expand into public land and increase their development of luxury real-estate properties.

"Resorting to Madness" depicts ski-towns as becoming hollow shells of their former selves because the people who made it a vibrant community in the first place can no longer afford the cost of living.

"The top 10 counties in terms of the increase in housing prices during the 1990's: #1 was New York City, but numbers 2 through 10 were resort communities," according to Jonathan Schechter, executive director of the Charture Institute.

"Even the professionals, the firefighters and the school teachers have to go further and further from the resort area in order to find a place they can afford to live," said Daniel Glick, author of "Powder Burn: Arson, Money and Mystery on Vail Mountain."

The film places much of the blame for skyrocketing property values on the activity of the resorts themselves, with the Vail corporation portrayed as the model of irresponsible development.

Although Kelly Ladyga, spokeswoman for Vail Resorts, had not yet seen the film, she denied Vail's real estate interests drive professionals out of communities like South Lake Tahoe.

"It's in our best interest to ensure that these communities remain a place to live," said Ladyga.

The filmmakers stray from highlighting what they see as the problems of the industry during the latter portion of the film and focus on communities they feel get it right, namely Sundance and Aspen.

One of the filmmakers will be on hand to answer questions about the film at Friday's screening.

A brief discussion about the proposed alternatives in Heavenly's Master Plan and what avenues the community has to voice their opinions will follow the film.

Nationwide, 44 new or expanded centers are in planning or construction, according to the Brookings Institute " with South Lake Tahoe's 12-year-old concept among them.

To the business community, this city's $410 million project set to transform the 12 acres between Highway 50, Cedar, Friday and Stateline Avenues when it breaks ground next May goes way beyond the stats " 367 units in two condominium hotels, a village greenbelt, more than 47,000-square-feet of commercial, mixed-use space and a 4,400-seat arena.

It's the big picture of what the attraction the City Council approved in July for developing a triangle near the casino corridor is expected to do locally. Market projections estimate a $78 million annual boost to the economy.

Carl Ribaudo, a marketer by trade and president of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, refers to the large-scale tourism amenity as one that brings "jobs, jobs and jobs." And this isn't all tied to the estimated 300 estimated in construction " which after millions of dollars dedicated to permits and relocations, is something Lake Tahoe Development Co. anticipates will be massive.

The public-private partnership with the city has all but embraced the South Shore business community seeking a way to bring in visitors in the off seasons of spring and fall. Moreso, business leaders want to create an auxiliary form of commerce from service-related businesses and give the lake a buzz to match the one that stirred a few years ago across the street at the $250 million Marriott-anchored Heavenly Village.

"My wish is to stabilize the economy," Ribaudo said, while strolling the site Thursday with other business stakeholders asked to share their vision. In response to 60 percent of its membership declaring redevelopment as its No. 1 priority, the chamber has scheduled an overall view of the topic from the "Y" to Stateline at its town hall meeting slated for next Wednesday evening at Tahoe Seasons Resort.

Guest panelists will talk about the possibility of using redevelopment for the "Y"-centered Tahoe Valley Community Plan and recreation-based 56-acre project anchored by Campground by the Lake at midtown. An update on the convention center-based Project 3 will be presented by city Redevelopment Manager Gene Palazzo.

Among the condo units, meeting space and nightclub surpassing 9,000 square feet, retail may emulate Heavenly Village.

"The retail mix is critical. If all we do is pop in a bunch of brand names, then we won't distinguish ourselves," Ribaudo said.

Developer attorney Lew Feldman said he expects a refreshing mix of retail that should be consistent and complementary to Heavenly Village. Like many villages popping up in ski towns, the theme appears to follow a blend between known chain names and independents. He provided a hint.

"An overwhelming majority of them could be locally owned and take on a national brand," he said.

No known leasing rates were released.

Touring with Ribaudo, chamber Executive Director Betty "B" Gorman said the project should spur niche marketing of convention center services such as audio/video production companies and local meeting planners. She also believes the prospect of boosting a year-round employment will make the economy more sustainable.

And Doug Rousse of Lake Tahoe Master Framing said he'll await the indirect benefit of that pass-along customers in the slow times of year.

"I'm all for it. This feast or famine is really tough," he said.