The Residential/Commercial Treatment Area corresponds to two special sections of town. One portion, located along South Oak Street and West Pacific Avenue, near the ski area, was originally a single family neighborhood. It is now a mix of residences, overnight accommodations and some limited retail and service businesses.

Traditionally, no more than 25-40% of an individual lot was covered with a structure; the remainder was yard. It is desirable to retain this sense of open space. The small-scale character, both along the street and the alley, is encouraged; however, more intense development may be allowed in the interior portions of lots. Preservation of the residential character at the street remains an important objective along South Oak Street, because this street, located near the gondola, is one of the entrances into the town and the historic district, and retains strong visual associations with other historic residential areas. The small-scale character, both along the street and in the interior of each lot, is encouraged.

It is a place of transition, containing a variety of historic single family frame houses and occasional institutional structures, such as the local landmark, Swede Finn Hall. These structures still establish the architectural tone. Nearly every parcel within the Residential/Commercial Treatment Area abuts other treatment areas. Being sensitive to relationships with these adjacent areas is important here. The second section is located north of Main Street and is also a mix of residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Town Hall, the Fire Station and Miner’s Union are found here.

The Residential/Commercial Treatment Area exhibits many features that are particularly attractive to pedestrian activity. Most houses have porches that orient the fronts of buildings toward the street and provide interest. Smaller outbuildings contribute to the character of side and rear yards and add visual interest to alleys. Fences, retaining walls and landscaping also enhance this pedestrian ambience. The predominant material in the area is finished wood lap siding, although brick and corrugated metal are also found. Sometimes decorative shingles are seen on gable ends eaves and on dormers to add some visual interest to the building.

The goals for this area are to accommodate new commercial uses and medium density residential projects while preserving the historic residential character. Another goal is to insure that increased commercial development is sensitive to its context by respecting the historic scale and established character. Many of the historic buildings in this area represent distinctive building types, such as the Swede Finn Hall. Emphasis is placed on preserving and restoring these historic structures, and upon developing new buildings that respect their older neighbors. Where a property abuts a historic building, special care should be taken in relating to these resources.

Throughout the Residential/Commercial Treatment Area it is important to enhance the pedestrian experience in order to minimize dependence on automobiles and to preserve the area as an attraction to residents and visitors. This is especially true for routes that tourists may use to circulate between the accommodations areas and Main Street. In this respect, development along South Oak Street and Pacific Avenue is of vital interest. Of significance is the new gondola, located at the base of Oak Street, which connects this area to the Mountain Village. The advent of the gondola means increased pedestrian traffic in this area. Commercial projects, therefore, will most likely increase.

The Residential/Commercial Treatment Area should develop in an organized manner so that an overall sense of integrated activity is achieved. A mix of uses is allowed, including retail, accommodations, residential and offices. Pedestrian amenities are encouraged, and natural assets, including views, should be protected and enhanced. The scale of projects in the area should be compatible with the overall residential scale of the town.