Sun Valley, Idaho SperlingViews

Young people living in Sun Valley, unless they have a trust fund can expect to have a difficult time here. The average age seems to be approx 78. Any business that is worth something has gone under or is in the process of going under as the land that the business was occupying is turned into luxury condominiums. Youger people (under 50) are being pushed further and further south. There is a real effor to try and keep these younger people in the community (Sun Valley) where they work. Afforable housing is none existant - new hotels/land developments must set aside approx 10% of their project area for "affordable housing for their workers". But even that is not affordable and not well received by those trying to build large projects in the area. Even the magnet here, Sun Valley resort, is planning to build an extremely large hotel/condo project but are hesitant about affordable housing. It is crazy. The bottom line is Sun Valley is beautiful but very expensive. This town is split into the haves and have nots. The schism is growing daily . You are so focused on trying to stay afloat, working so hard to exist that even though you live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world, you don't look up. Or you do you don't see anything because of all of the fear due to worrying about the next paycheck or lack of opportunity in the town (which basically at the end of a cul-de-sac - like Telluride - so there is not great choice of options for making a living here and that is not including the cyclicality of living in a ski resort town). So basically, if you have a lot of money this is a great place to live but if you don't it is a difficult place to live - everything is geared towards the rich or seasoned citizens. It is a beautiful but very difficult existance, everyine tends to have at least two jobs but three jobs tends to be the average.

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Sun Valley - Retirement Community for the Rich - 5/22/2010

Young people living in Sun Valley, unless they have a trust fund can expect to have a difficult time here. The average age seems to be approx 78. Any business that is worth something has gone under or is in the process of going under as the land that the business was occupying is turned into luxury condominiums. Youger people (under 50) are being pushed further and further south. There is a real effor to try and keep these younger people in the community (Sun Valley) where they work. Afforable housing is none existant - new hotels/land developments must set aside approx 10% of their project area for "affordable housing for their workers". But even that is not affordable and not well received by those trying to build large projects in the area. Even the magnet here, Sun Valley resort, is planning to build an extremely large hotel/condo project but are hesitant about affordable housing. It is crazy. The bottom line is Sun Valley is beautiful but very expensive. This town is split into the haves and have nots. The schism is growing daily . You are so focused on trying to stay afloat, working so hard to exist that even though you live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world, you don't look up. Or you do you don't see anything because of all of the fear due to worrying about the next paycheck or lack of opportunity in the town (which basically at the end of a cul-de-sac - like Telluride - so there is not great choice of options for making a living here and that is not including the cyclicality of living in a ski resort town). So basically, if you have a lot of money this is a great place to live but if you don't it is a difficult place to live - everything is geared towards the rich or seasoned citizens. It is a beautiful but very difficult existance, everyine tends to have at least two jobs but three jobs tends to be the average.[read more...]

Sun Valley....a love/hate relationship! - 9/7/2007

Absolutely beautiful. Nice people. Amazing skiing...all types of recreation for anyone and everyone. Summer temperatures are perfect. It's sunny more than 250 days per year...who can argue with that while skiing powder dumped the night before. Having a whole mountain to yourself while it's dumping snow....thinking you might have found Heaven on Earth! Too expensive...cost of living in no way commensurate with salaries...salaries WAY below national average. Groceries outrageous, horrible produce! Sure, you can get great gourmet foodstuffs, but can you get bananas that don't turn brown after you bought them green, literally two days ago?! People leaving for greener and more affordable pastures making the town of Ketchum almost a ghost town...very sad. Businesses come and go...literally in months or weeks. "Affordable" housing...can't even think of anything to say about this. Visit often, the mountain is never crowded...maybe a bit at holidays but all of the high speed lifts take care of most wait time. It's beautiful in the summer, fall even better...spring isn't even as bad as most mountain towns. Just don't make a serious effort to make a living here or raise a family if you don't come with deep pockets...heck, even half-full pockets cuts it![read more...]

short seasons - 3/9/2006

Winters are long, and summers can be short!!! The physcial beauty of the area is unbeatable, however!!![read more...]

Ridiculous!!! - 3/9/2006

Cost of housing is unbelievably high here!!![read more...]

Expensive - 3/9/2006

Cost of Living is expensive here!!![read more...]