The Amenity Authority Committee on Wednesday tabled a presentation on the possible purchase of Hacienda Hills Country Club, with members indicating they want to see a price tag for the property.
Recreation Director John Rohan approached the podium to offer a conceptual presentation on possible uses for the now-shuttered country club, but was quickly shut down by AAC members.
A pencil drawing on display but never discussed, hinted at possible uses at Hacienda Hills Country Club. The drawing showed multiple pickleball courts and a large food and beverage service area.
The country club closed in April and the Developer has offered it to the AAC, for possible conversion to recreation facilities. It’s a practice that has occurred in years past at Silver Lake and Chula Vista, but a rocky $350,000 acquisition of The El Santiago Club restaurant in 2013 and its subsequent demolition to make way for the new El Santiago Recreation Center upset many residents. The AAC has been gun shy ever since, turning down a similar “opportunity” to acquire the restaurant at Tierra Del Sol.
One thing was abundantly clear at Wednesday’s AAC meeting – the Developer has no intention of making a “gift” of Hacienda Hills Country Club to the AAC, a resident-elected body overseeing amenities north of County Road 466.
The Developer is intent on selling it for full-market value or negotiating a lease/purchase of the property. No price has been suggested by the Developer.
“Until we know that, it is time we are devoting to discussion without knowing what the cost will be,” said AAC member Don Deakin.
Earlier this year, an overflow crowd of Villagers attended a meeting of the AAC, with residents making it clear they were skeptical of any purchase of Hacienda Hills Country Club.
“The community has been very, very vocal about this particular site,” AAC Chair Ann Forrester said at Wednesday’s meeting. “Our biggest job is to protect our money.”
Share your thoughts on the possible acquisition of Hacienda Hills Country Club through a letter to the editor at: https://www.villages-news.com/submit-letters-editor/
