Penticton has found a new tenant for the building at the end of Marina Drive that used to house the Penticton Yacht and Tennis Club, or at least a portion of it.
But the new tenants may look awfully familiar. The newly formed Penticton Tennis Club will be taking control of the four tennis courts, about 125 square feet of office space and shared use of 700 square feet of hallway and washrooms. All together, the package will cost the new club about $4,000 per year, plus utilities for the court lights for the three years of the sub-licence.
“The tennis club has sole use of those tennis courts, which they have had in the past,” said city manager Annette Antoniak.
The intent, added Coun. Judy Sentes, is to allow community use when they can.
“They will post those hours when they are not using them for exclusive use,” said Antoniak.
The PYTC moved out of the building last year, when new lease rates proved too steep for the group to manage. Up until Nov. 17, 2011, the club had a $9,000 per year lease agreement directly with the province but when that agreement, dating back three decades, expired, the City of Penticton was granted a head lease, giving them overall contractual responsibility for the area.
Under the head lease, the province is charging an annual rate of about $23,832 plus taxes and ancillary fees. Unable to afford $24,000 per year for the entire area, the PYTC came to a compromise agreement with the city, with their club continuing to lease the marina through to 2016 and the city taking over the clubhouse, storage and tennis area while the yacht club moved into a building on the marina proper.