2021-03-20 HarringtonSunday, March 21, 2021 at 09:12:30 Pacific Daylight Time
Page 1 of 2
Subject:Fwd: Kelly Slater project that died
Date:Saturday, March 20, 2021 at 5:57:49 PM Pacific Daylight Time
From:Monica Harrington
To:consulGngplanner@laquintaca.gov
Hi Ms. Christe,
I submiOed a leOer to you earlier, but wanted to share two other items with you:
1. Regarding previous Slater wave project that didn't move forward
hOps://wavepoolmag.com/florida-wave-pool-curse/
2. Item from Desert Sun regarding the consequences of some local failed development projects:
hOps://www.desertsun.com/story/news/2021/03/19/palm-springs-taking-legal-acGon-against-four-stalled-
hotels/4766568001/
The gist of what I'm asking you to consider is the risk of moving forward on a project that raises so many
environmental and aestheGc issues and that relies on unproven technology, backed up against the crown jewels of La
Quinta - the gorgeous mountains that frame the Western mountain views of Coachella Valley.
If the project stalls midstream, or the technology fails, the enGre community will pay. I think the enGre project needs
to be re-examined, but if any part of it moves forward, it should only do so with a system of checks and balances to
miGgate the potenGal consequenGal damage to the broader community. Examples of how you might miGgate involve
providing clear environmental standards for each stage of the project before approving any subsequent stage. How
much noise is the wave pool really going to create? What happens if the reverberaGons off the walls of Coral
Mountain cause the noise to carry much further than anGcipated? How do you protect the night sky with 80 foot
light poles and what are likely to be jumbotron screens and loud broadcasGng? Is this consistent with what city
planners believe makes sense for a development at the very base of its fabled mountains?
This mission statement of the Riverside planning department is to "to protect the health, safety and welfare of
our residents and visitors through the equitable enforcement of building standards, which serve to
safeguard our built environment, ensure sustainable faciliGes and enhance the quality of place for our
community.
I don't understand how the proposed project safeguards the built environment and enhances the quality of
place for the community.
I do understand the challenges you face. At one time in my career, I spearheaded the community relations
effort for a huge (several hundred million dollar project) that was built in downtown Seattle. Part of what we
did was to hold regular public and publicized community meetings so that we and city planners could hear
and understand neighbors' concerns. Here we have a process where the plans for this project have been
deliberately opaque, presented through the filtered gauze of artist renderings that show low-scale buildings
and a low key vibe. Nowhere in any of drawings or the brief text accompanying them (check the architect's
website) is there any mention of the noisy, brightly lit atmosphere and four-story hotel the developers are
actually planning.
Sincerely,
Monica Harrington
Best,
Page 2 of 2
Best,
Monica Harrington
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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Sorcery: Florida wave pool curse fact or fiction?Sorcery: Florida wave pool curse fact or fiction?
Written by Bryan Dickerson
May 5, 2020
Sometimes America’s can-do spirit and moxie just don’t work out. Trending FloridaMan feats like
tossing alligators through drive-thru windows or trying to shoot down hurricanes captivate us because
FloridaMan tries and fails brilliantly. “A” for e!ort means a lot in The States even if it is a stupid idea in
the first place.
When the World Surf League sunk $6million into the purchase of what turned out to be swampland for
the next Kelly Slater pool we chalked it o! to bad luck. But then a"er some digging we soon learned
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3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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many other tales of wave pool failure in the Sunshine State. There’s the one about Disney’s 1972
machine that destroyed expensive beachfront, the building height war with Harry Potter that tanked
the Sky Surfpark and the infamous 2008 Ron Jons wave pool that ate itself.
So, suppose it didn’t matter how much e!ort FloridaMan (and the rest of us) put into our respective
escapades, the result would always be the same? Failure. Florida is part of the Bermuda Triangle a"er
all. But today, without WWll fighter squadrons to feast on, maybe that mysterious vortex now makes
people smoke bath salts and eat other people’s faces. Harsh? Yes. But how else would you explain so
much strange in such a small geographical area?
These wave pools aimed high, and we salute them for that. They tried in true red, white and blue
fashion but some mysterious power out there foiled their fruition. Yes. The Florida Curse.
Swamp Not a Great Place for Kelly Slater Wave Co
The company announced plans for the Florida sister wave to the Surf Ranch in 2017. The West Palm
Beach project would have facilitated a massive 16-acre surf lagoon surrounded by several buildings
including a learning center, surf club and training hub.
The application stated the project would have created more than 300 jobs and pumped $33 million
into the economy. However, citing the high water table and a series of “unforeseen challenges” the
WSL decided to tank the project.
“The nature of this site, including the extremely high water table, exposed unforeseen challenges that
made the decision around this unique project clear,” the company said in a statement. “The WSL is
disappointed to confirm our decision to cancel the development of the wave basin planned for West
Palm Beach, Florida.”
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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What those unforeseen challenges are can be any one of several things. As wave pool makers will tell
you that building a wave pool is fraught with pitfalls (although they might not say this in front of
investors). Of those, permitting seems to be the biggest.
A Florida news station reported that homeowners in the area of Kelly’s proposed wave pool, as well as
the Sierra Club, raised concerns about water pollution, tra!ic and crowds when the plans were
announced two years ago.
Old School Disneyland Pool Destroys Shoreline
In the early 1970s, Disney pumped huge resources into transforming the state of Florida into a theme
park Mecca. In the process, Mickey and company created the Seven Seas Lagoon complete with a wave
machine in the hopes of astounding visitors with live surfing demonstrations. The “surf generator” was
anchored to one of the islands and sent surf across the lake to break along the far shore bathymetry.
Consisting of eight hydraulic paddles, the machine worked great pumping out surf across the
customized lagoon and onto a beach. But Disney didn’t plan for the wave action eroding the expensive
man-made beaches and clouding the clear water with brown muck. They did more testing, tried a few
solutions but finally had to pull the plug on the wave pool. The lake remains surf-less to this day.
But that can-do spirit and drive to create something to compete with Florida’s famous beaches did
lead to the creation of Typhoon Lagoon the surf spot that set the standard for wave pools in its day.
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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Ron Jon Surf Park Excites, Disappoints then Implodes
Ron Jon Surf Shop would invest millions into a wave pool that basically self-destructed. The Ron Jon
Surf Park was all set to become the world’s first surf-specific wave pool at the close of 2008. The project
included customizable bathymetry, so wave shape could change with the contour of the pool bottom
at the push of a button. But it didn’t go as planned.
“Engineers failed to account for the tremendous pressure exerted downward when waves break,” said
wave pool developers Honokea. “Their prototype destroyed itself during testing. A"er the $9 million
technology budget was exhausted, the project was halted indefinitely.”
Jimmy Wilson was much less diplomatic about the Ron Jons wave pool in an article he wrote for Stab
saying that while the project had a solid financial foundation and unprecedented hype, the wave was
ultimately disappointing.
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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Ron Jons wave pool prototype Photo by Stab/Jimmy Wilson
“The moment we pulled up to the contraption disappointment set in,” wrote Wilson. “I just knew it
wasn’t going to work, but I decided to retain a little hope until I watched the first waves pump out.
Here’s the play-by-play of what I witnessed… Fi"y-kilo super-grom Evan Geiselman struggles to work
the knee-high dribbler into the inside section and almost manages to get radical with a pathetic
whitewater climb at the end, before dry-docking himself on a shitty metal grill.”
The Orlando Sentinel was kinder about the project than Stab.
“Festival Bay Mall has given up on the original deal for the Ron Jon Surf park, a partially built
International Drive attraction slowed by repeated delays in the four years since it was announced,” the
Sentinel reported. “Also, Cocoa-based Ron Jon Surf Shop has pulled its name from the project, and the
attraction’s developers say they need more cash before they can continue.”
The artist renderings of the Sky SurfPark which hoped to have two American Wave Machines devices.
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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Harry Potter Uses Dirty Magic to Chop Sky SurfPark
Imagine surfing a wave-like Waco’s atop a 10-story building. Sky Surf Park was an add-on to the
monstrous Skyplex development in Orlando before Universal Studios speared approval. The project
began in 2012 and secured funding for a 10-story high entertainment/retail complex complete with a
350-room hotel and the world’s tallest roller coaster. There were two American Wave Machines surf
devices planned, a SurfStream standing wave device and a PerfectSwell design.
Skyplex seemed a good fit given Orlando’s theme-park draw to tourists both domestic and
international. But one report claimed the top suits at Universal took issue with the development’s
height. Once completed, the wave pool at Skyyplex would (allegedly) ruin the view from The Wizarding
World of Harry Potter just down the road. Universal battled the project in typical deep-pockets
methodology by funding a concerned citizens group called Save Our Orange County.
“This project will result in noise and light pollution, as well as more tra!ic at the heavily congested
intersection of Sand Lake Road and International Drive,” the group stated. “Standing at 700 feet, nearly
50% taller than any structure in the county, this enormous proposed ‘Skyplex’ tower will be seen for 30
miles.”
Skyplex responded to the group by calling Universal a bully and taking the unusual step of requesting
that all parties “play nice.”
But Harry Potter’s tactic worked. Three years ago construction was put on hold pending the proper
permits. Then, in January of 2019, it was decided the whole project would be shrunk down to reduce
costs and land footprint. There have been no further updates from developers and there is no website
for the project. Their last Facebook (5K followers) post was December 2017 with their Twitter (2.1K
followers) feed dying two years earlier.
Will we see a wave at Skyplex in Orlando? We hope the Florida Curse li"s soon and we call all enjoy
some new surf spots beyond Typhoon Lagoon. In the meantime, Wavegarden has two Florida projects
on their Wavegardens-Around-the-World-map. With the proper permits, enough elevation and some
alligator fencing, the company could be the first to break the Florida curse.
Tags: florida, kelly slater florida, polynesian lagoon, ron jons surf park, sky surfpark
3/21/21, 9:18 AMTop 4 Florida wave pool projects that didn't work out
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NEWS
Palm Springs says it will take legal
action to force 4 stalled hotels to finish
development
Erin Rode Palm Springs Desert Sun
Published 10:03 a.m. PT Mar. 19, 2021 Updated 2:27 p.m. PT Mar. 19, 2021
The city of Palm Springs is moving forward with legal action against four stalled hotels in
an attempt to force the hotel owners to complete development on the projects.
The Palm Springs City Council authorized the City Attorney's Office to proceed with legal
action against the owners of four hotels: the Andaz Hotel on Palm Canyon Drive, the
Dream Hotel on Amado Road, the Orchid Tree on Belardo Road and the TOVA on North
Palm Canyon Drive.
More:What's up with all the hotel delays in Palm Springs? Mayor Geoff Kors gives
updates
The city called the stalled properties "a nuisance to their neighborhoods and to the
community at large" in a press release Thursday.
The City Attorney's Office is seeking a court-ordered receiver for the properties, who
would then be charged in court to complete the hotels or demolish them. If this happens,
the owners of the property would still own their properties and the cost of completing or
demolishing the properties would be paid by the property owners.
“The City of Palm Springs is always willing to work with our property owners. But, at some
point, if those property owners do not do what is right for their neighbors and the rest of
the City, we are forced to use whatever legal tools are available to us, in order to protect
our residents, businesses and visitors," Mayor Christy Holstege said in the press release.
City Manager David Ready told The Desert Sun that the legal action represents a "parallel
track" in the city's strategy to get the hotels completed.
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"We certainly invite the owners and developers to proceed as fast as they can, however at
the same time we are moving forward with the legal process, and that will take some time.
For example, a year from now, when we're down the road on both of these tracks, if the
developer has actually performed or convinced the City Council and community that they
can proceed, the city can always pull back from the legal proceeding. But if they have not
demonstrated that, we can proceed and the court will hopefully go forward with the
receivership," Ready said.
How we got here: The Andaz
Located at the corner of Alejo Road and North Palm Canyon Drive, the Andaz has been in
the works for years, and legal issues have led to multiple delays.
Developer Lawrence Rael purchased the 4.1-acre site in 2005 at the height of the market.
The initial concept was to develop condos. But the Great Recession put a stop to those
plans. In March 2015, city officials signed off on the plans to put up a hotel. The 150-room
hotel under Hyatt’s higher-end Andaz flag was to be outfitted with suites, a spa, on-site
fitness classes, a lounge and an Argentinian seafood restaurant. The ground floor was to
encompass approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space.
The city incentivized the Andaz with a $2 million payment to be made after the
competition of about 130 free public parking spaces at the site. But that money will be paid
when the project is completed and the city actually gets the spots, Ready has said.
Legal battles and disputes among the general contractor and subcontractors have caused
problems and delays, as The Desert Sun reported in November 2019.
In December 2019, Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors said: Rael "has told us and repeated
today that they’ll be starting in January full steam ahead."
In May 2020, Hall Structured Finance, a private construction lender, acquired a
controlling interest in the property and assumed responsibility for completing the hotel. At
the time, the Palm Springs City Council gave Hall a six-month extension on a construction
deadline to possibly catch up on the project.
Donald Braun, president of Hall Group, which is affiliated with the project, said at the time
that while the company can't give the city a completion date it aims to get the project
restarted.
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"It will be in our plans to move this forward, to get it ready for construction," he said. "We
own a half-built hotel, which isn’t exactly a very good financial investment at the moment,
so we're going to need to figure out a way to move it forward."
Dream Hotel
At the November 2017 groundbreaking for the Dream Hotel, developer Lauri Kibby stood
in front of a flower wall with the hotel's name spelled out with white roses and told city
leaders that the project would be completed in two years.
Rumors began swirling in fall 2019 about whether the project was still underway because
Dream-branded fencing was switched out to brown construction fencing. Kors addressed
that speculation at a December 2019 City Council meeting.
"That was at our request, because that fencing was getting faded and ripped and we
wanted it to look better," Kors said at the time.
The project had a February 2020 deadline to start building.
The project's financing stalled due to liens on the property after the general contractor
didn't pay the subcontractors, Kors said in December 2019.
Orchid Tree
Though the Orchid Tree was initially approved in 2016, it has faced several delays. Plans
call for a restaurant, spa and 74 hotel rooms, according to the city.
The City Council in November 2019 approved a timeline for the developer that would see
the hotel open in early 2022.
A year after giving developer Richard Weintraub an extension, the City Council voted
unanimously in November to approve an updated agreement that included a performance
schedule. A failure to adhere to the schedule could lead to the contract being terminated.
The schedule was as follows:
November 2020: Submit construction documents and apply for building permit.
March 2021: Get city approval of construction documents. Obtain all building permits.
June 2021: Begin constructing the hotel.
December 2021: Have "substantially complete" construction.
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February 2022: Open the hotel.
Tova
The former Garden Vista Hotel at 1875 N. Palm Canyon Drive (also known as the Shiloh
Inn) was slated to become the Tova Hotel and Beach Club, complete with a new 200-seat
restaurant, fitness club and spa. A 2017 report in The Desert Sun, quoting developers, said
all 124 guest rooms would be gutted and renovated, and new construction would involve
building a 3,700-square-foot building to house the fitness room, restrooms and storage.
And another 15,200-square-foot building would be constructed to house the restaurant.
Kors said in November 2019 that the developers had planned to finance the project using
an EB-5 visa program. But changes to that federal program undid their plans. Also known
as the Immigrant Investor Program, the EB-5 program is an employment-based visa
system that provides a way for foreign investors to obtain a green card if they put up
money for job-creating projects in the United States.
Previous reporting from Desert Sun reporter Melissa Daniels is included in this report.
Erin Rode covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Palm Springs, Cathedral City and
Desert Hot Springs. Reach her at erin.rode@desertsun.com.
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