Phoenix City Councilman Sal DiCiccio is calling on the City Manager to investigate whether the City can charge the owner of the Lakes Golf Course for the cost of the extensive work the Fire Department did when responding to a fire at the vacant clubhouse.
“It’s unfortunate that the Lakes Golf Course building burned down last night. Many of us had great experiences on the course. It was always a signature location for our community,” said DiCiccio in a statement released on Monday.
According to DiCiccio, “The True Life Companies (TTLC), the course owner, had been warned repeatedly that the structure was a hazard. The city’s Neighborhood Services Department has issued multiple Notices of Violation for the structure – in October 2015 and again just last Thursday. With the damage from the fire, we’ll be issuing our third notice, this one requiring the owner to demolish or rehabilitate the building, in addition to securing and fencing it.”
DiCiccio alleges that “the developers have created an environmental disaster in our community in order to extract concessions from neighbors they otherwise would never receive. We have received numerous complaints and have sent inspectors on many occasions to the site.”
“This is what happens when bad developers come into a community,” continued DiCiccio.
DiCiccio provided a list of open code violations, the number of calls and concerns officials have received on this property against the owners of the course:
•There are two current open cases with eight violations with the TTLC Ahwatukee Lakes Investors. Open violations including unsound fence, vegetation, litter/debris, harborage and open/vacant structure.
•Additionally, there were 12 other cases resulting in 15 violations from June 2014 to 2015 that are now closed.
One area resident said after the fire, “The club house building had been left with the lower level door open and the plywood covering doors and windows on second level removed for months. This is a violation of city code and contributed to the threat to the neighborhood and Phoenix Fire Fighters. Creating and maintaining an attractive nuisance in our neighborhood is not being a good neighbor.”