With the framing nearing completion, potential buyers are now able to imagine the type of living that Steamboat Springs developer Paul Franklin envisioned when designing The Olympian.
"For a buyer to be able to get their eyes around something tangible is very important for them," Franklin said. "Seeing the floor plans and renderings for the building is enough for some people who are considering a purchase. Others want to walk around, check out the amazing views and really take it in before making a decision."
The Olympian is being built on the northwest corner of Fifth and Yampa streets directly across from the Yampa River, the Core Trail path and historic Howelsen Hill. Howelsen is the longest continually running ski area west of the Mississippi River. The skiers who train their served as the inspiration for the name of the building.
"We have more Olympians coming out of Steamboat than anywhere else," Franklin said.
To further tie in the Olympic theme and to support future Olympians, money generated by a transfer fee of 0.5 sales will be given to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Approximately $147,000 is expected to be generated for the club, which has sent 65 athletes to the Olympics, more than any other club in the country.
Of the 23 residential units available in the 41,000-square-foot mixed-use building, six are already under contract. Three of the units are being built to comply with the city's affordable housing requirements.
The price of the market-rate units ranges from $636,000 for a two bedroom, one bath third floor unit, to $1,975,000 for a fourth floor nearly 2,000-square-foot penthouse overlooking the Yampa River and Howelsen Park.
"The penthouse units are exceptional," said Tom Wilson, who was chosen by Franklin to sell the properties.
The people that have chosen to purchase a home at The Olympian and those who are looking have been most impressed so far with the location, Wilson said. "The views of Howelsen are completely unobstructed, and residents will be able to avoid the collateral noise generated by traffic on Lincoln Avenue, which is the highway running through downtown," Wilson said. "Being a block off Lincoln is one of the major things that sets us apart from other developments downtown."
Franklin said he is especially proud of this project because the Olympian is an exceptionally-designed building at a landmark location. Underground secure parking, storage space, large heated decks, and the option for buyers to rent the units on a nightly basis are a few of the other features that potential buyers have found attractive in addition to the look of the building.
Franklin enlisted Vertical Arts, a Steamboat architecture firm, to design a building that was reflective of Steamboat’s architectural heritage. "I was looking for a traditional design with some clean, slightly more contemporary features," Franklin said. "In all my projects, I strive to create a look today that will continue to look good 100 years from now."
During the approval process with the city in December 2007, Steamboat city council member Steve Ivancie called The Olympian one of the "best-put-together, and attractive applications I've seen in my five years on council."
Local business owners have also taken notice of The Olympian.
"100 percent of the commercial space on the bottom floor is under contract and being sold to locally-owned retailers," Wilson said. "It's a proud reflection of the location, the developer as well as the design of the building."
Ambiente Home Accents and Gifts is currently located at the base of the Steamboat Ski Area, and has chosen to relocate to the Olympian. A high-end outdoor clothing and accessories store is also relocating into the building as the anchor store, comprising about 3,800-square-feet of space.
Contact Tom Wilson at Prudential Steamboat Realty to schedule a private tour of The Olympian today.
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