VCCDD proposes purchasing old El Santiago restaurant building

[villages07]

From the July 18th agenda for the VCCDD central district. They are proposing a purchase of the old El Santiago restaurant from the developer with the intent to turn it into a rec center. The current El Santiago recreation facility (adjacent to the family pool) is very small and under-equipped.

http://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/PDFMeeting.aspx?id=20130718vc1021

[graciegirl]

From the July 18th agenda for the VCCDD central district. They are proposing a purchase of the old El Santiago restaurant from the developer with the intent to turn it into a rec center. The current El Santiago recreation facility (adjacent to the family pool) is very small and under-equipped.

http://www.districtgov.org/PDFView/PDFMeeting.aspx?id=20130718vc1021

Isn't this space currently sitting there empty, Villages07?

[villages07]

The restaurant space is empty, as it has been for several years.

There is an existing, very small rec center adjacent to the Santiago family pool that has one or two meeting rooms but no pool tables or large meeting room. It is not at the same level of size or equipment as say O'Dell or Bacall rec center. With the acquisition of the restaurant building, the assumption is it would expand the rec center size and capabilities.

[gomoho]

I hope they do this for the folks living in that neighborhood. Always good to see improvements being made.

[DonH57]

If they do build a new rec center for our village I'm hoping they at least turn the older smaller one into a sandwich or snack shop for the users of the golf course, pool, tennis or pickleball and shuffleboard courts. Although I'm sure some like me bring our own snacks and beverages to the pool.

[DianeM]

Sounds like a "makes sense" idea. Hope the proposition goes through.

[aln]

Definitely like the snak bar idea!:MOJE_whot:

[DonH57]

I don't believe it would happen as that would be competing against the country club pool side business which is an option to villagers. Would be nice though!

[zcaveman]

If they do build a new rec center for our village I'm hoping they at least turn the older smaller one into a sandwich or snack shop for the users of the golf course, pool, tennis or pickleball and shuffleboard courts.

Who would man it? Volunteers? I am sure it was a money making proposition, Morse would have his hand out for his share of the profits.

Z

[janmcn]

Any time the developer wants to make a deal with the residents, hold onto your wallet. Who doesn't remember the deal the residents got back in the early 2000's when we paid the developer nine times what it cost him to build several facilities...nine times.

[graciegirl]

Any time the developer wants to make a deal with the residents, hold onto your wallet. Who doesn't remember the deal the residents got back in the early 2000's when we paid the developer nine times what it cost him to build several facilities...nine times.

You did?

That is a pretty big net profit, but people are allowed to make a profit. Not everything is run in the red.

[travelguy]

like the snack bar idea near the pool; we had a great snack bar at most of the community pools in the philadelphia area where i grew up. slushies and hot dogs and penny candy (which cost a penny) and pretzels and on and on. why can't we have a good humor or mister softee ice cream truck going around to some of the neighborhood pools? remember the sound of the the bells or incessant circus-y music when they were coming down the street?
now i am hungry......and nostalgic!

[crummybuttons]

Us folks who live around this place wish it would go back to being a restaurant and bar. Imagine coming off the course and sitting on the beautiful back deck to tip a few beers. We don't need more pool tables when there are so many around. This place was a great meeting place and fun place to be. They keep closing all the good places like Chula Vista (remember that restaurant?) Silver Lake (remember that restaurant?) Now Orange Blossom is closed (remodeling they say) Make El Santiago into a restaurant/grill again!!!

[Jim 9922]

Us folks who live around this place wish it would go back to being a restaurant and bar. Imagine coming off the course and sitting on the beautiful back deck to tip a few beers. We don't need more pool tables when there are so many around. This place was a great meeting place and fun place to be. They keep closing all the good places like Chula Vista (remember that restaurant?) Silver Lake (remember that restaurant?) Now Orange Blossom is closed (remodeling they say) Make El Santiago into a restaurant/grill again!!!

I agree 100%. There were always 20,40,50 people using the Silver Lake and Chula restaurant and bar facilities. Lots of hometown/neighborhood interaction as long as the facilities were open. Refreshments after golf, friday night fish fries, a good Sunday brunch, etc. Now, maybe 4 or 6 people at a time in the glorified pool halls and maybe an activity group once in a while. Those ex-restaurant facilities are now dead almost all day long. At least they provide public johns! Problem is that the developer doesn't want them as restaurants and we have no say.

---or maybe the the family yacht needs a new paint job and the price we will be stuck with will fill the bill nicely.:duck:

[Warren Kiefer]

You did?

That is a pretty big net profit, but people are allowed to make a profit. Not everything is run in the red.

Yes a reasonable profit, but this is similiar to why we usury laws. These laws were established to keep anyone or any facility from charging outragous interest. If I am not mistaken the developer selling the VCCD facilities such as the Savannah Center is why the IRS issue is before us at this time. The IRS has declared that the bonds issued to make such purchases are not in fact tax exempt.

[Warren Kiefer]

Us folks who live around this place wish it would go back to being a restaurant and bar. Imagine coming off the course and sitting on the beautiful back deck to tip a few beers. We don't need more pool tables when there are so many around. This place was a great meeting place and fun place to be. They keep closing all the good places like Chula Vista (remember that restaurant?) Silver Lake (remember that restaurant?) Now Orange Blossom is closed (remodeling they say) Make El Santiago into a restaurant/grill again!!!

I have very reliable information that the existing Santiago Restaurant building has a severe mold issue and possible termites. I have been tolt hte mold problem is so severe that the building probably cannot be salvaged. There is a reason why the windows have all been boarded up.

[golf2140]

Any time the developer wants to make a deal with the residents, hold onto your wallet. Who doesn't remember the deal the residents got back in the early 2000's when we paid the developer nine times what it cost him to build several facilities...nine times.

You are completely wrong. The IRS said that we didn't pay enough.

[Baileysmom]

There were actually brand new windows put in that buidling a few weeks ago. Possibly if there was mold it was addressed then. It would be nice to have anything there, it is a good sized building in a nice location.

[graciegirl]

Yes a reasonable profit, but this is similiar to why we usury laws. These laws were established to keep anyone or any facility from charging outragous interest. If I am not mistaken the developer selling the VCCD facilities such as the Savannah Center is why the IRS issue is before us at this time. The IRS has declared that the bonds issued to make such purchases are not in fact tax exempt.

That is not my understanding of the issue.

I think a lot of people come on this forum and say nine times this or that and throw glittering generalities and unverified information around just to put down the developer.

I don't know any of the developers or their families but I didn't fall off the turnip truck and all I can see is a well run organization for very little amenity fee.

I think a lot of the nastiness is just class envy.

But I could be wrong. Old Gary could be sly as a fox and mean as a snake. But he sure as heck knows how to build pretty stuff for old people.

[Bonny]

That is not my understanding of the issue.

I think a lot of people come on this forum and say nine times this or that and throw glittering generalities and unverified information around just to put down the developer.

I don't know any of the developers or their families but I didn't fall off the turnip truck and all I can see is a well run organization for very little amenity fee.

I think a lot of the nastiness is just class envy.

But I could be wrong. Old Gary could be sly as a fox and mean as a snake. But he sure as heck knows how to build pretty stuff for old people.

I totally agree with you. And if they make a good profit, good for them. For what we have here, they deserve it !! I love what they have built for us. Livin' the dream !! :thumbup: