Invigorating Vail Village
Renderings courtesy of Solaris
Solaris, seen above in an artist’s rendering, will feature 79 luxury condominium residences, a two-level shopping center, three-screen cinema, 10-lane bowling alley and, not in this rendering, a 6,500-square-foot ice skating rink.
Come July 4th weekend, Vail Village will get a much-anticipated injection of vitality with the opening of Solaris, a retail/residential complex unlike anything the village has ever seen and occupying the former site of the Crossroads Shopping Center.
From the street, the signature feature of Solaris is the 6,500-square-foot oval ice skating rink situated in the center of Solaris’ plaza. Sandwiched between East Meadow Drive and the building’s sweeping façade, the rink is bound to become a winter playground for kids of all ages.
And the fun doesn’t stop when the weather warms. Each summer the rink turns into a community park. Covered with turf, the park features areas for sitting and for summertime games, art shows and musical performances.
The ice rink/park is surrounded by a plaza, itself a gathering area with its umbrella-covered tables and two interactive sculptures by renowned artist Lawrence Argent, creator of the acclaimed Big Blue Bear at the Denver Convention Center.
Facing the plaza is a two-level shopping center that follows the structure’s arched façade. A new Vail Village shopping experience, the center features a retail mix that is “Colorado specific,” according to sales and marketing director Craig Cohn. At press time, approximately 65 percent of the 18 to 20 commercial spaces in the 70,000-square-foot center already had been leased.
Many of the tenants — ranging from ski and sportswear shops to jewelry stores, interior design showrooms and art galleries — will have storefronts along the broad promenade stretching the entire length of the building’s second level. People friendly, the promenade combines intimate “living room” areas and outdoor cafes and with panoramic views of Vail Village, Vail Mountain, the Gore Range, and the activities on the plaza below.
Solaris’ yet-to-be-named “premier” restaurant, part of the project’s dramatic two-level grand lobby, is located at the center of the promenade. Operated by one of Vail’s most renowned restaurateurs, the restaurant offers diners those incomparable views through a 24’ x 55’ “window wall,” part of which can be retracted during spring and summer for al fresco dining.
But it is the center’s two entertainment venues — “CinéBistro” and the bõl bowling alley — that are sure to get the broadest mix of clientele. The three-screen CinéBistro gives new meaning to the phrase “dinner and a movie.” With extra wide reclining seats (30” as opposed to the more traditional 18”), each theater resembles more a plush studio screening room than an ordinary theater.
Operated by Cobb Theaters, known nationally for its upscale, state-of-the-art cinemas, these intimate theaters offer advance, online seat reservations and a restaurant and bar. Moreover, patrons can dine in the restaurant or order meals from their seats, each of which has a built-in tray.
The bowling alley isn’t your garden variety either. Complete with its own full service restaurant, DJ booth, this facility features ten lanes, many of which can be enclosed for private parties.
Cohn explains amenities such as the bowling alley and cinema, neither of which is currently available in Vail, will provide visitors and locals attractive recreational options.
He also notes public parking is available: of the 310-space underground parking facility, most are for the public, and parking is complimentary for patrons of Solaris’ shops and restaurants.
However, Solaris’ raison d'être is the residential component that occupies the project’s upper levels and includes 79 wholly owned, luxury condominiums ranging in size from studios to six-bedroom penthouses and 925 to 6,650 square feet.
Like Solaris’ commercial areas, the residences were designed to be family friendly. Developer Peter Knobel realizes many of Vail’s second-homeowners use their residences for family gatherings, which often are multi-generational. That is part of the appeal of ownership in resort such as Vail. Thus, Solaris’ residences are larger than usual for Vail Village to make room for additional guests, nannies or extended family members.
Features include stone fireplaces, gourmet kitchens, floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood and stone floors, cherry wood casework, custom doors throughout, luxurious baths, climate controlled wine storage, superior wall and floor insulation and the latest in electronic and communications systems.
Complementing the Solaris experience is an impressive menu of services and amenities that ensure residents and guests a hassle-free vacation experience.
Among these are an indoor pool, superbly appointed fitness room, spa services, front desk and concierge service, pre-arrival shopping, daily maid service if desired, valet parking, and dog-walking services.
“The intention,” says Cohn, “was to provide a five-star hotel experience without hotel rooms.”
Solaris’ central location also is a major selling point. Purchasers appreciate the fact their children can play in a safe, pedestrianized environment within easy walking distance of all of Vail’s attractions. Plus an on-site stop on the town’s free bus system greatly lessens the need for a car.
Finally, though Solaris’ physical structure is large, especially by Vail Village standards, its innovative design projects a more intimate appearance
. Dormer windows, gabled roofs and varying roof heights, intricate detailing and a mix of alpine-inspired siding materials combine to reflect a warmth consistent with ambiance of Vail Village.
At press time, 55 of Solaris’ 79 residences had been sold at prices ranging from approximately $1,400,000 for a one-bedroom condominium to $19,200,000 for a six-bedroom penthouse, an impressive feat given the country’s current economic climate.
For more information about Solaris, call 970-479-6000, visit Solaris or stop by the Vail Village office at One Willow Bridge Road.
A model residence will be available this winter.
Thirty-eight-year Vail Valley resident Don Berger is editor of Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine, Colorado Summit Magazine and Rocky Mountain Golf Magazine.
