Follow-up: Mountain View Center Town Hall Presentation,Tues. 9/16/2025

For your viewing pleasure;
RCSC Video
Mountain View Town Hall - TriARC Programming Presentation - Tuesday, September 16, 2025
➡️ HERE

 

Hello,
I struggled to listen, but did to the MV Town Hall presentation. What I just heard needs to be understood by everyone who cares. The presenter-architect said that MV is mostly focused on being the place of performing arts and will be weak on the fitness center aspects. Just so everyone who is debating this and especially the people living near MV knows, the PAC is still very much alive and is going to MView!
I am not a big PAC supporter because I wanted to see more outdoor and fitness being developed for homeowners and future homeowners. I was hoping we would really give MV a resort style feel which would better reflect the look of that area in SC. Again, like Lakeview, someone feels we need a large indoor theater.
To me the question will be, what will that do to that neighborhood in our southend? Imagine it being there, what would noise, traffic and congestion do to that humble really bedroom neighborhood?
I don't even feel confident if you have say holiday shows there, what kind of parking would happen to the neighborhood.
I don't know but not feeling better from listening to Tri-arc.
I thought if some kind of theater has to be built, why not use the corner of 99th and Hutton where you would have a more make sense traffic in and out flow plus already a huge parking lot to support.
Even if MV has a smallish theater, what does that mean for people who want to have more physical fitness opportunities.
I don't know, I'm still not convinced.

 

The one thing the presenter said a few times is that they are trying to please all of the many groups, and maybe that is going to be our mistake. Trying to create something to please many groups seems like that may in the end hurt us. I know my words may not be popular, but I think we need to focus on neighborhood and that rather small piece of land. Trying to fit in all the club options sounds like something will keep us chasing our tail. I believe in more decisive vision than what I am getting from this meeting. Too much data and 'under the microscope' thinking here. It has now turned me off. Sorry.

 

Too each their own E, and for some, the outcome will be less than what they wanted or anticipated. It's the nature of the beast.

I'm a little surprised by your remarks and i will tell you why: TriARC representatives made the comment of trying to preserve the "soul of the center." I found that interesting and on point. I'll break down my take on why that is important.
1). The swimming pool area has always been the heart of the discussion. With it's large pool deck, it became a community gathering space for users and visitors alike. They are on task to enhance it and create an even more inviting space with the outdoor spa added (don't hold your breath on the lap pool).
2). The second piece of the puzzle that has defined Mountain View was the auditorium. When it opened in June of 1967 it was the largest indoor flat space and quickly became the destination for large indoor events; including home of the Sun City Players. That too will be the case, though far smaller than the Players were requesting. Hopefully they will look at retractable seating and the price differences (i'm not holding my breath).
3). The fitness area/dressing rooms/indoor spa have long been a sore spot. They were wholly inadequate as they aged poorly and fitness trends evolved. They clearly are on track to improve what was. The likelihood of how large will depend on the budget. To be blunt, an incredible fitness center at Fairway is less than a mile away. That will impact, along with the budget, just how big the sq footage is.
4). Mini-golf is a fan favorite and is the only one in phase 1. We know from the presentation, that will stay.
5). The rest of the debate is over lawn bowling/pickleball/tennis. As a lawn bowler, some would expect me to scream for the green to remain. I watched as lawn bowling numbers for 2024 were released in the initial presentation and on Tuesday night, saw a massive bump (?). We have greens at 4 other venues, one at Fairway, less than a mile away. Tennis, like lawn bowling is a sport with diminishing numbers. That said, one venue (Bell) isn't enough. The Lakeview courts are crap and should be gone. Pickleball is growing, the challenge is everyone/everywhere is building courts. Somewhere the board has to sort out what makes sense for that outdoor sports area.

Suffice to say, the "soul of the center" will be preserved. The minute i followed the TriARC presentation and saw the bloated figures i came to understand they allowed every stakeholder to just give them their want list. This community cannot afford to function with everyone getting what they want. Every center cannot be all things to all members.

Those living around Mountain View have waited too long. They need to get moving (and they are), and get this done. Going over budget isn't an option as the PIF has funds are dedicated to projects with little wiggle room. No one will get everything they want, most will get what they need.

As always, this is just one man's opinion based on watching, listening and understanding Sun City history and unique style of self-governance.

 

Hi Bill,

I did not physically attend the meeting, so I have not seen the print out and sample drawings.
I did finish listening now to the meeting. I think I feel better about the plan after listening to the entirety of the meeting.
I wish I could see the drawings. Do you know if there is a way I can see the sample drawings?
It is a good first step to getting it done. I am concerned mostly about putting a PAC in that humble neighborhood, noise and cars.
I did not mean to sound negative, only concerned, but I feel as you and most we have to put action into the plan.
Sorry did not mean to sound negative so early in the day. I hope it all comes together and improves the community more.

 

No worries Eileen, all of us have Mountain View remodel fatigue. It's been the project that never ends. Those living around it have been treated shabbily by the constant stops and starts. Those following it just want the center to become the best it can be and at a price we can afford.

I was always in favor of the PAC being more in the center of the community. I learned early on, the Players want it where it is. I suspect that's more a function of having to wait even longer, but from a practical standpoint, they would draw better at either Lakeview or Bell.

In both cases, we would be everything would have been pushed further down the road. Further delays are senseless. The reality of building costs are going to set in and what we get done will be far removed from the TriARC presentation. Ultimately we will get a scaled down, very nicely appointed recreation center that fills four or five of the community's needs.

The look and feel will be of an updated and modern setting, while still maintaining some of the DEVCO charm. I suspect you will see a spectacular pool setting (simply because those costs are far less than building costs) that members will love. The problem of course is, even if they move quickly, members won't have access until sometime in 2028.

 

Yes, you've said it right, I am quite fatigued by years of talking. I also think a PAC should of been where you stated.
The current style of building navigation combined with excessive detail has made my head spin.
It's hard to keep one's momentum.

 

Quite honestly, I do not know what the soul of the center means. My concern, expressed in the meeting was we are doing one center without considering the other centers capacity and functionality. We have no overall plan. You know I am a data hound. The data (which I have a copy of) shows Sundial currently has plenty of capacity to host the Players club three plays, including rehearsals and would have even more capacity if the facility built at Mountainview was suitable (flat floor) for some of the nonperformance groups who currently use Sun Dial. The data also shows that any sloped floor theater would sit virtually empty four months of the year.
Unfortunately, not a lot of members seem to care perhaps because the PIF pot exists and does not impact their current assessment. My current view, subject to change based on feedback, is the only wow factor in the current plans for Mountainview is wow it costs a lot of money to maintain the excess capacity RCSC already has and to fulfill the 100+/- member Player's club wish list. I think we already knew that. BTW - At $600 per square foot it would only cost $2.4M to build a 4000 sf back of the house behind the stage at Sun Dial that could be used by all performance groups and professional entertainers. Cost estimates we received for over 500+ high quality retractable theater quality seats was less than $1M. These retractable seats would NOT significantly impact the space available for Bingo and would greatly enhance the patron experience for the thousands of members who attend musical performances. Tom Morone and Gary Osier have done extensive research on the use of retractable seats and there are almost unlimited options.

 

Simple enough; the original character of the center would be preserved.

 

You are much more versed in SC history than anyone I know. I will defer to you that this is the original character of the center. I just wonder if we are stuck in the past?

 

How many present homeowners, and more importantly, how many future homeowners care about the original character of MV?

 

None

 

Curious response John. After more than 10 years of listening to those living around and using the Mountain View Rec Center, preserving the integrity of what it was sounded important to me. I would have expected you heard much of the same through those SAC sessions.

Mountain View, especially the pool area, has long been heralded as the most community friendly of all of them. It has been since the day it opened.

But what the hell do i know eh?

Just one man's opinion.

 

I thought each rec center is for any member no matter where they live. The idea that only those in the immediate area of a center should decide what should be done is wrong. Each member can claim an interest in each center. (imho)