Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beach Club topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ocean Pines GM lays out multi‑phase Beach Club replacement plan and related amenity upgrades
Summary
General Manager John Viola told the board the Beach Club has received short‑term maintenance and the association will pursue a multi‑phase replacement study covering decks, pilings, an elevator and interior renovations; chunks of work will be bid separately and Touch Italy will invest in kitchen upgrades.
General Manager John Viola told the Ocean Pines Board that recent maintenance at the Beach Club addressed immediate safety and aesthetic issues, and he outlined a multi‑phase replacement plan that will be put out to separate bids.
Viola said crews replaced and painted boards, stabilized and secured railings, trimmed damaged palm branches, and addressed buckled decking and protruding nails. Those repairs, he said, have largely stopped resident emails about the structure.
Why it matters: The Beach Club sits on pilings and requires staged structural work and interior upgrades; the board will need to authorize phased contracts and manage budget timing to avoid prolonged closures.
On the replacement study, Viola said the board will chunk the work into separate projects — demolition, new decks (including a planned two‑tier deck that may extend about 16 feet in places), pilings, interior floor replacement, new windows and accordion doors, and potential electrical and plumbing upgrades. He said the plan includes installing an elevator to meet accessibility needs and that Touch Italy, a tenant/operator, will invest in a new kitchen and bathrooms.
Viola described next steps: staff expects detailed CAD plans within weeks, will solicit bids for discrete portions of the project, and aims to sequence work to limit amenity closures. He estimated the construction schedule for the firehouse (a separate project discussed in the same report) at about 60 weeks from the start of foundation work; bids and permitting timelines for the Beach Club replacement were described as imminent.
The board and staff emphasized accessibility and safety. Board member Rick (S2) reminded residents the elevator is an ADA requirement. Chair (S3) and others welcomed the concept of expanded upstairs dining and an improved view for patrons.
Earlier in the meeting, the GM also reported the Tiki kitchen opened May 29 to improve poolside service; an approved bid figure of roughly $316,317 was noted and the delivered cost reported at about $261,000. The Tiki kitchen investment was presented as a complementary amenity while the Beach Club replacement is planned.
What’s next: Staff will circulate CAD plans and scope documents to the board, solicit separate bids for the identified project chunks, and return to the board with cost estimates and recommended sequencing before contracts are awarded.
