Springs & Co.

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Nov 7, 2005 | by A look inside local business

TRACK SANTA AT THE MALL

The Citadel mall is moving from elves and forest critters to radar and high tech this holiday season, partnering with NORAD for a new Santa Tracker theme at the mall.

The $400,000 cost will be spread over the five years of the partnership and will include a Santa Tracking Station with a 25- foot tree on its roof located at the food court.

NORAD will provide an interactive globe that tracks Santa in six languages and a viewfinder showing an animated Santa and reindeer.

As for the former Simpich winterwonderland theme, you need not fret. The Santa House, elves and animals are being refurbished and sent to the Great Northern Mall in Clay, N.Y.

HELP'S ON THE WAY

Last month's hiring of John Cassiani as point man for the Banning- Lewis Ranch's development on the city's far east side should boost communication between the property's California owners and the public. Cassiani, who's leaving as an Economic Development Corp. executive, is known as outgoing and open.

The ranch's owners? Well, communication hasn't been their strong suit since buying the land in 2001. Speaking at a recent business forum attended by nearly 200 people, a Banning-Lewis executive started to fret about his comments and paused to ask if any news media were present.

AIRPORT PARKING TOO CHEAP?

Airport officials are considering a parking-fee increase next year at the Springs airport. They say fees are so low now that some people are using the airport's long-term parking lot to store recreational vehicles and cars only used occasionally to drive to vacation homes.

The airport's fees of $5 a day for the long-term lot and $8 a day for the short-term lot rank among the lowest in the nation, airport officials said, and haven't changed since April 2002.

Airport staff is studying how much of an increase would be needed. The city council must approve any change in the rates.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jim Bainbridge, Wayne Heilman and Rich Laden.