For this edition of That Thing About Fernie, we’re talking with Carol Cohen; a long-time Fernie resident (who also happens to be married to Fernie Alpine Resort General Manager Andy Cohen). Carol is a highly experienced Realtor who has recently stepped into the role of Developer’s Representative for Timber Landing, a luxurious new neighbourhood of single-family homes that will become the standard for design excellence at Fernie Alpine Resort.
How did you find your way to Fernie, and when did you get involved in real estate development?
I was friends with Matt Mosteller (RCR, Senior VP of Marketing & Resort Development) when we were both ski coaching back at Whistler in the mid-1980s. Matt moved beyond coaching to launch his career in ski marketing and we kept in touch over the years. In 1997, he asked my husband Andy to come out and invest in Kimberley and Fernie’s on mountain development. Andy then went on to become the Kimberley Resort’s general manager. We lived in Kimberley for 8 years, during which time I helped launch the Tall Pines second home development on land that we had purchased when we first arrived. Kimberley and Fernie were both previously locally-owned resorts with very little in the way of on-slope accommodation. We raised our three kids in Kimberley, and then Murray Edwards, RCR’s owner, transferred Andy to Fernie once the kids graduated from high school. We currently live in one of the Timber Landing properties, so if you buy up here, we’ll probably be neighbours!
What’s the lay of the land like around Fernie; I know we have the ski resort and the lure of ski in and out properties, but what else are people looking at these days?
When we came here 30 years ago, that was the last big wave of development on the hill really until about 2018. As the resort matured, it started to offer a range of fabulous on-slope accommodations. Initially, owners of these units – they were mostly condos/townhomes – were granted use of their property for limited stays and the rest of the time, the units were put into a rental pool. However, over time, the strata owners decided to drop the annual restriction. These are wealthier homeowners who don’t want to share their units with others during peak season. That’s where Timber Landing comes in, the lots are large enough that you could build a rental suite either as part of the house or as a carriage house and put it on Air BNB to help defray the cost of your project.
Thinking of the Resort as its separate community, how did it develop? Are their old-time A-frames inter-mixed with 10,000-square-foot cabins?
Not really, Fernie’s history is a bit different than other resorts. The ski hill was patronized largely by the local miners and townspeople. Very few skiers came from away; there was very little marketing done until Charlie bought the place. Charlie developed Fernie as a four-season destination resort, but that came at a tough time. Condo units were built in the village, and the owners who got in early have done very well in terms of investment. There were none of the A-frames and typical ski cabins that you’d find at other ski hills because the town is very close to the mountain.
Where, traditionally, have people come from – are there locals who purchase for revenue income and seasonal visitors looking for a second home – is there much of a retirement community? What amenities might people be most attracted to?
Well, these are certainly legacy-style properties that are right out of a real estate marketing brochure. A family member will buy a lot and build a second home that can accommodate plenty of family members and friends. These are people from all over: the USA, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary. Of course, they might use the place during holidays and weekends but then either rent it out to other friends or family members.
Then, we have younger families, most of them from Calgary, who want ski-in and ski-out convenience. Most of their kids are in the winter-long ski programs. The keener parents can be first on the hill, and they can look after the kids and take them home for lunch after ski programs are over. No one has to be killing time in a cafeteria waiting for a spouse to be done skiing; your home is there for you to enjoy at any time.
How do these specific SFH lots fit into the current Fernie mix-up on the hill? Are there other ski-in/ski-out options? What are Timber Landing’s features/advantages/ benefits?
This is the third phase of Timber Landing, built on land that Charlie Locke purchased decades ago. The first phase happened in 2018, and the second phase was in 2020. I was asked to sell out to the first 50 lots. Currently, I work for RCR as the developer’s representative for Phase 3. Right now, we’re selling lots in Phase 3A. It’s been a slower uptake due to rising interest rates and economic uncertainty.
How does the process work regarding permitting, architectural guidelines, density, building size, etc.?
Before breaking ground on a new home, owners and their builders will have to go through a design review process with the developer to ensure that all of the architectural and building footprints remain in character with the Timber Landing esthetic. I can provide a personal introduction and then work with a highly reputable contracting firm for the building process. We have a minimum sq footprint of 1250n sq feet. Most homes in the earlier stages were in the 3,000- 5.000 square-foot range, and some even 12,000 sqft.
Can you provide a bit of a visual description of where the lots are located and what views/sightlines they might provide?
All of these lots have a view of the mountain; although some trees might need to be removed from the property to make that happen. The upper lots, which will be released later, probably have the best views of all. To discourage lot flipping, owners are required to start building within three years of purchase.
Are there any aspects of living in Fernie that have surprised you?
When you are moving to Fernie, you’re moving to a real community that is founded upon outdoor activities: not just skiing but golf, mountain biking, running, fishing, arts, you name it. People are passionate about the outdoors, here. It used to be all about ‘going big’ but I think as that generation of baby boomers had kids, the need to constantly prove yourself has mellowed.
Find out more about the Timber Landing development on the RCR Properties website.
