LAKE COUNTY — Officials and county staff said Tuesday at the Board of Supervisors meeting that they are excited at the idea of buying the Lucerne Hotel and possibly developing it into a college.
Supervisors sitting as the Board of Directors of the Lake County Redevelopment Agency unanimously approved the option to buy the property, which will be set for a public hearing on whether to approve a purchase agreement to buy the property.
The hotel is also known at the Lucerne Castle.
County administrator Kelly Cox said the agency could work with local colleges or vocational colleges to develop an educational center, possibly including a conference center.
“It has tremendous potential,” Cox said.
He said he thinks the project has an “educational opportunity here locally where we can really put the kids to work.”
Director Denise Rushing, who represents the Lucerne area, said she thinks the idea of a partnership with education is exciting.
She said residents asked her why the agency couldn”t buy the Lucerne water system to help what she called a truly struggling community.
Rushing told the public the water system is not for sale and development of the hotel might bring in more residents and businesses, lowering the water charges.
“A healthy economic community will make a difference,” Rushing said.
Chairman Anthony Farrington said he thinks a culinary education program that partners with the wine and hospitality industries would be an interesting idea.
Farrington reminded the public that redevelopment tax dollars can”t be used for many expenses including buying Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, as it”s not located in the redevelopment area and it costs about 10 times as much as the hotel.
Farrington said he thinks the project would best eliminate blight if it were mixed-use.
Last year, the agency used state Community Development Block Grant funds to do a structural and maintenance evaluation of the building and to prepare an appraisal, Cox said.
The property was valued at $3.1 million, including the hotel, several acres of unimproved land and two residential units on a separate parcel.
The owners discounted the property for the agency to $1.35 million.
A conference center would be one way to draw more visitors to the county, create jobs and tax dollars, helping the economy, Cox said.
“We”re a little local government, there”s not a lot we can do to help the economy,” Cox said.
The development of the hotel will also help the county push for a town center on 13th Avenue, Cox said.
If the agency decides to sell the property, Cox said it could impose restrictions on its use to ensure the project benefits the community.
Taira St. John addressed the board during public comment and said because the arts are “growing magnificently” in Lake County, the agency should consider having a theater and cultural arts center at the hotel.
Lourdes Thuesen of Lucerne said she thinks it”s a tremendous opportunity to provide employment for Lake County contractors and laborers.
She said she supports having some sort of education facility at the hotel and urged the board to buy the property.
Recently elected Superintendent of Schools Wally Holbrook said he encourages the agency to create partnerships, especially with education. He thinks they have the opportunity to convert education to jobs that stay in the county.
Director Jeff Smith said he thinks the option is a “no-brainer” and he supports the project.
Director Rob Brown said he disagreed with the agency buying property until directors and staff started discussing offering college courses and vocational education at the site.
“I don”t think private industry has the opportunity to do this on a grand scale,” Brown said. “I think it”s going to be a great possibility worth pursuing.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
