April McCullum and Dan D'Ambrosio, Burlington Free Press
Published
6:59 pm UTC Dec. 22, 2020
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The "hole" in downtown Newport was a demolished city block that was to become a retail, office and residential space, and possibly a boutique hotel, under Bill Stenger and Ariel Quiros' grand design. It was never approved as an EB-5 project that could accept foreign investment. After allegations of financial fraud pulled both Jay Peak Resort and Burke Mountain into federal receivership, the plan flew apart.
RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS
As ski season was drawing to a close at Jay Peak, J.J. Toland heard a knock at his door and looked up to see a security officer, who told him to step away from his computer.