Editorial View

Hines departure gives WSI

more control

It was a surprise to most of us this week when Winter Sports Inc. announced that international real estate firm Hines and WSI are breaking up — an amicable split, public relations officials said.

Hines doesn't want to keep pursuing resort development, and WSI, under new guidance from CEO Fred Jones, is looking for ways to preserve Big Mountain's local flavor and is "rethinking" the scale of further development. Seems like a win-win.

Local folks were just as surprised three years ago when Hines came on the scene, partnering with Big Mountain to build a new $300 million base village complete with 125 homes, 190 townhouses, 140 hotel rooms, some 280 condos and a gigantic convention center. Eyebrows raised, but most Whitefish business owners gave Hines the benefit of the doubt, saying the original ski-resort developers envisioned such a grandiose plan all along for Whitefish.

But there were some who criticized the Hines involvement, saying the corporate giant was here to "Aspenize" Whitefish. Hines did, after all, develop two high-end projects in Aspen in the early 1990s, Aspen Highlands Village and Five Trees.

Whatever the reasons for the Hines departure, it gives Big Mountain an opportunity to be more in control of its own destiny. As we researched growth issues in Park City, Utah, this week for our "The Face of Change" series, city officials in Park City praised Fred Jones (who came here from Park City) for his vision and leadership.

As Hines fades away and Jones steps up to the plate, we'll be watching for that same vision and leadership here as he guides Big Mountain into the future.