Regional US airports are back after years of decay

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Lebawit Lily Girma | Bloomberg News (TNS)

The ski resorts near Gunnison and Crested Butte, Colorado, are so close to Aspen, you’d think the area wouldn’t need its own airport. Their glitzier neighbor is just 48 miles north as the crow flies, though that’s roughly 150 miles by road.

But people flocking to Crested Butte’s laid-back town, extreme ski slopes and epic mountain biking have a new reason to bypass farther-away Aspen: the destination’s gleaming new airport, which debuted in January 2023.

Not only is the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport terminal easy to get across quickly, at just 40,000 square feet, it’s also heated and cooled with geothermal energy and uses triple glazed windows to keep travelers warm in a town known to be one of the coldest places in the US.

And Crested Butte isn’t the only small town airport receiving an upgrade.

All across the U.S., at least a dozen small and medium-size facilities are being renovated and, in some cases, entirely rebuilt — typically on budgets that stretch eight and nine figures. That contradicts a long-held belief among aviation industry pros that these regional facilities were destined to gather dust and die out.

Indeed during the pandemic, smaller U.S. airports fell out of favor. With business travel reduced to virtually nothing, airlines cut service to focus on more profitable leisure routes between large hubs. Planned facility improvements were also put on hold. Even as those issues faded, severe pilot shortages forced major airlines to cut back on more routes. In the process, they realized that the profit margins on smaller flight loads simply aren’t what they were a decade ago. It was a confluence of crises that seemed to doom small airports for good.

But some of these factors have since evolved. For one, second-tier cities are experiencing continued population booms, a trend that started with pandemic-era urban flight in 2020 and persists as remote workers look for more affordable places to live. A large number of unsold seats on those classic vacation flights have also proven to airlines that it’s time to reconsider their route maps, explains Brian Sumers, aviation expert and founder of the Airline Observer newsletter. Not to be overlooked is the high customer satisfaction associated with these smaller facilities, which are blissfully devoid of stress-inducing crowds and endless concourses that take forever to crisscross.

Of course money has a lot to do with it, too. The Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has funneled at least $9 billion toward airport improvement around the country since 2022, which adds to public and private funding on a more local level that has helped revive a number of additional facilities. Though budgets are always subject to change, Knoxville and Memphis in Tennessee have seen a combined $830 million in airport investment; Des Moines, Iowa, has budgeted $445 million to transform its facility; and Pittsburgh has a full $1.5 billion to work with.

In other words, the renaissance of small American airports is officially in full swing. Here are a few examples of upcoming overhauls we’re excited about — consider them emblematic of what may soon come to a small town near you.

The challenge of expanding a small airport is keeping its more intimate vibe intact, says Brent Mather, the Denver-based design principal for Gensler, a leading architecture firm spearheading a number of these projects. Preserving the ability to arrive 30 minutes before your flight and still make it through security and get on a plane, he says, “means a lot, especially to people that live there. It’s a huge selling point.”

For example, at the newly redone Eagle County Regional Airport near Vail, Colorado, it takes less than five minutes to traverse the entirety of the 65,000-square-foot concourse, which opened in late 2020. By comparison, it’s 1.45 miles—roughly a 30 minute-walk—to get from the airport terminal train to the gates at Denver International.

That philosophy is driving the design of a $2 billion, 1 million-square-foot terminal at John Glenn Columbus International Airport, scheduled to open in 2029, with a market-like dining hall right at the center of its single concourse. The idea, says Gensler aviation lead Tim Hudson, is to create a seamless passenger experience where you can eat, drink and shop in a hyper-accessible spot, from which passengers can see at least two-thirds of the airport’s gates and plenty of flight monitors. “It’s one big concourse, one central security checkpoint, and one concessions program — where passengers can access the entire building.”

The new terminal, which will fully replace the existing one, is being co-designed by Gensler and Columbus-based firm Moody Nolan to have 36 gates — seven more than the current airport — plus a 5,000 car parking garage. Its groundbreaking is set for early 2025.

“Our current terminal opened in 1958 and was built for a different time,” says Joseph Nardone, president and chief executive officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. “With a more efficient, easier to navigate, and sustainable design, we will be ready to meet and exceed travelers’ expectations and support our growing community for years to come.”

The number of travelers to this central Ohio city will rise from 8.7 million passengers in 2023 to an estimated 13 million in 2033 — a spike fueled by Columbus’ emergence as a Midwest tech and business hub.

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In Nevada, Reno-Tahoe International Airport is readying for two new concourses that will begin construction in 2025 and wrap in 2030. An influx of new residents, fueled by a reputation for family-friendliness and a growing number of data centers, is expected to drive Reno-Tahoe’s annual passenger loads from 2.3 million passengers today to 3.7 million by 2046. As the airport expands, two priorities will be increasing the gate sizes to accommodate larger planes and adding more food and beverage options.

Sense of place is another consideration. Mather is keenly aware that regional airports are typically more expensive to fly into and out of than their larger, international counterparts, and with that premium comes an expectation of better service and inspired design.

“We want people arriving to go, ‘Wow! OK, I am in Reno, this is going to be a really good experience,’ whether it’s for business or for leisure,” he explains.

In Columbus, the central concession will have floor-to-ceiling views of the runways and resemble the town’s historic North Market — a farm stand and restaurant complex that’s popular with visitors. That’s expected to drive spending, too: In San Francisco International Airport’s Terminal 2, a similar overhaul that turned standard airport restaurants into a farmer’s market-inspired dining hall led to a 23% increase in revenue, says Hudson.

At Gunnison-Crested Butte, the main restaurant and lounge have brightly painted stripes on a pitched ceiling that nod to Crested Butte’s colorful Victorian facades downtown. Wraparound windows throughout frame a stunning mountain landscape.

The future Reno airport, too, will have a concourse lined end-to-end with panoramic views of the area’s distant peaks. Mather says he was thinking about the feeling of leaving a ski resort in Tahoe and catching a flight home from Reno when he designed those walls of windows. “I want it to feel like it’s an extension of someone’s vacation,” he says.

©2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Woman dies in Coon Rapids pickup-SUV crash

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A pickup truck crashed into an SUV Sunday in Coon Rapids, leading to the SUV passenger’s death.

The crash took place about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and Springbrook Drive Northwest. Coon Rapids police, fire and EMS responded to the crash report, according to the Anoka County sheriff’s office.

The man driving the SUV  had a woman in the passenger seat. They were traveling eastbound on Coon Rapids Boulevard Northwest and attempted to make a left turn onto Springbrook Drive when the truck, headed west, crashed into the SUV.

The SUV passenger was transported to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The SUV driver had non-life threatening injuries.

The woman driving the pickup truck was uninjured and taken into custody. Charges are pending. The investigation is ongoing.

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What credit score is needed to buy a house?

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Libby Wells | Bankrate.com (TNS)

Strictly speaking, you don’t need a credit score to buy a house. If you’re paying cash, for example, no one necessarily cares whether you have good credit. However, if — like most aspiring American homeowners — you’ll need financing, then your credit score is crucial.

Your credit score is one of the most important factors lenders consider when you apply for a mortgage. Not just to qualify for the loan itself, but for the conditions: Typically, the higher your score, the lower the interest rates and better terms you’ll qualify for.

So, what is a good score if you want to buy a house? It depends on the type of mortgage you’re seeking: Many loans vary when it comes to the credit score needed to qualify. Generally speaking, you’ll likely need a score of at least 620 — what’s classified as a “fair” rating — to qualify with most lenders. With a Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan, though, you might be able to get approved with a score as low as 500.

Why your credit score matters to lenders

Your credit score helps lenders determine your ability to repay the mortgage — and, subsequently, their risk in extending you the loan. The higher your score, the less risk you present.

Another number that mortgage lenders examine carefully is your debt-to-income ratio (DTI), or your percentage of monthly debt obligations relative to how much income you bring in. To illustrate, if you earn $4,000 per month and have $1,250 in credit card bills, loan payments, housing costs and other debts, your DTI ratio would be 31 percent. The ideal ratio is typically less than 36 percent, though some lenders will accept more with a higher down payment.

Credit score needed to buy a house, by mortgage type

There’s no single, specific credit score that will automatically qualify you for a mortgage (though having the maximum score of 850 certainly never hurts). However, while lenders might not set precise qualifying numbers, they do have minimum credit score requirements.

The minimum credit score to be eligible for a mortgage depends on both the lender and the type of loan.

—Conventional loans: Conventional loans are mortgages that aren’t offered or backed by a U.S. government agency; they’re offered by commercial banks and savings-and-loan associations. Generally, the higher your credit score, the more likely you’ll qualify for a mortgage loan with these lenders. Many will accept a credit score as low as 620, but they may have other requirements for those borrowers, such as a higher income or a larger down payment.

—FHA loans: The Federal Housing Administration insures loans geared toward borrowers with lower credit scores and down payments, especially first-time homebuyers. You might qualify for an FHA loan with a credit score of 500 to 579, with a 10 percent down payment, or with a 3.5 percent down payment if your score is 580 or higher.

—USDA loans: The U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantees this loan program for low- to moderate-income borrowers purchasing a home in a qualifying rural area. Borrowers generally need a minimum score of 640 to qualify for a USDA loan. In some cases, USDA lenders may consider a lower score with additional analysis of a borrower’s credit.

—VA loans: Guaranteed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, VA loans are offered to active and veteran military personnel and their families. The government doesn’t have a minimum credit score requirement to qualify for VA loans, though many lenders — who actually extend the financing — require a minimum score of 620.

—Jumbo loans: Jumbo loans are larger-than-normal-size mortgages that exceed the conforming loan limits established by Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae — $766,550 in most markets, as of 2024. Many jumbo lenders require a credit score of 700 or higher to qualify because of the increased risk that comes with borrowing such a large amount.

What is a good credit score for buying a house?

When considering the best credit score to buy a house, many lenders use the FICO model. It grades consumers on a 300 to 850 point range, with a higher score indicating less risk to the lender. FICO scores range as follows:

—800 or higher: Exceptional

—740-799: Very good

—670-739: Good

—580-669: Fair

—579 or lower: Poor

How your credit score affects your mortgage rate

Although it’s up to specific lenders to determine what score borrowers need to receive the lowest mortgage interest rates, a difference of just a few points on your credit score can sometimes affect your monthly payments substantially. For example, on a $300,000 mortgage, the difference in principal and interest payments between a 7 percent interest rate and a 6.5 percent rate is $99 per month. That comes out to more than $35,000 over the course of a 30-year mortgage term.

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“A low credit score can make it less likely that you would qualify for the most affordable rates, and could even lead to rejection of your mortgage application,” says Bruce McClary, senior VP of communications for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. “It’s still possible to be approved with a low credit score, but you may have to add a co-signer or reduce the overall amount you plan to borrow.”

A co-signer would be responsible for the debt, so it’s not always easy to get someone to agree. Plus, if you miss payments, it could damage your co-signer’s credit — and your relationship with them.

Here’s how much you’d pay at the current rates for each credit score range. These examples are based on national averages for a 30-year fixed mortgage loan of $300,000.

Bankrate’s loan comparison calculator is a handy tool to help you see interest rates for credit scores. You can also use Bankrate’s mortgage APR calculator to run the numbers and see what your monthly mortgage payment might look like with different APRs.

How to improve your credit score

Before you look at houses, it’s smart to check your credit score and pull your credit reports from the major credit agencies. Addressing credit issues early on can help you raise your score before you apply for a mortgage.

If your credit score isn’t great, there are still options. Instead of settling for the mortgage rates you currently qualify for, consider postponing homeownership and working to boost your credit score and improve your options. Here are some quick tips to help:

1. Check your credit report and correct any errors

Before applying for a mortgage, request a copy of your credit reports from the three major credit agencies: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. You can access your credit reports from each bureau for free once per year. If you find inaccurate or missing information, file a dispute with the credit reporting agency and the creditor. Clearly identify each item you’re disputing and be sure to include supporting documents.

2. Pay down credit card balances

Your credit utilization ratio is the amount of debt you have compared with your available credit. To calculate this, divide the amount of debt into the amount of available credit. If you have $10,000 in debt and $20,000 in available credit, for instance, your credit utilization ratio is 50 percent. Lenders like to see credit utilization of 30 percent or less.

3. Pay all bills on time

Your payment history accounts for 35 percent of your credit score. While late payments stay on your credit report for seven years, their impact on your score diminishes over time.

4. Don’t close older credit lines after paying them off

Closing unused accounts sounds like a good idea, but it may raise your credit utilization ratio and cause your credit score to drop.

5. Don’t open any new lines of credit or take out large loans

Generally, the less debt you have, the better off you are when you apply for a mortgage. FICO recommends not opening new credit accounts to increase your credit utilization ratio, because each credit request can lower your score slightly. Once your credit has improved, it’s fine to rate-shop, but keep it within a 30-day window — spreading out the rate inquiries can hurt your score. You can also use Bankrate’s mortgage calculator to estimate your monthly mortgage payments.

FAQs

—Can I get a mortgage with a low credit score? Maybe — it is possible to get a mortgage with a low credit score, but it’s more challenging. For example, FHA loans might allow a score as low as 500, but will require a much higher down payment in exchange. When seeking a mortgage with a low credit score, you’ll likely pay higher interest rates and higher monthly payments. Lenders may also be more stringent about other aspects of your finances, too, such as your DTI ratio.

—Will I get a better deal on a mortgage with a higher credit score? Probably. Credit score is certainly not the only factor at play when lenders look at mortgage applications, but generally, a higher score will allow you to secure a lower mortgage rate. Typically, conventional lenders want to see a score of at least 620.

(Visit Bankrate online at bankrate.com.)

©2024 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Is now a good time to visit Hawaii?

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Your business has perhaps never been more appreciated in Hawaii as the state makes a comeback from the tragic fires on Maui in 2023.

Plumeria, used in leis, can be seen and smelled at the Koko Crater Botanical Garden on Oahu. (Mindy Sink, Special to The Denver Post)

“I believe we have become more appreciative of the beauty and significance of this place — and more dedicated to preserving the culture, land and people that make Maui so special,” said Chelsea Livit, director of marketing and public relations at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Wailea. “The people of Maui have further embraced the aloha spirit and are eager to perpetuate that aloha with all who visit the island.”

Wailea is about 30 miles from Lahaina, the historic town that was almost entirely destroyed by a wildfire that quickly spread in August 2023. The Associated Press reported 102 people were killed and more than 2,200 homes were destroyed in the fire. While the burn area remains closed, there are some area businesses open that are welcoming tourists: Mala Ocean Tavern, Old Lahaina Luau, and a little removed from the former business district, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop.

To be sure, this is not disaster tourism and visitors need to be sensitive. For example, the website for Mala Ocean Tavern preemptively asks guests not to speak to their staff about the fire as everyone has been personally affected.

“The better tourism does for Hawaii’s economy at large, the better we can do to help support the recovery of Maui’s people,” said Ilihia Gionson, public affairs officer for the Hawaii Tourism Authority, while acknowledging that visitor numbers are down on Maui this year so far.

Visiting Maui

During my recent stay on Maui, I was able to enjoy the island’s natural beauty from sunrise to sunset each day and could see how it’s possible to support the island’s main economy whether or not I was close to Lahaina.

The Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea is a celebration of Hawaii’s natural beauty and history, with a newly completed renovation that includes Hale Kukuna, an interactive cultural center. There are also enormous wooden sculptures of mermaids, sea turtles, crabs and other local elements, all carved by the hotel’s artist-in-residence, Dale Zarrella. In the cultural center are two special sculptures on display that were carved from monkey pod trees burned in the fire.

The entrance of the Fairmont Kea Lani’s new bar and restaurant, Pilina, where most of the menu is locally sourced in Wailea, Hawaii. (Mindy Sink, Special to The Denver Post)

“Our Hawaiian cultural center is believed to be the largest of its kind at any resort in Hawaii,” Livit said. “If each person who visits Hawaii can go home having learned even just one meaningful thing about Hawaiian culture, that is a win to me. We have an obligation to preserve and perpetuate the culture of this place.”

The cultural center was given a prime spot with a view in the resort’s lobby and it attracts guests of all ages who want to pick up a ukulele, learn to hula dance or, in my case, to play Hawaiian checkers (and learn where to buy the locally-made game boards).

Like at other resorts, there are on-site activities to join daily and a real highlight at the Fairmont Kea Lani for us was a 7 a.m. outrigger canoe boat ride with two experienced guides. The day starts with a brief ritual to honor the rising sun where one of the guides chants before the boat is taken out on the calm, clear water off Polo Beach. The outrigger canoe originated in Hawaii, and guests can learn more about it in Hale Kukuna.

If you’re not staying at this resort, see if there is a daily resort pass available, which will give you access to the grounds — including pools — for a fee one day.

Hawaii has a robust farm-to-table culture and this is on display at the Fairmont’s Pilina restaurant. The Hawaiian word “pilina” can mean “connectedness” and here it is about the relationship with Hawaii, from drinks to food. The menu has a Spirits of the Islands page with an extensive list of Hawaiian rum, vodka and whiskey.

A sunset view when dining at Pilina at Fairmont Kea Lani on Maui in Hawaii. (Mindy Sink, Special to The Denver Post)

“Pilina sources 90% of its program ingredients from the Hawaiian Islands,” Livit said.

If you’re here on a Tuesday, you can go to the Wailea Village Farmers Market and meet local growers and makers such as Maui Cookie Lab, or if you have a car you can drive to Upcountry Farmers Market on a Saturday to sample freshly grown coffee, freshly caught fish, local honey, pineapple and more.

Beyond Maui and giving back

Each of the Hawaiian Islands has its own personality and appeal, and each of them has various ways that visitors can make choices to support sustainability or to give back by volunteering.

The Fairmont Kea Lani, for example, has a “Rooted in Aloha” reforestation initiative that welcomes guests to participate by planting a seedling in the resort’s greenhouse or along the slop of the volcano, Haleakala.

On Kauai, 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay in Princeville has a number of programs that support local businesses and charities, as well as experiences for guests to get involved in making a difference here.

“Working with island purveyors allows 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay to offer an exceptional guest experience, support the local economy and environment, and contribute to the island’s cultural and culinary vibrancy,” said Alexis Eaton, director of marketing, public relations and programming at 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay. She added that guests can leave their gently used clothing as part of their “1 Less Thing” initiative to donate locally, and they’ve partnered with the Kauai Humane Society to let visitors take a dog out for the day.

Spend time watching a sunset over the Pacific Ocean on Oahu. (Mindy Sink, Special to The Denver Post)

Gionson cited the Mālama Hawaii program, which invites visitors to participate in a various volunteer programs on each island. Options include reforestation efforts in Oahu’s Waimea Valley, planting native plants at North Shore Stables on Oahu, join a beach cleanup day with the Surfrider Foundation on Kauai, and snorkel and ocean cleanup with Body Glove Hawaii on the Big Island.

“These opportunities are not just a way to give back to the island, but to meet many amazing people and learn about each island’s personality, culture and communities,” Gionson said.

My travels also took me to Oahu, which is considered the most urban of the Hawaiian Islands with the city of Honolulu and home to Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

On Oahu in Hawaii, there is a botanical garden inside an old volcano, Koko Crater. (Mindy Sink, Special to The Denver Post)

With minimal effort — and a rented car — it’s easy to find local businesses off the beaten track that will appreciate you stopping by or you’ll see fewer people than you do on the beaches of Waikiki. Some of my personal favorites include the Bishop Museum, where you can learn about the culture and history of Hawaii in the former home of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, who was a member of the royal Kamehameha family; the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden in Kaneohe, where you get views of the jagged green mountains; Koko Crater Botanical Gardens, where you’ll find blooming plumeria trees and other plants; having a meal at a food truck in Haleiwa on the famed North Shore; and exploring a local neighborhood such as Kaimuki, where there are award-winning restaurants and cute shops.

The more time you spend in Hawaii, the more you appreciate the need to protect what is here. As visitors, we can all make choices in terms where we stay, where we eat and where we shop so that the tourism dollars go directly back to supporting the islands.

5 things you can only do in Maui

When traveling, it’s rewarding to see or do things that can’t be done back home or at other destinations. Consider adding these items to your list next time you’re in Maui:

1. See a blooming Haleakalā silversword plant. You can visit Haleakalā National Park on your own or with a reservation for sunrise visits, or you can book a local tour with an expert. There is always a chance of thick fog that might alter your experience. Please avoid stepping on plants as they are rare. The summit of this volcano is just more than 10,000 feet above sea level — and on a clear day, you can see the ocean below.

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2. See the Ua’a, aka the Hawaiian Petrel, at Haleakalā National Park, where it is believed to have the largest nesting colony for this species. Although the birds have been spotted on other Hawaiian islands, Maui is where the most significant populations live.

3. Eat pie at Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop. Sure, you can eat pie anywhere, but this place is special with mini pies in a variety of flavors — chocolate mac nut, Olowalu lime — that you can’t get back home or even take home with you. You’ll find it on the roadside in Olowalu, not far from Lahaina. They also have sandwiches and salads.

4. Go on a pineapple tour and taste what is considered the sweetest pineapple in the world only available here, the Maui Gold Pineapple. The Maui Pineapple Tour is on a working pineapple plantation in Hali’imaile in the upcountry, so it gives you an excuse to check out this distinct part of the island. You do taste the difference with fresh pineapple!

5. Snorkel in a volcanic crater at Molokini, a partially submerged crescent-shaped islet you can see from the shores of Maui. Yes, you can snorkel so many other places, but this one is unique due to the water quality at this reef. Schedule early to avoid the crowds.