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1/1/2011
We want to take the opportunity on this New Year's Day to thank all of our friends, family, followers and supporters for contributing to this community building effort we call South Main. We couldn't do it without you.

10/1/2010
It's an incredibly beautiful time of year on our valley. September had the aspens above town blazing with color; soon the cottonwoods in Buena Vista and along the Arkansas River will peak. There are many areas in the nearby mountains to enjoy turning aspens; here's a photo gallery of colors from a drive to the St. Elmo ghost town. The Colorado Mountain Plein Air Festival was also held in the valley during the peak of aspen colors.

9/1/2010
Is it really September already? Fortunately, around here that means a deep breath after a busy summer and a transition to our valley's beautiful fall weather and colors. Crisp and cool conditions are perfect for rock climbing, mountain biking, and more. Jed recently put up a new rock climb just north of town. And our public climbing boulders are about make their debut in the competitive climbing world when the American Bouldering Series comes to BV on September 11th.

8/1/2010
Beautiful weather, lots of visitors, and fun events are the name of the game during July in Buena Vista. The Collegiate Peaks Music Festival returned to BV this month, bringing new beats from national performers to our increasingly-hip little mountain town. Here's a photo gallery from the event.

7/1/2010
As usual, June in Buena Vista saw the river hit peak flow, an influx of kayakers and visitors and lots of sun. This year the Arkansas hit historic flows and peaked well over 4,000 cfs (cubic feet per second). A few of us had a chance to run the classic Pine Creek/ Numbers at high water. Here's a video of how it went in Pine Creek.

6/1/2010
We are pleased to announce the launch of our new blog, Live from South Main, which will be a dynamic venue where we hope to deepen the South Main story, explore and share with you all the thought, ideas, principles, people and passion that make up South Main. We hope you enjoy the following content from our blog!

5/1/2010
May has arrived, the month that marks the beginning of many exciting developments in the Arkansas Valley. Our town's premier kayaking events, Paddlefest and the BV Pro Rodeo, return from May 28th-31st. Come on out for kayaking instruction, education, sales, live music and a high-flying freestyle competition on our new river park features.

May also marks the beginning of growing season in BV, and we are excited to announce the opening of Colorado Local Market, an online farmer's market that will provide the Arkansas Valley with another great source of local food. Read more here.

Not only are the cold crops germinating in our garden, many native plants are establishing themselves for another season in the river park. Click here to read about Katie Selby Urban's successes reclaiming disturbed land from invasive weeds.

Finally, South Main Vacation Rentals added two new units this month. Check out 903 and 903 1/2 South Main Street here. Happy May Day!

4/1/2010
It was exciting this month to have a new wave of sales activity. With one closing a new lease and four new contracts, we're looking forward not only to continued construction on South Main Street, but also to further progress on River Park Road. This month's featured property, 1107 River Park Road, would be a great location for a 2 or 3 bedroom single family home. Give us a call to discuss plans that would work well on this property.

It's been a snowy March in the Upper Arkansas Valley, which is not only great news for the kayaking and rafting season (our snow pack is now 107% of average), but it's also made for some great back country adventures. Check out this photo gallery of snowmobiling and snowboarding not 20 miles west of BV.

A couple of us had the opportunity recently to visit another New Urbanist project for a marketing conference. Visit our facebook page to view photos from the beautiful project known as Serenbe, just south of Atlanta.

Finally, if you're in the area, be sure to join us on April 11th for a celebration of the local food and farming non-profit Guidestone's Land Link Initiative.

3/1/2010
Spring is on its way, and with it there is a growing sense of excitement and action in South Main. Moving vans for two new families arrived recently; very exciting for us to have new neighbors! With snowmelt and runoff just around the corner, we're thrilled to be putting the final touches on a whole new section of our whitewater park. Click here to see photos.

Buy your tickets now for Eddyline Brewpub's locally-sourced, three-course St. Patrick's Day dinner. Click here to read about Eddyline's crusade to source 85% of their ingredients from within a 200-mile radius.

Also this month, take a tour of The Larimer Building, one of South Main Street's fine live-work buildings which houses Rock Run Gallery on the first floor. This photo gallery gives you a peak at the owners' residential space above Rock Run.

2/1/2010
The designing and building of South Main continued this month, and we have two articles for you that shine a light on the process. First, check out South Main Director of Design Kenny Craft's perspective on The 'Stoop Gable,' a cold climate architectural pattern being incorporated into many of his new designs. Next, check out this piece on a green building product, Structural Insulated Sheathing, which South Main Building Company is using on the home under construction at 800 South Main Street. Both articles feature details that have emerged as best practices as we look for the highest quality ways to build South Main.

Also check out an article on local nonprofit Guidestone's Land Link Program, which aims to connect our valley's next generation of farmers with arable land.

Finally, this grant cycle's last round of in- river improvements to the whitewater park is underway. Spring is not too far off, and we're all looking forward to checking out three new kayaking features when the snow begins to melt.

1/1/2010
South Main has come a long way in the past year. Many new homes were built, Eddyline Restaurant & Brewery opened, the river park was expanded with a second grant; but just as rewarding as any of these milestones has been the growing sense of community. New neighbors, new friends and visitors have taken the dream of South Main and made it real. At its core, the South Main vision is about building community, and this holiday season the sense of community has been strong.

The Art Walk was a wonderful community event, bringing South Main Street and its commercial spaces alive. Fresh snow made for cross country skiing from the doorstep, and visitors made our Vacation Rentals a home away from home.

In other news, check out this insightful perspective on South Main from Steve Mouzon on his Original Green blog.

Finally, here is some macro photography of the Christmas Cactus that kept us company by the fire during the shortest days of the year.

Best wishes for the New year from South Main.

12/1/2009
We are pleased to announce that this month South Main received second place in the Colorado Sustainable Design Awards, sanctioned by the US Green Building Council Colorado and the Urban Land Institute, among others.

We also invite you this month to a Holiday Art Walk and Party on December 12th. The show "Perceptions" will open with music, food and the work of four outstanding Colorado artists in Rock Run Gallery as well as several other commercial spaces on South Main Street.

Become a part of the Holiday Art Walk by entering the community art exhibit "Houses." The project is open to all ages and skill levels, so get out your sketchpad and deliver or mail your entry to the South Main office by December 8th.

Finally, check out this wonderful review of South Main's Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery in the Denver magazine 5280. Also buy a snowflake at Eddyline this holiday season and support their Toys for Tots fundraiser. Cheers!

11/1/2009
South Main got some nice press this month in GOOD magazine's "The GOOD 100," which features the "most important, exciting, and innovative people ideas, and projects making our world better [and] changing the way we live."

We were also excited to have a new home break ground and take shape on South Main Street this month. Click here to read about the 903 South Main Street design.

Additional content this month includes the story of the beautiful new mural at Eddyline Brewpub and a short but sweet video of "Land Paddling" in South Main.

10/1/2009
The fall colors have descended from the mountains, and the Cottonwoods in the River Park are now peaking. Check out our fall colors photo gallery for a virtual taste of the beauty of this season in our area.

Or come experience autumn in our valley for yourself in one of our fine vacation rentals. Our off-season rates go into effect today, with prices discounted as much as 35% from the high season.

The prices may be lower, but cooler autumn temperatures and calm waters make for prime fishing, mountain biking, cycling, hiking and rock climbing in Buena Vista. Click here to watch a video and see pictures of a cyclocross race which passed through the river park last weekend.

It's also harvest season for the farmers of the upper Arkansas Valley, and the third annual Pumpkin Patch Festival will take place this month, celebrating fall with fun and activities for the whole family; check it out if you're in the area.

9/1/2009
The crisp fall air is arriving in the Arkansas Valley as we prepare for a new wave of construction. South Main Building Company has just broken ground on our first courtyard home; we're excited about the design, and we have one more lot in Phase One- 700 Buzz Boulevard- that would be perfect for a similar design.

Our river park improvements continue; we now have holds (generously donated by The Trailhead) for our boulders, which are seeing more climbing use every day; check out these pictures and video of the action. Also in our What's New photo gallery are pictures of 8-year-old Sage Donnelly and 9-year-old Alec Vorhees ripping at the river park this summer. The next phase of whitewater park improvements begins this fall.

We also saw some new media coverage this month, including a front page article in the Denver Post, which you can check out here.

8/1/2009
We were thrilled to have the Collegiate Peaks Music Festival come to the South Main Town Square for the first time this July. The square was a beautiful venue, and the entertainment was great. Click here to check out photos and video of the event.

Since it has been our goal since the beginning to blend South Main seamlessly with Buena Vista's historic downtown, we now have a select offering of property just outside of South Main, a block from historic East Main Street. Check out this historic infill lot on Cedar Street for just $44,900.

It was great to see the interest in our rowhouses last month. Three out of five homes remain available. Let us know if you are interested.

7/1/2009
It's high summer in South Main, and it just keeps getting better. We have three new climbing boulders going in as we speak. They are free and open to the public, and the boulder in the square is officially complete. Come on out!

On the kayaking front, mother nature gave us a nice surprise with some extra high water late in June. The South Main Kayak Team has been taking full advantage. Click here to view our high water freestyle gallery.

If all this sounds like fun to you, this month is your opportunity to buy into South Main. Our River Park Rowhouses are now starting at $244,000, and if you place one under contract this month, we'll give you another $10,000 off. Why? Cause life is too short for a recession to get in the way.

6/1/2009
South Main has taken shape in an amazing way over the past month. Whether it be the new clocktower, the new office, the opening of Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery, or the most successful Paddlefest and BV Pro Rodeo ever, South Main has reached the tipping point in its journey from concept to reality. Meanwhile, our growing pool of Vacation Rentals continues to give guests a first-hand taste of South Main. Come check out the neighborhood sometime- we would love to have you!

5/1/2009
There is much cause for celebration this month in South Main. First, Colorado Kayak Supply's Paddlefest and the BV Pro Rodeo are just around the corner. Both events will take place from May 22nd-24th in downtown Buena Vista, including South Main's River Park Square. It will be a huge kickoff party to celebrate the start of the whitewater boating season, full of river education, entertainment, gear shopping and competition betweeen the world's top professional kayakers.

On top of all the Paddlefest action, Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery will open for business on May 22nd on the South Main square. Click here to read an interview with co-owner Mic Heynekamp on the eve of Eddyline's opening.

Finally, on May 17th South Main will hold a grand opening for our new office, located at 901 South Main Street. Come on out from 4-7 pm for open houses, refreshments sponsored by Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery and the Buena Vista Roastery, and a tour of the neighborhood with South Main co-founders Jed Selby and Katie Selby Urban.

4/1/2009
Buena Vista's high season is just around the corner, which means now is the time to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and lease some of South Main's most distinctive commercial spaces. Open your dream business and join Rock Run Gallery and Eddyline Restaurant & Brewery in defining our neighborhood's emerging commercial scene.  

Spaces ranging from 470 to 1960 square feet are available for lease at 807, 809 and 907 South Main Street. Monthly rent starts at $650.

3/1/2009
South Main is proud to announce the launch of our new Vacation Rentals program. Now, for the first time, you can sample the unique lifestyle that South Main has to offer by staying in one of our neighborhood's beautifully designed, high quality homes. And with Paddlefest and the BV Pro Rodeo (May 22nd-24th) plus the Collegiate Peaks Music Festival (July 25th-26th) all taking place in South Main this season, we will be at the center of the action and a perfect base camp for adventure and festivities. We currently have three homes available for rent and more coming online soon. Click here to check them out and book your stay.

Feeling entrepreneurial? Lease one of our outstanding commercial spaces.

Also, we learned this month that the federal government's economic stimulus bill has sweetened the deal for South Main's first-time home buyers. Move into your new South Main home by December 1st of 2009, and the government will give you an $8,000 tax credit. Click here to learn more.

2/1/2009
The action continues in South Main, and we have some great articles to give you a window into our lives here this month. Lots of new stone masonry has been going in this month, including on the Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery's pizza oven; our business feature sheds light on the artful work of local mason Brad Pranger. Our BV Outdoors article gives you a closer look at the amazing hiking available right out your door in South Main by taking you on a 'virtual walk' across the river on Midland Mountain. For a taste of our local culture we take you to Mothers Bistro on Main Street for one of their weekly live shows with talented local musicians. And finally, we introduce you to South Main's newest residents, Ken and Jeanie Cannon, who just moved into their new home at 903 Swift Circle, pictured above.

12/2/2008
It was a pleasure to have numerous South Main families in their new homes for Thanksgiving, including several families whose homes were recently completed. A dozen or so South Main residents got together for a potluck Thanksgiving dinner with lots of delicious food. Having so many homes lit up over the long weekend, South Main came alive in a new way. As we turn the corner towards Christmas, we are looking forward to having a new skating rink in the River Park Square, and the Larimers have already set the bar high for seasonal lights and decorations. Happy holidays from the South Main team!

11/1/2008
Well, it's official. South Main Building Company has broken ground on the Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery, slated to open in the spring of 2009. The Brewery will front onto the River Park Square, featuring sidewalk seating, wood-fired pizza, and microbrews fermented on-site using Buena Vista's famously pure water. Mic and Molley Heynekamp will own and operate Eddyline. The couple also owns Socorro Springs Brewery in New Mexico. Eddyline Restaurant and Brewery marks a major step in making the South Main dream real. South Main cofounder Jed Selby's initial vision for South Main was based on the desire to live within walking distance of kayaking, pizza and great beer. Next spring, that dream will become reality. We hope you will stop by for some food and a cold one!

10/8/2008
South Main's first business is officially open! Nora Larimer's Rock Run fine art gallery at 902 South Main Street features Nora's watercolors as well as photography, jewelry, pottery, glass, handmade furniture, and rugs from artists across the U.S. Nora's beautifully lit and decorated gallery occupies the first floor of the Larimer's live-work building, constructed by M.E. Reed & Associates. Be sure to stop by on your next visit to South Main!

In other news, check out our most recent offering, the South Main River Park Rowhouses. Located on River Park Road, just a half block from the square, the River Park and the tile Outdoor Living Room, these rowhouses are South Main at its best. Please call the South Main office (719-395-4714) or visit the properties page for more information.

9/1/2008
After three weeks of competition and 32 competition rides, South Main Kayak Team's Dustin Urban has placed third in the World Cup of freestyle kayaking. He finished 5th Sunday at the final event in Thun, Switzerland after winning the previous World Cup event in Augsburg, Germany. Jed Selby paddled well, making the quarter finals at all three events. Visit the South Main Kayak Team site at www.southmainkayakteam.wordpress.com for pictures and updates from their World Cup adventure.

This month we have seen lots of rain that has brought green mountainsides and lots of late flowers. Rowhouses on South Main are also growing like the wildflowers! The corner of South Main and Swift Circle is starting to take shape as Jed's house and the new South Main Neighborhood office is taking on more details daily and across the street, John, Allison, Andrew and Kate are making huge strides of progress with their rowhouses.

8/12/2008
South Main's very own Jed Selby and Dustin Urban will be representing the United States at the World Cup in Europe at three events in August. Check out this month's Community article to read more. You can also follow Jed and Dustin on the new South Main Kayak Team blog, www.southmainkayakteam.wordpress.com , as they represent the US Freestyle Kayak Team in the Czech Republic, Germany and Switzerland. Check the blog regularly from August 15th to 31st for ongoing photo and video updates from the three World Cup events.

7/1/2008
Dustin Urban and Jed Selby qualified for the US Freestyle Kayak Team! The annual FIBArk (First In Boating on the Arkansas) competition, held in Salida last month, served as this year's US Freestyle Kayak Team trials. South Main's very own Dustin Urban and Jed Selby qualified to join the team for this year's World Cup competition in Europe. Congratulations fellas - we're very proud of you! In other news, South Main has been featured in four publications over the past two months. You can download the articles on the South Main website under the "Our Community" tab at the top navigation bar and by clicking the "In the News" tab on the left hand side of the screen. Have a happy Fourth of July!

6/1/2008
Last month brought several new groundbreakings and a streak of hot weather that brought the river up. Some South Main residents helped to organize the first annual BV Pro Rodeo where South Main's very own Dustin Urban took first place against the world's best freestyle kayakers. His wife Katie, took third in the women's division. Chess players now frequent the outdoor living room chess table, and the warm weather means that work on the buildings is happening very quickly. It's a perfect time to ride your bike, walk the trails by the river, take your boat out on the water and enjoy the bountiful flowers. Happy summer!