Some architects report better business

EAGLE COUNTY While the local construction business was still booming a few years ago, work for architects had started to dry up. Today, some of those professionals say theyre starting to get busy again.

Steve Isom runs Eagle-based Isom and Associates, a combination land-planning and architecture company. Isom said his group is a good deal busier than it was three years ago, when not much beyond remodeling jobs and a few additions were being planned.

Theres been a surprising amount of conversation going on now, Isom said. People havent built in five years.

HOME PRICES CHANGING

Isom said he expects the price of new construction to equal, or fall behind, the price of existing construction. The fact that existing home prices have fallen across much of the price spectrum is part of whats been holding back new construction, he said.

Thats already starting to change, at least in places.

Down in Gypsum, theyre actually building places cheaper than you can buy one right now, Isom said.

And, while the high-end real estate market is lagging this year units priced at $500,000 and less are selling relatively quickly there is some action at that end of the market.

Isom said his company is working on a handful of high-end projects from the Vail Valley to the Roaring Fork Valley and down toward Rifle. In Vail, architect Kyle Webb said his company KH Webb and Associates is also fairly busy.

Return of Extravagant

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Some architects report better business