Meeting rolls out $1.5 million, 4-phase sales center renovation project

SUN CITY – Rarely has a renovation project generated so much attention from so many.

This Churchillian statement probably best describes Sun City’s reception to the unveiling of detailed plans for renovation of Prairie Lodge after Pulte Homes vacates the Sales Center it has occupied for more than 12 years.

Now that only a few new-home lots are left to sell, Pulte is relocating its small sales staff to one of its model homes near the center this month. In January, the Sun City Community Association expects to receive the deed for the space and can start construction on a project to convert the design center and sales offices into storage and activity spaces for Sun City charter and interest groups, and relocate some offices for the community association staff.

For the most part, residents liked what they saw and heard at two meetings held to inform them of the changes.

Tentatively, plans call for completion of the project in 6-7 months, or by sometime next fall.

About 350 residents attended the first meeting on December 8 to see a power-point presentation presented by the Conversion Committee that is coordinating the project. Almost as many attended the second session. That means about 600 residents, many of them Charter Club officers, got a first-hand look at future plans for the lodge.

The renovation is part of a four-phase effort to expand activity and storage space for Sun City that began more than two years ago. The first two phases include construction of the cold storage building along Del Webb Blvd. near neighborhoods 2 and 32, and minor changes to spaces in both Prairie and Meadow View lodges. Phases 3 and 4 comprise the sales center and design center conversions.

The renovation project itself is expected to cost around $1.5 million. It is being financed by CAM board reserves set aside for this purpose starting several years ago. About $300,000 has been spent so far for research and design services provided by PHN Architects of Aurora. Bill Berendt, CAM board chairman, said this project will not result in any increase in monthly fees paid by residents.

The renovation construction consists of four individual projects, as presented on December 8 by Andy Dogan, principal of PHN Architects:

1. Conversion of the sales center office area immediately east of the atrium into a large, L-shaped multi-purpose room for use by performing arts groups, among others. It will include removable walls for the creation of several smaller rooms, a warming kitchen, and storage space.

2. Conversion of the current Pulte design center into a new office complex, work area, and the member services desk for the community association staff.

3. This design center work will allow renovation of the current member services desk area near the current main entrance into additional storage space for Drendel Hall and a new arts and crafts area.

4. Minor changes to the CAM office space in the basement underneath the sales center.

“We hope this will be as seamless a project as possible,” said Bill Berendt, CAM board chairman. “Our goal is to make the changes appear like they have been there all along. Once we receive the deed from Pulte, we will proceed with the bidding from contractors as quickly as possible.”

Several residents spoke for creation of a small café and coffee bar in the sales center area. Berendt said this was discussed by the Conversion Committee, and a decision was made not to spend money to create such a facility now. “This is a possibility for the future, if a vendor wants to come in there and create one,” he said. He added that Twelfth Night, former operator of the Walleye Grill, tested the café idea earlier this year and found that most residents talked to weren’t interested in one.

This project was delayed for at least two years by the economic recession, during which sales of the final new lots by Pulte slowed substantially. As of about 30 days ago, three remaining Pulte sales staff members had nearly 50 more new lots to sell.

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