HOSPITALITY:

The small boutique family winery is an integral part of the embryonic Lake Chelan wine tourism. These small wineries will not achieve their full economic potential without the amenities in their community that a world class wine destination provides. The only way many of them can survive and thrive is to increase tasting room sales. The success of wine tourism in the Chelan Valley, will ultimately be determined not only by the quality of our wine but our ability to provide ultra-premium amenities to attract the wine tourist throughout the year. These amenities are necessary to break the long established seasonal nature of Chelan tourism.

Development of a world class spa resort overlooking Lake Chelan could provide an invaluable economic base for the Chelan Valley. This facility would include Tuscan style hospitality lodges and villas. Amenities would include a spa facility with indoor and outdoor pools, restaurant, multi-purpose meeting facilities, walking/biking paths and surrounding vineyards to maintain the Tuscan rural ambiance. Tuscan villas with fireplaces and spas create a year-around destination. The design and scale of this project would create a world class all-season destination venue.

TUSCAN AGRICULTURAL VILLAGE:

In order to preserve the agricultural legacy of the Chelan Valley, it is necessary to develop a value added agricultural economic base providing opportunities for new and varied crops in the Chelan Valley.

The marketplace would create an authentic, intimate boutique Italian market shopping experience. Planting of organic gardens, herb gardens, flower gardens and vegetable gardens surrounding the Tuscan market will promote use of local agricultural products with definite Italian cuisine. In summer an authentic Italian market experience could feature fresh cut flowers, antique push carts for product display and a European farmer market atmosphere. Crops such as tomatoes, corn, herbs, fresh vegetables in addition to the usual tree fruits would be featured in season and incorporated into recipes taught in the cooking classes. In addition to cooking classes, organic gardening, flower arrangement food/wine pairing classes could be conducted on a regular basis.

The project concept is designed to create an atmosphere to give visitors a small Italian village shopping experience where food is considered a basic art form. An Italian piazza with gardens and landscaping, water features, Italian fountains that invite walking could feature authentic outdoor pizza ovens, Italian Deli, chocolate shop, bakery/pastries, cheese shop, organic produce, herb shop etc. The project will be designed for residents and visitors to experience the pleasure of leisurely shopping an Italian market and the joy of great food products from the Chelan Valley.

The Agricultural Village will be a mixed-use project containing multi-family units located above the ground floor retail commercial activities.

SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE:
 
In addition to ample plantings of wine grapes, a wide variety of agricultural crops and products will be produced in the preserved agriculture lands.  The Evans family will continue to transform their existing operations on The Sunshine Farm into a diverse and sustainable farm.  Existing organic vegetable and fresh-cut flower production will be expanded to 8 to 10 acres.  Organic tree-fruit production will take place on another 10 acres.  An artisan goat dairy will produce high quality cheeses from a 30-40 head herd of milk goats. 
 
These operations will be holistic in nature and closely interconnected.  As an example, the manure from the goat barn will be composted with wastes from the vegetable fields to provide rich fertilizer for next year’s crops. This composting activity will be aerobic (‘with air’ – through regular turnings) so that pathogens and weed seeds are neutralized in the high-temperature process.  Additionally, aerobic composting produces a pleasant fresh-earth smell as it breaks down the manure and crop wastes making it a ‘neighbor-friendly’ activity.
 
Given that the average food-item in the grocery store travels 1,500 miles from field to plate, and that energy costs will most likely continue to rise in the future, a sustainable farm within the Tuscan village makes good, sustainable – and very tasty – sense.

LEARNING & CULTURAL CENTER

Working in tandem with the agricultural village, the Sunshine Institute Learning and Cultural Center will be a venue that could be used for organic and sustainable farming courses, cooking classes that utilize local products, art shows, and many other cultural events.  Like Tsillan Cellars and Tunnel Hill Winery, the Institute will capitalize on the views and agrarian ambiance of the Golden Mile to provide a gathering space of world-class proportions.

As an adjunct to the Institute, the relocation of the Chelan Valley Independent School (CVIS) to a portion of the site is an option under consideration.  This relocation would provide the school with a permanent home in the valley and the learning center with additional facilities to utilize in the summer months for classes and workshops.

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL:

Single family residential development will adhere to cluster development that encourages sense of community and ties to the land. Walking and bicycling paths will tie in the residential communities to the hospitality and “village” amenities. The extension of vineyards to create a true vineyard living experience will be a value added feature of the development. Home size and architectural standards that assure environmental and aesthetic qualities will be defined consistent with the existing Tuscan/European character of the project.

CONDO VILLAGE MODULES:

The “baby boomer” demographic moving to Chelan suggests a lifestyle that no longer demands yard and home maintenance. In addition many people retiring to the Chelan Valley will spend the winter in warmer winter retreats such as Arizona and the California desert. Tuscan condominium villages could have significant appeal to those wishing to have carefree security while they are gone. This concept could be used to dramatic effect by designing the condo module to replicate Tuscan hillside villages. The percentage allocation of the overall project to this concept versus single family cluster modules should remain flexible in response to market dynamics.

In response to the challenges of affordable housing in the valley, the Evans family is committed to creating 25 multi-family units using an equity-limited home ownership model.  This commitment will provide the opportunity of home-ownership to teachers, nurses, farmers and other community members who are increasingly priced out of the valley in which they work.  The well-proven equity-limited structure will ensure affordability to future homeowners.

SUMMARY

The almost 300 acres can be likened to a blank canvas upon which a cultural, architectural and economic masterpiece can be painted. The owners of these properties are committed to working with all appropriate agencies to assure the most thoughtful stewardship of these properties.

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