Remember the limbo, that dance contest, where to the beat of music, participants try to slide under a continually lower bar, while not falling backwards or touching the ground?
Well, there’s a mini-boom in residential construction going on right now in Cordova, and for several new homeowners, the goal seems to be: “How high can you go?”
Four new homes are in various stages of planning or construction in the Cabin Ridge Subdivision, which is located on the upper reaches of the hills just south of the Mt. Eyak Ski Area.
With views that are spectacular, the winter-time approaches may be equally breathtaking. For when completed, they will be the highest homes on the mountain.
Ironically, all four are being built by Cordova fisherman, which may lend new meaning to the phrase “highliners,” a term that was historically used to describe the top fishermen for each cannery.
Shawn Gilman’s is currently the highest. Built into a wall of rock that required considerable excavation by Eagle Contracting, the uniquely designed three-story structure is now framed up, and towering over the skyline.
To the south and roughly level with the second floor of Gilman’s home, Pip Fillingham has a completed pad ready for residential construction; while below and in front of him, Derek Blake has Eagle Contracting developing access and lots for a future home.
Eagle has also been busy extending a road to land above and north of Gilman’s place that belong to James Burton, who despite being the last to evidently enter the race, will eventually have the highest home of all.
Construction is also taking place a bit lower down the hill on the same area. Josh Hallquist is working on a 44×24 two story-home for Mark Hall, a retired Department of Natural Resources employee.
Just above that, local contractor Marty Koker has teamed up with Pat McDonough to build a 30×40 garage/warehouse for “two boats and a car,” directly behind his large log chalet, which was originally built by Linden O’Toole 10 years ago. McDonough is a retired landscape contractor from Colorado.
It was O’Toole, of Cordova Realty, who spent 12 years developing the properties, including extending roads, sewer, water and power to all 22 lots in the area.
Before there was even road access, local fisherman Steve Vican began developing a homesite on the lower hillside in acreage that at one time was the location of the original rope tow and ski area. Perhaps unnoticed by most Cordovans, is his 30×30 two-story home tucked into the forest on land he purchased back in 2000.
Back in the early 1900s, when the townsite of Cordova was first surveyed and developed, homes higher on the hill belonged to some of the city’s key developers.
For example, the large two-story home on the corner of Council and Fourth Avenue on the way up to the Ski Hill that is owned by Diane Ujioka, originally belonged to George Hazlett, one of the founders of the city.
Hazlett was among a group of five Valdez businessmen who selected the current townsite in 1905. He had arrived in Valdez in 1898 and spent time in that area prospecting and mining.
Hazlett helped map out the Cordova townsite and built the home in 1910. He became Cordova’s first mayor and was a member of townsite trustees for the rest of his life.
New homes are also popping up elsewhere on Mt. Eyak’s slopes. One is Dan Scott’s place, overlooking Copper River Seafoods facilities.
For the past nine years, using heavy equipment, Scott has been chipping away at a large rock bluff across from Copper River’s boat warehouse, and extending a road a quarter mile back into the hillside. Using his own sawmill to process spruce and hemlock cut down in the effort, Scott has already completed a small cottage part way back on the road, and is now building a 38×40 two-story home, mainly out of material he milled and planed himself.
The view — and the drive up to it — are impressive.
Scott has also renovated an old log dam at the far end of his road that was used as a water source for canneries in the area and has long-range plans to build a main lodge and rental cabins in the area.
Meanwhile, another fisherman is building somewhat closer to sea level. Kory Blake is in the process of constructing a 28×42 two-story home on Eighth Street off Lake Avenue, with large picture windows on the upper level providing a great view of Heney Range.
It all adds up to a mini-boom in residential development that is keeping local contractors busy, and also adding to the city tax rolls.“For the past five years, there’s been quite a bit of industrial development,” City Planner Leif Stavig said. “Now it seems to be more so with residential growth, which is a great and positive sign for Cordova.”
