South Lake Tahoe to demolish hotels

The city of South Lake Tahoe will demolish three hotels to make way for a drainage basin designed to help keep Tahoe blue.

"We approved the project with the understanding that a comprehensive stormwater treatment system would be built," said Pam Drum, public information officer for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. "And we approved the design of a stormwater treatment program that included the initial Park Avenue Redevelopment Permit."

City Council unanimously approved the purchase of the hotels June 11. The Alpine Inn and Spa, 920 Park Ave., The Park Avenue Motel and Meadowood Lodge both at 904 Park Ave. will be demolished, and the site will be used to construct a drainage basin for the Park Avenue Redevelopment Project and the Rocky Point Erosion Control Project.

The cost of the hotels is $2,025,000, according to City Attorney Catherine DeCamillo. The California Tahoe Conservancy will contribute $817,000, approved as part of the Rocky Point Erosion Control Project, a 110-acre stormwater drainage project.

The hotels should be purchased by Sept. 1, according to Adrian Gooch, administrative secretary for the city, but a demolition date has not been set.

"The project is part of an ongoing Conservancy erosion control program," said program manager Bruce Eisner.

Since 1985, the Conservancy has approved $49 million in grant money to the program, which encompasses the Lake Tahoe Basin.

The drainage basin will serve both the Park Avenue redevelopment area and the Rocky Point area. Stormwater from both areas will flow to the drainage basin.

"The solutions for drainage within that area is that there is a benefit to both projects by combining them," said Terri Jamin, city public services director.

Stormwater from the redevelopment area and Rocky Point will filter into two retention ponds in the drainage basin, allowing nutrient-carrying sediments from the storm drains to settle. The drainage basin will contain vegetation that will absorb remaining nutrients from the stormwater - preventing the nutrients from going into the lake, nourishing algae and ultimately detracting from the clarity of the lake, according to Rick Angelocci, special programs administrator for the TRPA.

In addition, the demolition of the hotels will create an open view.

"It is fantastic from an urban design view," said City Planner Gary Marchio. "When you drive down Park Avenue toward the lake you will see an open meadow."