The Future is Now...

. "It takes a village to raise a child." Oops, we don't have any children in Sun City!”

We do have some residents who behave like children!

 

Many of us make the mistake of thinking in terms of what we know, not so much what can/might be. We've seen glimmers of growth in the old patch of garden land where K-Hov put up 142 new homes. We watched as Royal Oak built those new multi floor high end units, all opportunities for additional revenue. I'm not sure how many of you saw the proposal for changing Union Hills golf course, but it was indeed impressive.

If you read what i wrote as i was leaving the RCSC board in 2014, some of us understood there would be opportunities for growth. Those three for profit golf courses that used to be member only courses are ripe for some type of development. Shopping centers and churches will also become available as the changes happening within our society will provide more options for growing up rather than out.

As i have written often and for years, a community center, is the one missing piece to the puzzle. Lakeview rec center, with a massive 17 acre footprint and a drop dead gorgeous setting, has unlimited potential to become the hub of the community. We missed the boat when we passed on the Lakes Club, we shouldn't miss it again by not fixating on doing it right this time.

Hopefully the new board/management gets the Mountain View project done, off the books and satisfies the needs of the membership; QUICKLY. They are going to be wrestling with the 2025 water management plan from the state for the next 4-5 years; whether we like it or not. During that time, the RCSC board, management and the membership need sort out what the Lakeview remodel should look like/become.

The future is indeed now, but it needs to be viewed through the lens of what could be; not clinging to what was.

 

"Unburdened by what has been!"

 

When I go to restaurant, I ask to see a menu of what is available at what prices. I have always thought that is the way membership organizations should work with the majority of members making the decisions on what to order and their representatives working with management to make up the menu. Over time tastes will change and some items will disappear or offered in limited quantity while other items will be added, or the quantity of an existing item will be increased. I remember how popular liver and onions was in my hometown and now it is hard to find a restaurant that serves the dish.

What is the point of this parable? Well, in order to make up the menu of amenities offered at Sun City the representative leaders have to take a broader view and not be advocates for particular groups or special interests no matter how loud their lobbyists are. It requires really thick skin, an abundance of data and a curiosity about what could be. (more on this in the next post)

 

There sure are.
Take you crap sandwich and go somewhere else
stuff your opinion between your thigh folds if they are not hanging too low
no one gives a shit who you are

All very adult like rhetoric right?

 

And why destroy the courts at Lakeview. I can only think about the amount of money put into keeping them in such great shape. Bit of a shame to lose those courts. Sad!

 

John you mention price and I heard no cost estimates given for the structure built at any of the locations. Up the creek without a paddle?

 

Just finished watching the planning session and was wondering why so little time for community input about the recommendation. I thought any concerns could be voiced at an exchange meeting. Guess the rules for the exchanges are changing. Let the members speak about this at the exchange. Don’t limit discussion , encourage discussion!

 

Because that's the recommendation!

And perhaps that's an expense we can do without when you consider there would still be 5 other courts?

What's a shame is the amount of time and expense they've spent on talking about the renovation of Mountain View and so far nothing has been really decided!

 

And perhaps that's an expense we can do without when you consider there would still be 5 other courts?

Just finished watching the planning session and was wondering why so little time for community input about the recommendation. I thought any concerns could be voiced at an exchange meeting. Guess the rules for the exchanges are changing. Let the members speak about this at the exchange. Don’t limit discussion , encourage discussion!

And perhaps that's an expense we can do without when you consider there would still be 5 other courts?

What's a shame is the amount of time and expense they've spent on talking about the renovation of Mountain View and so far nothing has been really decided! Just to be clear FYI response to Tom T.

We need everything. We need to pay for it so the next gen can enjoy it. We need to make sure Sun City stays alive and well for many generations to come long after we are dead because our historian says so. My parents, The Greatest Generation, lived within their means. We are being forced to live and pay for the next generation. Take care of what we have. Put the 14 million into OUR facilities that WE use now and have paid for.

 

NEXT STEPS Performing Arts Center Decision

BE INFORMED
• WATCH VIDEO RCSC Board of Directors Planning Session – Thursday, October 31, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLy0Uy9sKWCJNLz37tn5ug/videos ️
• READ next week’s free Sun City Independent for a Scott Tyne’s article, usually delivered Monday or Tuesday.

PARTICIPATE ️

• Monday, Nov. 11, 2024 Exchange Meeting at Sundial, 9am Special Session after for PAC member discussion.
No Member comments about the PAC until afterwards at a Special Session about it. Exchange regular meeting welcomes all other non-PAC, RCSC related topics presented by members.

• Thursday, November 21, 2024 9am, board meeting. Board plans to vote about the PAC after hearing member comments.

 

Yes John, Our community for OUR use. I want to pay for what I enjoy, not what future generations may or may not enjoy. Put your own extra money into that if that is what you believe in. I am not wealthy. Donate your millions to the future of Sun City, do not speak for my funds. Let the newbies choose what they want. Do they want a $14 million PAC? Has anyone asked? Is this the truman story or one flew over the cuckoo's nest.

God help us and God bless us one and all.

 

I bought a home John, that's it. I looked in the mirror and saw amenities I can't use at this time. Millionaires buy communities, not me. If that's what you purchased you all put your money where your mouth is.

Blessings and have a good evening.

 

If allowed to speak at the special session I will respectfully request that the indoor pooch park and the theater be referred to the Long-Range Planning Committee to analyze and report back their findings on the cost versus benefits of these expenditures using their draft business case process. I believe this can be done relatively quickly because a great deal of data was developed by the SAC.

 

Great idea, John!

 

Someone still needs to explain to me exactly what this new PAC building will be used for other than a few plays a year?

This is not an "If you build it, they will come" facility.

Does the RCSC have any desire to be involved and figure out and schedule all the uses or will that be up to Members to requests for use?

I would like to know there plans for use! (i.e. Players, movie theater, orchestra, lecture series????)

At a cost of 14 million this facility needs to be occupied for some event several days a week!

I'm beginning to believe that community theater's are on the downside especially with the next generation.

And although I believe the architects mentioned the square footage, they didn't mention the seating capacity.

Just my opinion.

 

I find it odd; i truly do. The idea anyone living here is arguing about owning a home in Sun City, that was explicitly built, marketed and sold as buying into an active adult "community," is whining because, duh, it is precisely that...a community filled with activities and amenities. They knew when they purchased in Sun City it came at a cost. Too bad they didn't hear the sales pitch; you're not just buying a home, you are buying a way of life. And Lord knows it wasn't millionaires that were buying the community, it was everyday working women and men. It still is to this day.

The mistake that was made was we (the members) could get by without increasing costs. Not maintaining them was and always will be a recipe for disaster. Enhancing, refining, rebuilding and rebranding them for the next generation of home buyers is also essential. That was why the PIF was a stroke of genius. New buyers were paying for future improvements. It truly was the best of all worlds.

The greatest mistake we make is not marketing Sun City for/as the amazing active senior community it is. We relied on it just being a cheap place to live. It was shortsighted, it was folly. If those living here elect not to use any of the clubs, attend any of the events or fail to participate in the self-governance, that's clearly a choice and their right. Whining about it is also a choice; the problem is it rings hollow, as they they can fix it anytime they want by moving somewhere they can find the happiness (dare i say joy), they can't find in Sun City.

Nope, not telling anyone to move. Peace of mind and serenity all come from within. We used to call it the "geographic cure," and it was fallacy that many never grasp or understand. Hopefully they find peace someday, somewhere.

 

John,
My understanding is this is not a “special session”, but just dividing the exchange meeting into two segments; first one for all non-pac member comments, and second one for only pac member comments. If it really is a “special session” where the board will vote, then it should be clearly announced 7 days in advance, i.e. on Monday the 4th.

 

There are a lot of people on the Nextdoor App who agree with you. They will not/have no desire to join this app for a couple of reasons. So the aerial view of the PAC location makes no sense to me. We have 2 lakes, one is private. The other has nice views, even where the lawn bowling site is. No obstruction to the view of the lake, but let's throw in a huge building that would totally block the view from that area. I wonder how many would prefer to look at a 2 story cement building rather that a peaceful lake.