While hoping to salvage the remaining cabins of Ketchum's Bald Mountain Lodge, one woman is expanding her preservation efforts to include an Old Town, and has turned to the city for help.
History enthusiast and Ketchum resident Anne Zauner spoke to the Ketchum Historic Preservation Commission during its meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14.
"We're trying to create an Old Town," Zauner said. "It's a very rough concept of a location where we can put these buildings that can't be saved on their current sites. The most promising site is on state-owned land out Ohio Gulch, (but) we're a long way from making this work."
The buildings could be used as an educational campus, or for affordable housing or city offices, she said.
Commissioners expressed initial support for the concept.
"I'd give my right arm to live in one of these old structures," said Commissioner Nan Emerick. "We've got to find some place to put these precious homes."
Emerick agreed to meet with Zauner and Michael David, executive director of Blaine-Ketchum Housing Authority, to discuss ways historic buildings could accommodate community housing units.
David said Thursday he would look at the option of using the cabins for affordable housing.
"I would certainly consider it," he said. "I don't rule anything out. My only hesitation at the start is, they're great buildings, but where do they go?"
Emerick will present her findings at the commission's next meeting in October.
"Please start thinking about how the city of Ketchum can work with other cities and the county to make this happen," Zauner said. "We just have to push this process along."
