Who is going to manage the now-vacant Ballinger Lake Clubhouse in Mountlake Terrace? City officials are contemplating that question after receiving applications from two parties — one from a small local catering company, and the other from the Mountlake Terrace Senior Center.
The city-owned building at the former Ballinger Lake Golf Course has sat unused since November 2012 when Hardy Golf Inc. walked away from its contract to operate the site and manage the facility. Since then the City of Mountlake Terrace has been making plans to transition the 42 acres formerly used by golfers into a passive park and seeking a vendor to manage the building. The city closed the application process for interested vendors earlier this month and are currently interviewing the two applicants and scoring their proposals.
Some in Mountlake Terrace have had their eye on the Ballinger Clubhouse as a possible facility for the MLT Senior Center for some time; the senior center currently operates out of a small cinder-block building at 5605-235th St. S.W. in Mountlake Terrace. Senior center leadership believes a move to the Ballinger Clubhouse would not only give the city a stable, local caretaker for the site, but would benefit their programming as well.
“The senior center responded with what we believe is a sound plan to manage the facility,” said MLT Senior Center Executive Director Mike Cooper.
While some may argue that the senior center doesn’t have the assets to manage the clubhouse, Cooper believes a move there would trigger a surge in the group’s resources. “With regard to membership and resources, we have a growth plan in place to increase programming, membership and finances; a larger facility postures us to do all three,” he said. “For example, a well-managed facility will provide a substantial amount of new revenue through facility rental, which in turn allows us to provide additional programming.”
The senior center isn’t waiting for a possible move to the Ballinger Clubhouse to become a bigger presence in Mountlake Terrace. “Currently we are developing programming to reach out to the pre-retirement and ‘Boomer’ population,” Cooper said. “Mountlake Terrace has 4,000 residents over the age of 55, so there is a need and the potential exists.”
The other applicant seeking to operate the Ballinger Clubhouse is My Personal Chef, a catering company created by Dane Lee of Edmonds in 1997. For Lee, the clubhouse represents not only a business opportunity but another chance to support the community. “I live less than 10 blocks from the property, so I consider this my backyard as well.”
My Personal Chef delivers meals to businesses, fundraising groups and private events, with hopes of expansion into other enterprises. “I have limited space in my commercial kitchen and I’m looking at growing,” Lee said. “We’re a little company that is looking at being bigger and having an onsite venue for larger events.”
Lee attended a public open house at Ballinger Park on June 12 and was encouraged by the comments of others. “It was interesting to hear what the community wanted to see, and it was great to see a nearly full room of neighbors in the clubhouse,” Lee said. “I was interested to hear so many people wanting this to be open to the public, and even have a restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. That was my first direction that I wanted to go. And if I get the management of the facility I would entertain that as a priority.”
Lee recognizes the possibilities for clubhouse, considering its size and setting. “We would still like to use the space as a venue for rentals of special events, such as weddings, corporate gatherings, etc.,” he said. “It’s a beautiful location. And with some of the grounds to use as gathering space for private and community events, it’s really a diamond in the rough.”
Lee is confident he has put together a strong pitch for operating the clubhouse. “I have followed every lead and I thing that I put in a very well-conceived proposal, with growth factors doubling for the first four years,” he said.
The city has given no indication as to when they will select a vendor to operate the clubhouse, or even if they are limiting their choice to the two applicants. For Lee, a decision can’t come soon enough; “I would take over the space tomorrow if I could,” he said.
— Story and photo by Doug Petrowski
I am also not clear if the Seniors have the resources to manage the Ballinger facility or if they would be the best occupants for the space. I am, however, very happy that a building we already own is being considered as a viable alternative for their needs rather than borrowing over $3 million to build one as the now thrice-defeated Civic Center ballot measure asked. It is one small step toward getting an affordable city-hall-only ballot proposition before the voters.
I’ve said all along that our frugal seniors don’t need a new senior center when Ballinger is there.
So, by subtracting from a city population of around 20,000 or so, there are 16,000 residents UNDER the age of 55. Most of them aren’t boomers yet and most of them are nowhere near retirement.
Perhaps, particularly if the senior group is underfunded, the net could be cast wider, and rather than a Senior Center, this could be looked at as a Community Center.
I agree, also, with the comments of City Council candidate Mr. French, above.