At the Lake: Hotel groundbreaking set for June 25

After a decade of concepts and a handful of various developers, the $410 million convention center project will hit a milestone this month when it breaks ground on the public facility and one of the condominium hotels planned to go in between Highway 50, Cedar, Friday and Stateline avenues.

The ceremony is set for June 25 and is expected to bring out local city officials, nearby businesses and representatives from Lake Tahoe Development Co., a partnership led by Falcon Capital's Randy Lane of Stateline and DGD Development's John Serpa of Carson City.

The developers entered into an agreement with the South Tahoe Redevelopment Agency and the parties agreed they would buy up the property and foot the construction bill. In exchange, the city would gain a convention center as it turns over property-, special district- and room tax proceeds over to the developers.

Heavenly Mountain Resort's parent company Vail Resorts will manage the hotel complex to be named "Chateau at Heavenly Village" " which includes a 16,000-square-foot RockResorts Spa, 1.5-acre park and an assortment of restaurants and shops.

The public will soon end up gaining access to the massive job when the developers put up a staging area for people to view the site " with wooden fencing to block off the 11-acre area.

"We want people to be able to see the site," said Kevin Lane of Lake Tahoe Development Co.

Four signs identifying the project as a redevelopment site are due to go up this week to counter the long line of "going out of business signs." One will go up near Stateline and Cedar avenues and three will dot Highway 50.

The major South Shore thoroughfare is in the midst of a new look with the latest demolitions. The building where the former Discount Ski and Snowboard Shop went down Tuesday. The five-building Holiday Lodge on Laurel Avenue will be demolished in pieces leading up to June 20, with the exception of two sections.

In the meantime, McP's Pub Tahoe may appear like it's on a deserted island as the only operating independent business between Friday and Poplar avenues next to the developer's sales office where Lakeside Landing used to operate. McP's employees are vying for artifacts to take when the last call hits its building next spring.

"That's OK," owner Pete Joseph said. He's looking forward to opening a new location on Highway 50 next to Harveys Lake Tahoe that will be three times the size.

Joseph intends to put in more pool tables, put up a stage and expand the menu with breakfast added.

"We're just going to have more of everything," he said Tuesday.

The steady hum of trucks, beeping of loaders and rumbling of jackhammers has become a way of life for businesses on the periphery of the South Shore's largest redevelopment project now under way.

The $410 million, three-year project has made Cedar Avenue grand central for utility work as crews scramble to dig up and reroute electrical, gas, sewer, cable and phone lines.

Despite the activity, many business owners and operators along Cedar and Poplar avenues are finding a way to deal with the hindrance " with some having less tolerance than others.

"This can't be good for business," a Federal Express driver said as he dropped off a package Tuesday to Charles Boldwyn, manager of The Block motel.

Boldwyn agreed, saying he's made his presence known to work crews. They were digging up the street in front of his boutique motel for the younger set that afternoon.

There have been a few hiccups along the way such as the motel's gas being shut down for 10 days. He also objected to a transformer going in front of the establishment. But the most disruptive aspect of construction-zone life comes at 7 a.m. when the work crews go about their business, he said. They schedule the work Monday through Friday.

"Our guests don't get up that early," Boldwyn said.

Still, The Block will go about its business, hosting a hip hop concert Saturday night.

Down the street, Tyler Roberts of the Cedar Lodge has learned to tell his guests where to walk around the heavy equipment. One Sacramento couple checking into the lobby seemed baffled about where to go or park for their midweek getaway to Tahoe.

"It's a bit of a hassle, but (crews) try to notify us when they're working around the area," he said. Roberts is grateful he hasn't lost any parking in the process.

Misael Arellano, who runs a Super Taco stand at the intersection of Cedar and Poplar, said business has dropped off substantially. But he admits to being in a perfect location for convention center goers once the project gets off the ground. The complex calls for the facility as well as two condominium hotels managed by Vail Resorts, a greenbelt and retail space.

That's worth enduring a construction zone, Big Pines Mountain House owner Luese Van Liere said.

Liere said she was happy the construction wouldn't be going on for the South Shore's Opening Day Lake Tahoe this weekend for reasons other than the possibility of a traffic mess near Stateline. Highway 50 will be closed to throw a block party.

"Maybe I'll get more exposure," the new lodge owner said. "I tend to look at the glass half full."