Bella Biondini

When asked to describe the state of Gunnison’s economy, a collection of residents and business owners chose the word “stagnant.” Over the past few years, businesses on Main Street have shuffled in and out, leaving more storefronts vacant as time went on. In 2024, the City of Gunnison’s sales tax revenue remained mostly flat, and

Mt. Crested Butte now manages 740 short-term rental licenses and a large number of houses sit vacant for most of the year. The prevalence of STR’s adds pressure to a housing market that is already unaffordable, especially in an area where building costs are high and land to build on is increasingly limited. (Photo/GCT)

As soon as early next year, the City of Gunnison may alter its parking regulations downtown and within residential neighborhoods. Parking in downtown Gunnison has been the subject of resident and business owner complaints for years, with arguments for and against the 2-hour parking limit. According to Senior City Planner Andie Ruggera, the parking complaints

At the start of December, Pete Rice took over the City of Gunnison’s Public Works Department. Rice will fill in the role of David Gardner, who retired in November. As the head of public works, Rice will become one of the leads on the city’s ongoing water treatment plant project — the largest, and most

According to the historical records that hang on the walls of the Pioneer Museum display, the early settlers of the Gunnison Country brought Masonry to the valley with them. The local Masonic group recently donated almost a million dollars to the Gunnison community. (Courtesy photo/GCT)

The Gunnison Arts Center launched a $3.8 million capital campaign called “Framing Our Future” in 2019, the organization’s first major fundraising push in more than two decades. The resulting renovation will soon come to an end in early 2025. (Courtesy photo)

To avoid population declines, a new interactive mapping system will help recreation and county planners decide which areas are suitable for development with wildlife in mind. Its creators hope the map preserves what untouched habitat is left. As herds of elk and mule deer roam across the Gunnison Country, they encounter fences, highways and sprawling neighborhoods — all obstacles on their annual migration to the valley floor as winter sets in. Wildlife populations rely on intact blocks of habitat, free from the influence of people and noise, to survive, but these kinds of places are disappearing. If residents want thriving populations in the future, wildlife managers believe more deliberate decision-making may be necessary when it comes to new development on the Western Slope.

At the start of December, Pete Rice took over the City of Gunnison’s Public Works Department. (Courtesy photo)

Gunnison has wrapped up long-term highway planning. (Gunnison Country Times)

In an effort to keep skiers safe, the Crested Butte Avalanche Center (CBAC) has continued to expand its forecasting platform in the North Valley. In Gunnison, Beacon Guidebooks founder Andy Sovick is creating maps that will help members of the outdoor community better understand their risk long before they click into their skis. (Courtesy image)