Aspenize

v. (of a city or town) to become, or cause to become, tourist-oriented, especially in such a way as to grow unaffordable or unlivable for workers or native residents. Subjects: English, United States, Money & Finance, Urban Planning & Zoning

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Citations: 1962 Los Angeles Times (WS11) (Nov. 4) “Wisconsin Town Faces Dilemma in Ski Resort, Mining Decision” (in Mellen, Wisconsin): The development group feels Whittlesey stands as the key to a successful tourist industry if mining fails. Their aim is to “Aspenize” the town and preserve the atmosphere of a northern Wisconsin community. 1984 Wayne King @ Bisbee, Arizona New York Times (Feb. 20) “Forgotten Arizona Town Girds To Resist Tourism”: Great numbers of the newcomers object strenously to what is termed “the Aspenizing of Bisbee” and the effects of a tourist boom on a dirt-cheap economy that one city councilman estimates is 75 percent dependent on food stamps. 1993 Kevin McCullen Rocky Mountain News (Denver, Colorado) (Mar. 21) “Resettlement Of West Lures New Pioneers” p. 10: People say they don’t want to Aspenize the county, pricing our workers and the natives out. 1996 Ellen Dudley, Eric Seaborg American Discoveries (Oct.) p. 128: Now about 2,600 eked out a living in this town that was still true grit—no resorts and no pretensions. We liked the lack of tourist kitsch or miner chic. A little grim on this wet day—but real. Definitely not another Aspenized enclave. 2006 Felicia Megdal Payson Roundup (Arizona) (July 25) “Future building hinges on council action”: The planning industry has a term for it: “Aspenizing.” “You’re getting so affluent you can’t live there,” Carpenter said. “Nobody can live there.” Restrictive zoning in the celebrity-laden resort town of Aspen, Colo. priced out its work force. So, workers live in outlying communities and commute, some up to 100 miles a day.

Posted 31 Jul 06 | Permalink | Tell a Friend