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  • What is the "Lodge"?
    The Lodge is an asset of the Woods Cooperative Association, Inc. Originally, The Lodge was built as an assisted living facility comprised of 24 single occupancy units with professionally trained on-site staff serving the needs of the residents. For decades this facility was managed by Sequoia Living Property Management Company. In 2014, The Lodge was closed because it was losing money rather than generating income. In Dec. 2021, when WCA residents became the owners of The Woods, The Lodge building was part of the property acquisition. As part of the loan agreement with our R.O.C. USA lenders, WCA, agreed to convert The Lodge into revenue-producing residential housing.
  • What is the Lodge Conversion Project?
    The conversion of the lodge is mandated by the agreement WCA made with our lender (ROC USA) to convert the building into residential housing. The Lodge Ad Hoc Committee is tasked to determine the statutory, fiscal, time, community and operational parameters that determine workable options for re-use of the Lodge.
  • What is the Lodge Ad Hoc Committee?
    The WCA Lodge Ad Hoc Committee has been established by the WCA Board of Directors and tasked to establish a clear action plan for reuse, design, marketing and management of the Lodge as rental housing, as described in the Mendocino County Use Permit application as follows: Modification to a Minor Use permit to convert an existing 24-bed Assisted Living Facility to Affordable Housing Units for Low-to Moderate- income Seniors, creating a minimum of 12 to a maximum of 24 efficiency long-term rental units ranging in size from approximately 240 to 550 sq.ft., per Mendocino County Code Section 20.204.035(B). The committee is comprised of seven WCA residents of varying backgrounds and one non voting member from CCCD and one non voting member from Evans Management.
  • When was the Lodge Ad Hoc Committee started and when will it conclude its work?
    The WCA Lodge Ad Hoc Committee was started in 2021, concluded its work in Oct 2021 when the WCA became owners of The Woods. The Committee was re-established in Nov. 2022. The re-established Lodge Ad Hoc Committee was tasked by the WCA Board of Directors in order to affirm that The Lodge Conversion Action Plan complies to the maximum extent possible with the schedule requirements of the ROC-USA mortgages. The Lodge Ad Hoc Committee will conclude its work when it is determined the work is done.
  • Who are the members of the Lodge Re-Use Ad Hoc Committee?
    At this time, LODGE REUSE AD HOC COMMITTEE December 8, 2022 COMMITTEE NAME: The Lodge Reuse Ad Hoc Committee CHAIR: Jo Bradley BOARD LIAISON (voting): Jim Kachik, Board President MEMBERS: Vince Flood Esther Faber Carolyn Lucento Bobbi Riley CONSULTANTS: (not voting) Megan Krekorian, (CCCD) Kim Ringer (Evans Management)
  • What is the priority of the Lodge Committee?
    The priorities for the Lodge are to convert the current rooms to rental housing and to generate income from that housing.
  • Can the Woods infrastructure support the Lodge? (ex: traffic, parking, sewer, etc.)?
    Yes. At one time, the Lodge housed 24 people, support staff, medical staff and a beauty shop. As rental housing, there will be fewer people putting less of a load on our sewer, water and utilities, and it should be quieter. Driveways and parking requirements will be directed by Mendocino County. Having a bus stopping here will help alleviate some demand. Since the building will be used for rental housing and not as a medical facility, there will be less ambulance traffic. The organization that WCA contracts with, reports that our septic system and our water system are ample and can more than support the Lodge.
  • Do we have the proper Permits for the Lodge Conversion?
    On April 6, 2023, we attended the Planning Commission hearing in Ukiah. The Mendocino County Planning Commission approved our Conditional Use Permit (CUP), for converting the Lodge from Assisted Living to Residential. This allows us to have 12 to 24 residential units in the Lodge building, and allows us to go forward. More building permits will follow.
  • What can I do as a WCA member to help with the Lodge Conversion?
    We did find out that our Insurance covers Volunteers. So if you are interested and you want to help, please contact Carolyn Lucento at: carolyn@magicalmovementcompany.com We will then contact you as soon as we have a go-ahead with the project.
  • Will we make the deadlines to ROC USA regarding the Lodge Conversion for our loan?
    We, as a Committee, believe we will be able to meet the deadlines of our loan.
  • Will an apartment be available for residents of the Woods when a member is ready to down-size?
    If there is an apartment available, when you are ready to downsize, you are welcome to apply for it.
  • Will the Lodge have Section 8 Housing?
    The California Section 8 Housing Program is complicated and regulated. The Lodge does not currently qualify for Section 8 Housing.
  • Can we lease out the building to one entity?
    Yes, that could happen. We could have a tenant with a Master Lease but it would need to be approved by ROC. We know the lease has to be housing.
  • Can members have a tour of the Lodge?
    At this time we are not giving tours of the Lodge. Watch this video to see The Lodge at The Woods in Littlle River:
  • The question has come up regarding being on Committees and how to do it?
    Please contact the Committee Chair or the WCA Board to let them know of your interest. The Ad Hoc Lodge Committee has 7 seats and will not be bigger. At this time all those seats are full.
  • Will we be able to use the commercial kitchen located in the Lodge?
    There has been a lot of interest in the kitchen. It needs extensive work to be brought up to code as a commercial kitchen. At this time we are leaning away from that.
  • Who will be doing the construction work on the Lodge?
    We have determined that any construction must be done by a state licensed and insured contractor. At this writing, we have engaged a local licensed architect.
  • Why can't we sell the Lodge?
    The building itself is on the same parcel as the rest of the community and cannot be subdivided. It is connected to the infrastructure of all the Woods' utilities.
  • Why can't we tear the Lodge building down and replace it with manufactured homes?
    There are 2 major reasons: 1) The Lodge is listed as an asset by our lender, and they require that it be developed as residential housing. 2) If three houses could fit in the space, they would not bring in the same revenue as a dozen rental apartments.
  • Why is it okay to rent apartments in the new lodge conversion but not okay to rent our houses?
    There are a number of reasons: To start, both Loan Agreements with ROC state that we must use the Lodge, which is an asset, to produce income for our Co-op. We are a Co-op, so the rent we make from the Lodge will benefit us all. The intent is to prevent lot charges from going up as well as helping to pay our mortgage. An individual renting out their own home is prohibited by our operating Rules and By-laws, Article 4.1A. Our homes must be owner-occupied. We are a Resident-Owned Community; (ROC) owned by a cooperative of homeowners (us), who live here, as opposed to a landlord.
  • What if I have more questions about the Lodge Project?
    Current protocol is: If you have questions for the Committee please send them to Jo: rvt@mcn.org. She will not answer you. They will be answered in the Committee report following the date your question was submitted . That way all of the Community gets the same information.
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