By Nancy Milligan

Small Town Living
Where is Basalt, Colorado, and why is it suddenly attracting the attention of national media like The New York Times and Home & Garden TV? This tiny mountain town (population 3,000), located in the Roaring Fork Valley between Glenwood Springs and Aspen, is experiencing a renaissance with an influx of creative, community-minded people drawn to its compelling blend of old-fashioned charm combined with new urban sophistication.

With humble origins as a railroad town in the late 1800s, Basalt existed in relative obscurity for years with a population that hovered around 750. Despite the area’s natural beauty and abundance of outdoor activities—Basalt is situated at the foot of Basalt Mountain and at the confluence of the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan Rivers—the town led a less-than-fashionable existence in the shadow of trendy Aspen, located 16 miles up-valley.

Discovery
When architect John Cottle moved to Basalt in the early 1980s, friends questioned his choice, but he saw value in the small town. "I bought a lot on the river, close to town. I could fish and kayak in my backyard and my kids could walk to school," he says. In 1999, he and the other principals at Cottle Carr Yaw Architects moved the 40-person firm from Aspen to Basalt. "We moved in part so that more of our employees would be able to afford real estate," Cottle says.

In recent years Basalt has become a magnet for architects, designers, builders, artists, and other creative types. Last summer the Wyly Community Art Center moved to town, bringing programs and classes in the visual arts. The Old Town area, with a pleasantly scaled variety of painted wood buildings and brick structures, has become a hip shopping destination. "There are wonderful restaurants and shops, all in walking distance. Basalt is small-town living with flair," says interior designer Michaele Dunsdon.

Renovation and Building
With the number of architects and designers in town, there is a flurry of renovation and thoughtful new building going on, with respect for the town’s historical roots. Dunsdon and her husband, retired builder David Borkenhagen, recently renovated a former general store into a contemporary loftlike abode. Another couple, both architects, bought the Methodist church building and transformed it into their home. Cottle is building a new house, incorporating a section of curved, galvanized roofing to pay homage to an old trailer found on the property. "The funky architectural nonconformities make Basalt more interesting and livable," observes architect Rally Dupps.

Classic Urbanism
Two years ago Dupps and his wife moved to Basalt from Aspen. "This town is like something you only read about—it’s a real community with a pattern of the way people used to live. Everyone has a front porch and we interact with our neighbors every day. Basalt is a cozy hometown, and we’re here to stay," he says. Dupps’s wife, Kathy, who gave up a career in interior design to purchase the local coffee shop, says the secret to this community is the increasing ability to live and work in the same place.

Architect and town councilman Glenn Rappaport agrees. He has lived in Basalt for 14 years and believes the town is now in its heyday. "What has changed is the number of people who work in town, rather than commute to other places. Eighty percent still work elsewhere, but our goal is to diversify the economy and create even more jobs in Basalt."

Mixed Blessing
Residents have seen their houses double in value in the last few years and there is concern that the town may become too expensive for some members of the community. As word spreads—a New York Times article early this year resulted in people scooping up Basalt property sight unseen—the town’s new appeal is viewed as a double-edged sword. "People move here and want to make it great, then the town shows up on the radar screen, driving up prices and changing the economic diversity. It’s a phenomenon seen all over the Rocky Mountain West and we’re caught in that place right now," Rappaport says. "We want to be smart about the tough decisions ahead and balance how we grow as a community."