Joelle Varnum A MESSAGE FROM THE GRAND SUMMIT CONDO ASSOCIATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Greetings! We hope your year is off to an exceptional start and that you’ve had time to enjoy the Grand Summit and the slopes of Sunday River.
We want to start out with a big thank you! Many owners have been observing the incredible recovery work that has gone on across the Sunday River Resort after the massive storm ravaged the area just a month ago. The commitment of every single Sunday River employee to restore the mountain facilities and operations, roads, and infrastructure is nothing short of remarkable. Please join the Board in recognizing their amazing work and thanking them for all their efforts to recover and rebuild our shared “Happy Place”.
We are glad to be sharing an update about specific capital improvements. The Board has been working diligently since last fall to develop a revised approach to room renovations and upgrading the heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) system. We’re writing today with an update on our plans and progress. This is the first of many regular updates you will receive as the renovations progress.
The work continues. Since June 2023, after a majority of owners did not vote in support of the 9-month comprehensive renovation plan that required bank financing, the Board of Directors, in consultation with the VP of Lodging, and the Grand Summit General Manager and Maintenance Director has given much consideration to:
- The results of the owner survey conducted in August of 2023, which showed owners’ highest and lowest priorities for renovation (survey results in separate document)
- Timing and sequencing options, based on performance measures and maintenance costs of our existing equipment and infrastructure
- Alternative funding models
- The Board’s fiduciary obligation (i.e. legal requirement) to protect the assets of the corporation – in this case the multi-million-dollar asset comprising all residential quarter-share units at the Grand Summit
With these factors in mind, the Board is pursuing three specific next steps:
- We are prioritizing an upgrade to the heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) system, which will be designed to reduce energy costs and improve comfort in all seasons.
- We have selected an experienced and well-respected construction project manager through a competitive RFP process who will oversee all aspects of the HVAC and room renovation projects we pursue in order to maximize quality, efficiency, and accountability.
- We are value engineering* the highest priority renovation elements to ensure the design and materials ultimately selected will appropriately balance cost and functionality.
Please stay tuned! We are excited about our progress and the positive engagement of so many owners. We will be in touch with more updates and next steps. Meanwhile, enjoy the skiing, riding, and winter beauty that lies ahead.
Warmly,
Grand Summit Condo Association Board of Directors (Karen, Cindie, Jack, Sean, Joyce, Luci, Dana)
*Value engineering is a systematic analysis of design options that may increase functional value (customer satisfaction), improve quality, or reduce construction, operation, or maintenance costs.