The Shaker Village clubhouse. {Google Maps}
By Kevin Deutsch
Tamarac’s controversial plan to buy the dilapidated Shaker Village Clubhouse will remain on hold for another three months while a lawsuit challenging the deal’s legality plays out.
The city commission on Wednesday approved an amendment to their purchase contract for the clubhouse property that keeps the deal alive another 90 days, into late March. The agreement had been set to expire on Dec. 26, 2023. The three-month extension appeared to be a setback for the Shaker Village Condominium Association, which had sought a year-long extension, providing more time for the lawsuit to potentially be resolved.
The lawsuit, filed in September by Shaker Village resident Tonya Nesbitt, sought to halt the clubhouse sale until Association members voted on whether to authorize it. The lawsuit claims Shaker Village is “stripping members of the Association of their ownership rights in Association property.”
The litigation, which city officials said is unlikely to be resolved in the next three months, has impeded the city’s closure of the clubhouse property. Tamarac Mayor Michelle Gomez has said there are title issues at Shaker Village that would likely slow down or hinder the city’s purchase of the clubhouse even without the lawsuit.
The commission on Wednesday voted 4-1 to approve the 90-day extension to the purchase agreement, with Commission Kicia Daniel casting the lone vote against the move. She and Commissioner Marlon Bolton had backed a year-long extension.
The city is also set to explore alternatives to buying the clubhouse, in case the purchase does not happen, officials said.
The city has said it plans to build a community center on the clubhouse property to better serve Eastside residents. Tamarac previously budgeted $1.9 million to acquire the property, $300,000 in fiscal year 2024 for early pre-construction costs, and $7.6 million in fiscal year 2025 for the construction of a city-owned community center.
Also on Wednesday, the city commission unanimously approved a resolution authorizing city officials to apply for a grant that, if received, would cover much of the costs for the potential clubhouse acquisition.
Shaker Village is a community of more than 350 townhomes that was built in the early 1970s. Association members have said the community is drowning in debt due to mismanagement by previous boards. Severe drainage problems and roofing issues plague the community.
Many city residents are furious about the potential clubhouse sale, claiming it is not their place to absorb the debts of another association. Many Eastside residents have spoken passionately in support of the deal.
In July, the commission voted 3-2 to purchase the 2.4-acre clubhouse property. Gomez and Commissioner Elvin Villalobos voted “no”; Bolton, the vice mayor at the time, voted “yes” along with Commissioners Morey Wright and Daniel. Wright was selected as the new vice mayor Wednesday.
Bolton has fought to keep the clubhouse deal alive, arguing it’s what his constituents want. He lives in Shaker Village and rents a townhouse owned by the church where he is pastor. Some residents have said he has a conflict of interest and should recuse himself from votes on the issue.
The Broward Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has demanded records from the city about the clubhouse deal. The office has not publicly announced any findings.
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