Plans for the new Hotel Aspen were approved this week, but the Aspen Skinny real estate blog argues that the project is unlikely to ever be built. A lengthy public process meant that the building plans (particularly the 3 free-market townhomes on the backside of the property) were whittled down past the point of economic viability. Not a good sign for a city with several aging lodging properties. [The Aspen Skinny]