Beach Club Rehab Costs Could Hit $4.5 Million

The San Clemente City Council Tuesday, for the fourth time this year, is set to review and approve concept plans for the renovation of the Ole Hanson Beach Club.

It's been almost five months and potentially $800,000 in increased cost estimates since the council looked at the first concept plans for the Ole Hanson Beach Club renovation, which has sparked lengthy discussion and debate from among contractors, elected officials and historical buffs.

The current iteration of the repairs is estimated to cost up to $4.5 million, depending on the options included in the final plan.
That's $800,000 more than the initial $3.7 million estimate, according to the city staff report. Staffers are asking the council to decide how to phase the project. Initial plans were to do $2.5 million in repairs first and then another $1.2 in a few years as revenue replenished coffers.

Adding more to the first phase's budget, according to the report, would allow workers to address some structural problems all at once and save some costs. For instance, initial proposals called for patching up the roof in phase I and then ripping it up and replacing it entirely in phase II.

Part of the reason for the increased costs include the council's request to add double doors to the front entrance of the first floor, creating an open atrium that looks through a plate glass window onto the pool deck.

Other big-ticket items include making the balcony over the pool deck usable, installing a better catering-quality kitchen for events, renovating the pool and installing an elevator to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The San Clemente City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the San Clemente Civic Center, 100, Ave Presidio.

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