February 2012
Over The River update
February 21st, 2012 — OTR Project Team UpdateIn the months since BLM issued its Record of Decision (ROD), Christo and the Over The River team have been focused on the next phases of the project. This includes development of the Event Management Plans (EMP’s) for the initial phases of the project (staging, anchor and Anchor Transition Frame installation), applying for the county permits and finalizing the installation schedule. As we have been working on these tasks, a couple of things have become increasingly apparent.
First, the public continues to express a strong desire to see the specifics of the EMP’s that are being developed. These plans will include operational details that address the many traffic, safety and other issues that have been raised. Typically, this level of detail is not included in an EIS but is usually in an EMP that is developed after a ROD has been issued. That is the process we are following, but the EMP’s for the initial installation phases won’t be fully developed for some months. This leaves little time between completion of each phase of the EMP and the onset of each phase of installation. Christo believes that the public may not have sufficient time to understand this detailed information before installation begins.
Second, the thoroughness of the BLM’s environmental review process resulted in the ROD being issued several months later than originally planned. As a result, the BLM’s Final EIS authorized 28 months for installation, but only 24 months remained. This timeframe also included many months where work was prohibited in certain areas or otherwise restricted because of mitigation measures designed to avoid sensitive wildlife and recreation seasons. The planning activities since the issuance of the ROD made it increasingly apparent that the remaining installation schedule of 24 months did not allow room for unpredictable events such as severe weather.
For these reasons, Christo has decided to shift the Over The River exhibition date from early August 2014 to early August 2015. This adjustment will allow the EMP’s for the initial project phases to be developed before installation begins so that the public will have time to better understand how traffic, safety and other issues will be addressed. It will also reinstate the full 28 month installation schedule, as included in the Final EIS.
All other aspects of Over The River remain unchanged. The number of installation days remains the same and the comprehensive set of more than 100 mitigation measures will remain in place. The Fremont County, Chaffee County, Colorado Department of Transportation and Colorado State Patrol permitting processes will continue as planned.
Christo understands that this news may be disappointing to thousands of local residents and many thousands of art enthusiasts around the world who are looking forward to experiencing Over The River. Nonetheless, this change will result in a better informed public and an improved installation schedule.
An overview of the permitting, installation, exhibition and removal schedule is available on the Over The River website.
Cañon City looks at Christo’s Arkansas River project “like hitting the lottery”
February 12th, 2012The Denver Post
By Jason Blevins
New York. Miami. Paris. Berlin. Cañon City.
The prison-heavy Fremont County seat will get a once-in-a-lifetime chance to play in the big leagues of tourism if final approval is granted for artist Christo’s plan to drape the Arkansas River just upstream from the Royal Gorge.
For most towns, rising even briefly to the level of international destinations like Miami, Berlin, New York City or Paris — all locales where Christo has displayed his large-scale draping art — takes decades of planning, building and delivering. For Cañon City, it could take a mere two weeks in August 2014.
“It’s like winning the lottery,” said Doug Shane, executive director of the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce and board member of the Fremont County Tourism Council. “This takes us to a whole other level.”
Read the complete article on The Denver Post website.
Thank you from Christo
February 7th, 2012 — OTR Project Team Update
Following last week’s public hearings, Christo and the OTR team want to thank our many supporters for encouraging Fremont County to approve the Over The River Temporary Use Permit.
Hundreds of you took the time to write supportive letters and participate in the public process. It was an absolute pleasure to hear so many of you articulate the cultural and community benefits associated with Over The River. Christo and the team greatly enjoyed listening to you share your personal experiences and connections to this temporary work of art and the beautiful Arkansas River Valley landscape.
At the hearing on Feb. 2, Fremont County extended the public comment period until this Thursday, Feb. 9. This means you still have time to express your support and urge Fremont County to approve the Over The River permit via email (planning@fremontco.com) or U.S. mail (Fremont County Planning and Zoning Department, 615 Macon Avenue, Room 210, Cañon City, CO 81212). If you need ideas about what to include in your comment, click here.
Your support is deeply appreciated by Christo and the entire OTR team. We will continue to keep you informed as the Over The River permitting process moves forward. Thank you!