Board Update #140 [2006/04/29]

 

[The following presentation was delivered at the April 27, 2006 Board Meeting by Al Reuben and is being posted as Board Update #140. -Ed.]

I want to emphasize that this is a status report of the Amenity Planning Process.  While we have addressed all aspects of the Amenity Plan, we are unable to commit to specifics until we have reliable cost estimates for the various projects.  Until then, we’re dealing with what we would like to see built, rather than the specifics of what will actually be constructed. Available

In January Scott Middleton announced that he was reserving money for the construction of Sun City’s final amenity package in an amount “north” of $10,000,000, if Pulte is successful in acquiring the land for the 500 units as part of the Argent II development. The actual number is now established at $13,000,000 if that land is acquired.

At that time Scott also announced that the Resident Board Members would act as the focal point of all amenity recommendations, and that the only thing on Pulte’s agenda was the construction of a facility in Argent II that would reflect the quality of other amenities, particularly that of the Hidden Cypress Golf and Recreation Center.

It’s important to note that Scott Middleton has granted the residents significantly more input into the amenity building process than any previous Pulte management.  Rather than doing what we had seen so many times before, Scott did not say I built it congratulations, it’s now yours, he said, “here’s the budget, sort it out.”  That is a major change in how the residents are involved in the process and that has been a welcome change.

Since that time Karen, Jerry and I, your Resident Board Members, have been sorting through what we believe to be the priorities, the recommendations from clubs, organizations, and individual residents and a great many ideas brought forward from any number of sources.  Those sources now include or shortly will include the Inter Club Council’s Space Task Force; Special Task Forces set up to investigate the needs of Pinckney Hall; a cross section representing the performing arts to study the needs of those groups and how those needs might be incorporated into Magnolia Hall; the Fitness Advisory Committee; the Golf Advisory Committee; and feedback from many individual residents.  We have not been lacking for resident input and will continue to seek more; indeed, we have received many valuable ideas for incorporation into what we hope will be the final plan.

The innumerable requests and data were sorted into the following priorities:

• The Argent II Golf and Recreation Center
• The Expansion of the Crafts Center in Town Square
• The Construction of Magnolia Hall
• The Remodeling of Pinckney Hall
• The Addition of Sports Facilities Located in Town Square
• The Remodeling of the Sales Center to Include Space for Our Employees, additional meeting space and a variety of service facilities that have been requested by residents.     

We then merged each of the suggestions into each of the above categories and discussed others that did not meet the definitions of those overall categories.

Please note that the construction of the Sports Park and the increase in garden plots for Okatie Farms---each to be ready later this year---and the construction of the Argent Lakes golf course are not part of the $13,000,000 allocation of dollars.

After much soul searching we have come up with a final list of amenities that we would like to see built.  However, I must caution you to understand that these are what are on the list we would like to see built.  The final decisions will be based on what can be built within the budget.

The Resident Board Members worked with the data provided by the ICC Space Planning Team under Don Avedon.  Don also helped to organize the study of the needs of Magnolia Hall, and working with various groups, particularly those from our performing arts groups outlined data for consideration for both the Craft Building Expansion and the Magnolia Hall construction.

Scott Middleton and Richard Espinoza assigned a full time Pulte employee to the project with the responsibility of working with the Resident Board Members on specifications, design and costs. It wasn’t long before we determined that this is a monumental task and also determined that we needed to approach Scott regarding additional funding to be used solely for land development, landscaping, parking lots and other major expenses for which we did not want to commit the budgeted dollars. Scott responded that the $13,000,000 could be used solely for the construction of buildings and facilities, and that the cost of land development, including landscaping parking lots and other such expenses would not be considered a part of that figure, thus raising the overall budget significantly.

It is hoped that the final list, assuming it can be brought in with the $13,000,000 will include the following:

• The Argent II Golf and Recreation Center--
  • 18 Hole Executive Course to be built by Pulte outside of the budget
  • A Club House
  • A Golf Learning Center
  • A Fitness Center
  • A Swimming Facility
  • A Snack Bar Suitable for Light Refreshments and Accessible to Golfers and Swimmers

• The Expansion of the Crafts Center in Town Square--

This space will be enlarged in two phases. The First phase will accommodate improved or larger facilities for the following activities:

• Photography Club
• Art Club
• Computer Club
• Ceramics Club
• Stained Glass Club
• Sewing
• And an enlarged Book Exchange

Expanded Billiard Facilities will be moved to a permanent location within the structure, and the Table Tennis Club will also have expanded facilities housed within the building.

Space will be constructed in a new wing of the Craft Center that will temporarily house our CAM employees. That will enable us to undertake the renovation of Pinckney Hall on a timely basis.  When the Sales Center is turned over to the Community Association, the new wing of the Crafts Building will be remodeled and those employees will be moved from their temporary facility.  Following that move, the vacated space in the Craft Center will be converted to additional space for crafts and other activities.

• The Construction of Magnolia Hall--

The plan for Magnolia Hall is to construct a 550 seat auditorium.  While the capacity will be about the  same as we currently have in Pinckney Hall, there will be an expanded stage and the floor would be sloped with permanent seating for performances, meetings by our larger clubs, lectures and conferences.  Additional meeting space will be  provided elsewhere for the smaller groups. That should enable us to have additional performances, allowing more residents to view the arts. It should be noted   that the performing dance groups will be moved from the Purrysburg Fitness Center to Magnolia Hall for rehearsals. That, when combined with the move of the table tennis facility to the Craft Center will allow more time and space for scheduling more classes at the Purrysburg Center.

• The Remodeling of Pinckney Hall--

Pinckney Hall will be remodeled by using the space vacated by the Billiard Room and the current offices, for additional meeting space and small conference areas.

• It is hoped the Additional Sports Facilities Located in Town Square will include:
  • Four additional tennis courts, rather than the  two previously scheduled
  • Three additional Bocce Courts
  • A reduction in the size of The Putt Putt Golf area
  • An additional Croquet Lawn

• The remodeling of the Sales Center, as previously mentioned will include not only space for our employees, but for additional uses yet to be determined and for which additional input will be solicited.  It should be noted that the Sales Center will not be turned over to the Association by Pulte for 3-4 years.

Delivering these amenities within the budget is proving very difficult, and until we have drawings from the architects, costs from the engineers, and costs for the furnishings needed for many of the locations, we cannot know if everything can be done.  What we do know is that anything other than these items cannot be built within the $13,000,000 budget.

The Resident Board Members will continue to work closely with the developer, with the architects and with specialty consultants to ensure we get the most value for our dollars. I assure you we will provide the specifics of each amenity as they are put onto paper. At buildout, if everything is constructed, Sun City Hilton Head will have approximately $60,000,000 of amenity space available to its residents.
 
It’s important to note that the Board recognizes that the process is behind schedule, and that’s unfortunate, but we will ensure that when we build the facilities, we will not skimp on the quality, and we will ensure that they will be wonderful additions to the community and be functional for our needs.

It’s unfortunate that we can’t build everything on the list, but there simply is no money for doing so. The caveat is cost. Until we have all of them we can’t be certain of anything.  However we are certain that if we can deliver these items within the budget, Pulte will build them.

Despite all of my disclaimers this morning, I am sure that many of you will leave here thinking that you now know what we are going to get.  You don’t until we have the numbers.  I’ll say one more time that what I have described is what we want to do if the money is adequate.  It’s a plan we hope to be able to deliver, not a promise.  Stay tuned.  More information and more specifics will be forthcoming as they become available.

Submitted by Al Reuben 

Jerry McQuaid	gmcqu43034@aol.com
Karen Pacifico	icare@thepacificos.com
Al Reuben	alreubenschh@aol.com