An Open Letter to the Board of Directors   (Link)

A modest proposal to mitigate the bathroom issue.

“Hold It!” Part II   [5 March]

As Paul Harvey would say, “and now the rest of the story.” Having learned about the Annex bathroom problem that our volunteers and residents will share into Sun City’s future, it would be reasonable to wonder how such an outcome came about. To repeat, the outcome is a four fold gotcha: 1) the lack of any bathroom facilities within the Community Services annex to the new Recreation Center building; 2) those needing a bathroom must travel outside the annex in whatever weather that prevails, day or night, heat or freezing cold; 3) the trek to the nearest bathroom on level ground is a whopping 375+ feet, more than 60% of it outside; and finally, 4) the apparent inability to cost-effectively correct (forever?) this matter in the absence of DW having provided the underground plumbing that would be required to install such services in the future. [Click here for a detailed plot plan.]

Interestingly, the need for bathroom facilities in the Annex was well recognized, discussed and recommended among those who were initially involved in the design efforts.[1] While our Community Services folks had initially requested from DW twice as much space as they ended up receiving, the need for bathroom facilities did not disappear with a reduction in space. While that need continued, the desire or willingness of certain parties to relinquish space for bathroom facilities likely diminished. Unknown to those who were most concerned, the bathroom issue turned not on how those needs would be met, but to their dismay on whether those needs would be met at all. The details of just what happened to make that need literally disappear in the final outcome continues to elude us, shrouded as it were in a cloud of silence. Key program leaders were literally kept in the dark as the final no-bathroom design was delivered to the assembled group as a fait accompli. There would be no bathroom, no discussion, and no explanation. With our Community Service volunteer leaders left to accept and work with what they were given, all they could do was wonder, “what had happened to the bathroom.”

With our key community service leaders left in the dark on the bathroom matter, we too are left to wonder what happened. Was finding 104 SF for two bathrooms (a men’s and a women’s) just too much to extract from that 3,400 SF complex?[2] There was little problem in finding enough space for 7 private offices and a 634 SF TV studio. And, if there is a genuine requirement to store supplies for that uncertain future event, were we not then aware of the existence of that proposed storage facility virtually across the street from RC2 that just might be able to accommodate future or long-term storage needs? And, mind you, with all this to consider, there was still no room for a couple of bathrooms! Please.

Leading all of this design effort was none other than Favil West, the very same person who I understand made it abundantly clear to Dick Sovde that RAC’s services were neither needed nor wanted on this design phase of the building.[3] Mr. West was not about to yield control of his creation to someone else to make decisions that Mr. West felt were his to make. He, not others, would be making determinations on how his, excuse me, the community’s, service programs will fare in the allocation of space. Was he all alone in this effort? Probably not. What we do know, however, is that the outcome of this process was not the product of any mutual consensus effort among the various volunteer leaders who will be utilizing that space. That simply did not happen. While Dea McDonald in his March Spirit article extends his appreciation for the efforts of the Community Resources Group for “their input on the design of the [Annex] building,” few should be surprised to learn that members of that Group had virtually no input on matters of consequence, let alone were they part of the decision-making process that led to the outcome we can visit next month. We assume that Dea was referring to the efforts rendered by Mr. West in behalf of the Community Services organizations.

As to whether DW had any role to play in the bathroom matter remains unclear.  But, with less than 50 feet between the Annex space and access to the underground water/sewer lines to the nearest bathroom (located behind the stage of the speaker’s hall), it is highly doubtful that the issue of access or underground plumbing costs would have played any role in quashing a needed bathroom facility.  

As Mr. West commented to this writer, dismissing any pretext of concern over the sensitivities and needs of others, our seniors who will be making that rather long trek to and from the bathroom most likely are in need of some exercise. Mr. West suggested to us that DW dictated the terms of their gift of this community service facility, no doubt a true statement with respect to their overall commitment to construct a building consisting of so many square feet. While acknowledging that, there was simply no understanding among members of the Community Service organizations that DW’s gift of this additional space carried with it a decision that would have precluded bathroom facilities. Regrettably, this puts us right back at square one on efforts to account for this serious omission.

Clearly there is a need for an explanation that will tell us why it was considered necessary to place some of our residents in such an uncomfortable and unacceptable situation, and others in jeopardy in a time of very personal need. While we are seeking answers, we also need to investigate whether there are there any available remedies that will attempt to correct this awkward and embarrassing omission?   

Ron Johnson

March 5, 2005

P.S. In pointing out this resident need and bathroom omission, there is no intent to diminish the well deserved accomplishments of Favil West in successfully negotiating with DW to bring the community this additional space for community services. For that we owe Mr. West our sincere gratitude and thanks.

Paul Harvey would have been disappointed to learn that our story remains to be completed at another time.

Hold It! [2 March]

¹ Among the many, many bathroom facilities available in RC2, Del Webb provided one 73 SF unisex facility.