Assembly Member Zac Johnson addresses Holtan Hills, Girdwood and future
"I never liked this deal and I don't think I ever will."
—Assembly member Zac Johnson
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
This is an interview Turnagain News had with Municipality of Anchorage Assembly Member Zac Johnson. Four days after he challenged his colleagues in the Anchorage Assembly on the merits of a controversial housing development in Girdwood. Turnagain News interviewed Zac Johnson, who represents the community and South Anchorage. The article contains excerpts from our August 16 interview with Johnson.
TNews: Do you have a hard time getting information about the project as an assembly person?
Zac Johnson: No, I'll say the administration and the folks at (the Heritage Land Bank) have been more than willing to sit down and talk through my questions with me. I think that's an advantage of the position I'm in.
Leading up to action last Tuesday, I had several sit downs with HLB and the administration, raising my questions. And for the most part, getting answers to them. So I don't think there's any effort to stonewall there.
I think HLB and the administration are kind of the same. This is the hand they were dealt, right? So it's their job to implement the development agreement and the ordinance that was provided by the assembly. That's just them doing their jobs, essentially.
I guess I would just say in their defense that, one, HLB is a very small department... There's really just three of them there doing all that work.
Read the entire interview at the link below:
Holtan Hills Could be a Money Loser for Muni, Assembly Member Warns
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Given the structure of a deal between a developer and the Municipality of Anchorage on a planned subdivision called "Holtan Hills", the city will likely gain little, break even, or it will stand to lose money, an Assembly member said last week.
The city stands to gain about $1.5 million from the first phase of the project before subtracting expenses, according to data provided publicly for the first time. While the municipality splits proceeds from lot sales, it must subtract costs. For developer Connie Yoshimura revenue from selling lots is profit.
"I don't think this is the way we should be playing with public money because that's what we're doing here," Zac Johnson, who represents Girdwood and South Anchorage said during the meeting. "The risks are real. The costs are real. And, the upside—the benefits—is entirely hypothetical at this point."
Yoshimura, Assembly members and a city spokesperson fired back at Johnson, saying the deal brings new homes, roads and an upgraded sewer system to a valley desperate for housing and infrastructure.
"I am well aware that what Girdwood needs is homes for teachers, for engineers. The calls I get for Girdwood lots... are from people who want to live in Girdwood. They have children that are in the ski program that this project is named after, 'Holtan Hills', Howard Holtan," Yoshimura told the assembly.
In the past four years, 80 percent of the new housing units sold in Girdwood have become unoccupied year round, or "dark homes", and of 25 new condos only one is occupied, Mike Edgington, chair of Girdwood's Board of Supervisors, said in public testimony.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Girdwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue holds Recruiting Open House
By Chief Michelle Weston
Girdwood Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Girdwood Fire is recruiting for new members this fall! Upcoming Recruitment Open House is Aug. 27th at 7 p.m. at the fire hall.
More information at girdwoodfire.comgirdwoodfire.com
Holtan Hills Construction Unearths Decades-Old Landfill
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Workers constructing a municipal access road for a planned subdivision encountered tons of garbage from a landfill that was only partially excavated decades ago.
Crews piled old car parts, crushed propane tanks and other debris into a 20-foot high mound and covered it with a white tarp. The clean up has caused construction delays for road and sewer line access for the 60-acre "Holtan Hills" development, according to a municipal official.
Refuse was uncovered at least two weeks ago. Questions sent to a municipal point-person were answered in a brief response Friday that verified the finding.
"Material needed to be excavated, sorted and tested prior to disposal which has caused a short delay in construction," wrote public involvement coordinator Kenny Friendly. "However, the project is still scheduled to be completed by September 30."
As of Saturday, the material remained on site. Calls and emails sent to a state agency that oversees contaminated sites did not respond to questions as of Friday, so whether the rubbish containes dangerous and toxic contaminates is still unknown.
Though Friendly's email suggested landfill material has been excavated, he wrote in another part of the message that "additional garbage/debris needs to be removed" before paving a road and bike path.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/holtan-hills-construction-unearths-decades-old-landfill
Pickleball tournament is a smash hit!
By Chase Berenson
TNews Contributor
For five hours on Sat, Aug. 16, Girdwood’s pickleball courts were a competitive site as they hosted the Girdwood Pickleball Club Summer Tournament. The Girdwood Pickleball Club is typically a casual group of players with a primary focus of fun, but the tournament gave everyone an opportunity to put their pickleball skills to the test.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US, and is booming here in Girdwood. It is a fast-paced paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, played on a court smaller than tennis with a net that’s lower than tennis. Players use solid paddles to hit a perforated plastic ball, aiming to score points by making it difficult for opponents to return the shot.
Fourteen players were in for the tournament, making seven teams of two players each. The day was divided into three segments: warm-up play, followed by seeding play, followed by the ranked tournament. The warm-up period had classic fun games.
The seeding play consisted of four ten-minute games with different teams and players in each one, where players were ranked on their win/loss ratio as well as the ratio of points earned to points lost to the opponent; this allowed every player to be ranked individually.
Once this was completed the player rankings were announced, and teams were decided for the tournament based on rankings. Then the serious fun started! The seven teams played a double-elimination tournament
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/pickleball-tournament-is-a-smash-hit
Public Survey for Girdwood Parks Master Plan Extended to August 24
By Kyle Kelley
Girdwood Valley Service Area Manager
Girdwood Parks and Recreation has extended the public survey deadline for the Girdwood Parks Master Plan by one week, giving residents and park users more time to share their ideas and shape the future of Girdwood’s parks. The survey will now close on Sunday night, August 24, 2025.
The Parks Master Plan will guide the community’s vision for future parkland and will focus on five existing parks: Girdwood Park, Moose Meadows, Lions Club Park, Town Square Park, and the Park Reserve Greenbelts. As well, help identify future parkland in the Girdwood Valley. Feedback from the public will help identify priorities, improvements, and opportunities for recreation and community gathering spaces.
“This is your chance to help shape the parks that make Girdwood special,” said Kyle Kelley, Girdwood Valley Service Area Manager. “Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a seasonal visitor, or just someone who loves the outdoors, your voice matters in this planning process.”
The survey takes just a few minutes to complete and can be accessed online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GirdwoodParksPlan
For more information about the Girdwood Parks Master Plan or to learn how you can get involved, contact the Project contacts:
Kyle Kelley, Girdwood Valley Service Area Manager: Kyle.Kelley@anchorageak.gov
Bri Keifer, Landscape Architect, Huddle AK: Bri@huddleak.com
US housing secretary visits Alaska to gather insights into urban and rural challenges
By Yereth Rosen
The secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, visiting Alaska this week, said he hopes to learn about challenges facing both the state’s urban centers and remote rural communities.
“I came here to be a great listener, to understand the needs of the people of Alaska, to understand the challenges of the people of Alaska and particularly when it comes to homelessness and affordable housing,” Scott Turner, the Trump administration’s HUD secretary, said at a news conference Tuesday in Anchorage.
Turner is among several Trump administration cabinet members touring Alaska this summer.
He spent part of Tuesday meeting with Anchorage municipal officials who discussed the challenges of homelessness in the state’s largest city.
It is a national issue, Turner said.
That 770,000 people identified as homeless in the nation “is unacceptable to me, it’s unacceptable to my colleagues and I know it’s unacceptable to you,” he said.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Trump remains vague on details of upcoming Ukraine peace talks in Alaska, anticipated Friday
By James Brooks
Four days before a scheduled meeting with the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, over the possibility of a ceasefire that could pause the Russian invasion of Ukraine, President Donald Trump has yet to announce a firm location or timing.
Trump said last week on social media that he would meet Putin in Alaska on Friday.
Speaking to reporters Monday at the White House, Trump said he would seek to temporarily end the fighting that has resulted since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
He said he isn’t certain what a long-term peace deal would involve, but it likely would entail “some swapping … some changes in land,” he said.
“We’re going to change the lines, the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They’ve occupied some very prime territory. We’re going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine. But they’ve taken some very prime territory,” Trump said.
Read the entire story here:
‘The Girdwood Health Clinic Saved My Life’
By Brooks Chandler
TNews Board of Directors
This patient testimonial was read by Community Health Worker Linda Mankoff just outside the clinic entrance on August 7. Similar sentiments were expressed by patient and current clinic board member Jeff D’Agostino. He recounted how Ms. Mankoff helped him obtain health insurance. Insurance that was needed when he came to the clinic with a life-threatening condition three years ago. “Every day I wake up I am still glad I’m here” Mr. D’Agostino said.
The occasion for these expressions of gratitude was a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the opening of the non-profit Girdwood Health Clinic. Clinic Executive Director Deb Erickson said at the birthday party they exemplified “why we do what we do”.
The anniversary was attended by upwards of 100 people and included in person congratulations from United States Senator Dan Sullivan. Sen. Sullivan professed the ”deepest respect for medical professionals” and said he was a “huge fan” of Federally Qualified Health Clinics.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/the-girdwood-health-clinic-saved-my-life
Land Use Committee and Housing Committee Recommend Seeking Ruane-Alyeska Highway Land for Housing Project
By Brooks Chandler
TNews Board of Directors
Girdwood’s Land Use Committee and Housing and Economic Committee have approved asking the Heritage Land Bank to survey and subdivide HLB property at the intersection of Ruane and Alyeska Highway. Subdivision would be an initial step in potential development of half of the property for work force housing.
The concept originated with the Girdwood Community Land Trust. A public-private partnership for development between HLB and a Girdwood non-profit (not necessarily GCLT) is envisioned.
The concept presented to the LUC and GHEC identifies an initial phase consisting of 28-32 apartments, 10 townhouses and 16 “tiny” (750 sq. ft) bungalows. Half of these units would be developed as “market rate” housing by a private developer.
Half of the units would be managed by the Girdwood non-profit for workforce housing. Profits from selling market rate units would be shared equally between the Girdwood non-profit, the Girdwood Valley Service Area, the Anchorage General Fund and HLB.
According to GCLT Board member Krystal Hoke, GCLT sought LUC and GHEC approval as a show of community support for the concept. The Land Use Committee approved recommending the Girdwood Board of Supervisors ask HLB to subdivide the parcel by a vote of 8-0 with 4 abstentions on July 14. GHEC also unanimously approved the concept at its Aug. 4 meeting.
A draft resolution of support will be considered bythe Girdwood Board of Supervisors at its Aug. 18 meeting.
Read the entire at the link below:
GHEC schedules discussion on Housing Plan for September Meeting
By Brooks Chandler
TNews Board of Directors
At its Aug. 4 meeting the Girdwood Housing and Economic Committee reviewed a draft Housing Implementation Plan.
The plan was introduced at earlier GHEC meetings and is intended to be a strategy to address the shortage of affordable housing in Glacier Valley. An analysis of the projected need for housing over the next 10 years is included in the 2025 Girdwood Area Plan.
GHEC co-chair Brett Wilbanks said the Housing Action Plan sets out a 10 step approach to addressing the lack of affordable housing based on a plan adopted by the resort town of Whitefish, Montana.
The draft plans can be found at https://www.muni.org/Departments/operations/streets/Service/Pages/gbos-ghec.aspx and then clicking on GHEC July 7 Meeting Packet.
Corporation for Public Broadcasting to close its doors after loss of funding
By Shauneen Miranda
WASHINGTON — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting announced Friday that it will be shutting down.
The announcement came just one day after a major Senate appropriations bill omitted funding for the nonprofit that funds public media and a week after President Donald Trump signed a bill into law that yanked $1.1 billion in previously approved spending for CPB.
CPB, which Congress authorized in 1967, provides funds for National Public Radio, the Public Broadcasting Service and hundreds of local stations across the United States. President Donald Trump and fellow Republicans have criticized NPR and PBS of left-leaning bias, an accusation the public media organizations have rejected.
“Despite the extraordinary efforts of millions of Americans who called, wrote, and petitioned Congress to preserve federal funding for CPB, we now face the difficult reality of closing our operations,” Patricia Harrison, president and CEO of CPB, said in a statement Friday.
Read the entire story at the link below:
40th Anniversary Fine Arts Camp Art Show is at Challenge Alaska
By Tim Lydon
TNews Board of Directors
One of Girdwood’s hottest and longest running arts events happened Friday, Aug. 1, when participants in the Girdwood Fine Arts Camp put on their annual art show. The potluck gathering was free and open to the public.
“The show is a celebration of what the kids havedone,” says Tommy O’Malley, who helps organize and teach the camp. “It’s important for them to have everyone come in.”
O’Malley started the camp with Annie Olson in 1986, making this its 40th year. They first operated out of a log cabin in Old Girdwood, then graduated to a formerlaundromat space at the Girdwood trailer court before landing at Challenge over ten years ago.
“We’re not trying to teach mastery here,” says O’Malley of the two-week camp. “We’re just exposing them to different mediums and teaching them how to use new tools.”
At this year’s camp, says O’Malley, students soldered, chiseled, carved, painted, cut glass, worked with digital mediums, and fired silver jewelry, among many other activities. It’s an ambitious spread of mediums that O’Malley says is only possible because of the artists and volunteers that come to teach.
Read the entire story at the link below:
Summer Trail Maintenance Includes Path Through Contested ‘Holtan Hills’ Development
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Enabled by a young, sturdy trail crew, local volunteers and a $110,000 grant Girdwood's network of trails became more deliberate this summer—with particular focus on a trail that crosses through an impending subdivision development.
Three new bridges, gravel, brushing and drainage have altered slightly the character of local trails, especially the middle portion of the Iditarod Trail from Girdwood School to the out-of-service hand tram.
"Trails play an important aspect in community. They should be available and, historically, they've been there," said Kyle Kelly, Girdwood's service area manager.
Facing continual pressure from development of local lands, Girdwood's trails committee worked to get a trails plan adopted by the Anchorage Assembly in March.
"It was a tough process, but we got through it and now we can refer to it all the time," Kelly said.
The addition of a bridge and gravel to a 2-mile section of the Middle Iditarod Trail, between the school and Crow Creek Rd., adds permanence to a path whose fate has been called to question due to a competing plan for a "Holtan Hills" subdivision.
With looming development, trail crews have put a "focus" on the trail, which runs along a bluff overlooking Glacier Creek, Kelly said.
"Nobody has officially told me it's going to change, so I'm going to keep working on it and making it better. What I'm trying to show also is that the community is investing in this and they have been for a long time. If it's a broken down trail that doesn't look very useable, then it's like, 'you guys don't really care about this trail'. But we're showing that we care. Showing that investment puts us in a stronger position," he said.
Read the entire story here:
2026 Non-Profit Recreation Grant Announcement
Bh Margaret Tyler
Girdwood Parks and Recreation Contributor
Applications will be available Aug. 1 to Sept. 12, 2025 for non-profit and those formally sponsored by qualifying non-profit organizations seeking grant funding for recreation related projects to be offered in 2026.
Qualifying organizations must operate within the Girdwood Valley Service Area (GVSA). Funding is contingent on municipal approval of the GBOS 2025Operating Budget.
GBOS is setting aside $65,000 in grant funding to be split among those requesting and qualifying for non-profit recreation grants.
Information & applications are available at the Girdwood Post Office, Gerrish Library, Girdwood Parks and Rec Office bulletin boards and on-line at www.muni.org/gbos August 1 thru September 12.
The deadline for submission is Friday, September 12, 2025 by 3pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
If you have questions, please contact Margaret Tyler, 907-343-8373, tylerms@muni.org.
Crow Pass Crossing Race held Saturday
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The Alaskan Backcountry Marathon was held Saturday where athletes began the 23-mile race from Girdwood to the Eagle River Nature Center.
Male winner, Coby Marvin, became the youngest-ever winner of the trail race in his first attempt and Shauna Severson was the women’s division winner and sixth overall finisher.
One-hundred and thirty eight runners crossed Crow Pass this morning on their way to Eagle River in the 40th annual race.
The leader ran from the trailhead parking lot to the pass in 37 minutes and had a couple minutes lead over rivals.
The route changed slightly for last year's race due to new mandates by the Forest Service, according the race website, so runners now have to take a high traverse to get to the pass.
The change adds around 10 minutes to the 22 mile course. The first runners make it to the Eagle River Nature Center in under three hours.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
See more pictures at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/crow-pass-crossing-race-held-saturday
MOA responds to TNews Inquiry on current ‘Holtan Hills’ construction
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
The Municipality of Anchorage responded late Friday to a slew of questions by Turnagain News regarding the so-called "Holtan Hills" subdivision development currently underway off Hightower Rd. near the school.
The project is a joint effort by Anchorage developer Connie Yoshimura and the city's Heritage Land Bank, which manages most of the land in Girdwood's valley. "Holtan Hills", so named by a small group acting without community consent, has little local support. It was nevertheless approved by the Anchorage Assembly in January, 2024.
The HLB recently signed an agreement for $2 million with Anchorage-based GMC Contracting for "off-site" development of a road and sewer connection, impacting approximately 2.5 acres, according to the city and Yoshimura. The project is expected to last into August when children return to school.
GMC began tearing a swath to the toe of the 60-plus acre housing development on July 7.
Responses, provided through an email from the muni's public affairs office, are in italics.
Has a traffic study been conducted to determine existing traffic patterns, densities, and vehicle traffic amount on Hightower Road?
During the early planning stages of this project, both the [Municipality of Anchorage] Planning Department and Traffic Engineering Department reviewed the potential density within the development and concurred that the road improvements would be built to local residential street standards which would not require a (traffic study) traffic impact analysis prior to construction.
Where can we view the traffic plan?
See previous response regarding the traffic study. A traffic control plan will be submitted and available for public review prior to disturbance and reconstruction of affectioned portions of Hightower Rd.
Read the entire response from the Municipality of Anchorage at the link:
US Senate GOP under pressure on Trump demand to defund NPR, PBS, foreign aid
By Jennifer Shutt
Alaska Beacon, States Newsroom
WASHINGTON — Congress has just one week left to approve the Trump administration’s request to cancel $9.4 billion in previously approved funding for public media and foreign aid, setting up yet another tight deadline for lawmakers.
The Senate must pass the bill before July 18, otherwise the White House budget office will be required to spend the funding and be barred from sending up the same proposal again for what are called rescissions.
But objections from several GOP senators could stop the legislation in its tracks, or change it substantially, requiring another House vote in a very short time frame. Rejecting the plan would represent a loss for the Trump administration after passage of the “big, beautiful” tax and spending cut law earlier this month.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., appears optimistic he can secure the votes needed to begin debate, though he hasn’t said publicly if he thinks the bill can actually pass.
“We’ll have it up on the floor next week. Hopefully, we get on it and then we’ll have an amendment process,” Thune said during a Wednesday press conference. “And kind of like a budget reconciliation bill, it’s an open amendment process, a vote-a-rama type process, which I’m sure you’re very excited about.”
Read the entire story at the link below:
Update: ‘Holtan Hills’ Road Construction Begins
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
In a slight drizzle of rain Monday morning a group of concerned citizens stood outside a gate to the contentious "Holtan Hills" development.
Then trucks began to roll in, first white trucks with men who jumped into "Hydro-Ax" mulchers. After a couple hours, the protesters left.
Then a gym-length tractor hauling an enormous excavator arrived. Later more machines rumbled through town down Hightower Rd.
The first day of the city's 75-day contract with a major construction company—GMC Contracting—to drive a road, sewer, gas and electric into the forested hills behind Girdwood's school began with the staging of heavy equipment.
Construction delays on the Seward Highway slowed traffic on the opening day foray.
Meanwhile, responses from municipal public officials to questions emailed last week regarding the project have not been answered as of late afternoon.
"Thank you for reaching out. We haven’t forgotten about you," wrote Kenny Friendly, a public involvement coordinator for the Municipality, said in an email Monday.
"We are currently fielding all public inquiries surrounding the project including yours. When we have the answers, we’ll get back to you as soon as possible," he wrote.
This is a developing story. Check back with TNews for updates.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/update-holtan-hills-road-construction-begins
Forest Fair at 50: Still Growing Strong
By Soren Wuerth
TNews Editor
Tents yawned open, music trickled from a stage, and bubbles and cottonwood drifted among crowds as Girdwood's Forest Fair began its 50th year under blue skies Friday.
Throughout the day and into Saturday, they came—patrons wearing face paint, summer skirts, muscle shirts, rainbow tie-dyes, sunglasses or ball caps painted with mountain reliefs.
They endured long lines of traffic along Alyeska highway, lines for merchandise and even lines for spinach bread without complaint or even notice. "The line goes fast and it's worth it," remarked a fair-goer holding a paper tray of cheese-slathered bread.
Over five decades, the event has grown from a small "arts and craft" fair with a half dozen booths into a busy festival with more than 200 vendors, 52 music acts, and 24 food booths.
There is no way to count the number of people who attend the three-day weekend, but, by 10 a.m. Friday every available parking spot in downtown Girdwood was taken.
"When people ask how many showed up, we say, 'a forest full'," said Terri Adkins, the event's vice president.
The fair has unmistakably grown. Its formerly 10-member nonprofit board now has 30 people. Its red-shirt clad volunteer force has grown into a 200-strong small army of "keg pushers" (beer servers), "age discriminators", "earth maintenance" crew, merch slingers and security. The beer garden alone requires 40 volunteers.
The Forest Fair is a project so consuming, its core committee call themselves the "commit me", Adkins said.
Read the entire story at the link below:
https://www.turnagainnews.org/articles/forest-fair-at-50-still-growing-strong