Lizard Acres Pub renovation underway in Sun City West; completion expected in September

Construction is underway at Lizard Acres Pub in Sun City West, and the work is expected to continue through September, interim capital projects manager Carl Wilhelm said. The renovation, Carl Wilhelm said, will double the size of the bar, add more than 24 seats and include an ADA-compliant area, new air-conditioning equipment and a fire egress corridor in the bowling-center locker room. The project team is accepting community donations of decor items that will be vetted before installation. Wilhelm, the interim capital projects manager, said, “When we designed these plans, best laid plans, everything that we talked about over the last few years were put in our architectural development. County gets involved and fully recognized with the engineers that we needed an extra air conditioning unit.” Steven, the presenter in a video update, said the association has fully funded the project and showed viewers current construction inside the pub. “This is an active construction site,” he said, and cautioned members that it is not open for entry at this time. The renovation will relocate and expand the bar area toward the poolside and create a defined entertainer and dance zone intended to improve sound and safety; Wilhelm described an iron rail system to separate patrons at the bar from the dance area. He said the design includes a point of sale and an additional point of sale, and that patrons at the bar will not be disturbed by those ordering drinks. Wilhelm described seating and layout specifics: a 14-by-13-foot booth area in one corner, a matching 9-by-14 booth area elsewhere, and permanently mounted community tables to expand the entertainment environment. He said multiple trade partners are working simultaneously and described plumbing being installed underground and in the ceiling and air-conditioning crews on site. Steven said the project team is soliciting community-donated items—“cool beer signs, vintage bowling stuff,” and a donated softball jersey that will be shadowboxed—to help make the pub more community-focused; Wilhelm said donated items will be vetted through the association’s process. Steven also said the pub’s planned decor is displayed on a stand in the concourse and on the association’s website for members to preview. No formal votes or public-agenda actions were discussed in the video update; the statements in the update were descriptive of the renovation work in progress. Wilhelm characterized recent design changes as responses to safety and comfort concerns raised during permitting and engineering review, notably the need for an additional air-conditioning unit and a fire corridor for egress. The association did not provide a precise final completion date beyond the September timeframe mentioned by Wilhelm, and did not provide a detailed budget breakdown in the video; Steven said the project is “fully funded.” Members seeking more information were directed to view the design displays on the concourse or on the association website.