Committee discusses Barn 8, senior center and marina parking as top facility priorities

Committee members used the Jan. 29 meeting to raise a number of facility and capital priorities, centering on two aging barn buildings, needs for senior services and congregating space, marina parking congestion and a 40-acre association parcel sometimes called "area wide."

Why it matters: committee members said deferred maintenance and underused assets are affecting resident services and the association’s long-term financial exposure. Several members argued for a near-term decision pathway for Barn 8 and for a strategy to convert or replace existing indoor space for community and senior programming.

Barns, senior center and community space: multiple members said Barn 8 is not safe and requires either significant investment or removal; Barn 6 and the rotunda were discussed as possible sites for a senior center. One member said the barn structures "are not safe" and argued for either a replacement building or a cluster of smaller buildings for flexibility. Members advocated for a senior center with kitchen and accessible entrances so older residents can "age in place" and maintain community ties.

Marina parking, paid parking and revenue ideas: committee members discussed paid parking or electronic pay stations at the marina to reduce congestion and raise revenue for maintenance. Suggestions included modern QR-code payments and charging nonresident visitors a fee to park.

Area-wide parcel and revenue projects: the committee discussed a roughly 40-acre association parcel (southwest corner near Lake Wacker Boulevard) as a long-term asset. Ideas floated included residential development, assisted-living or third-party financed solar arrays with covered parking that could generate revenue. Members emphasized that environmental and permitting rules become stricter over time and urged the committee to decide whether to preserve or develop the parcel.

Association finances and reserved funds: committee members reviewed previously reserved funds and recent borrowing. Participants said funds have been set aside for barn projects (one figure cited was about $815,000 for Barn 8 and about $1.1 million referenced for a pavilion/ Barn 6-related obligation). A committee member summarized a mortgage on the Welcome Center of approximately $1.6 million and said monthly debt service is expected to decline from a figure cited in discussion (~$27,022) to a lower number later in the year; a projected payoff year of 2030 was mentioned. Participants asked staff and finance to provide clearer, written figures for the board and membership before any large capital plan is proposed.

Next steps: members urged prioritizing actions and asked staff to prepare cost estimates, options and a recommended sequence (necessity vs. wish list). Several members suggested third-party capital (e.g., third-party-funded solar or storage) to reduce association risk. One committee member said there is existing cash available in restricted funds and that borrowing could be an option, but stressed transparency before any special assessment.

Ending: the committee asked staff and finance to present clearer cost and funding scenarios at a future meeting so the committee can rank priorities and draft recommendations to the board.