Progressing toward a bigger, better club

Progress is being made on repairing the Village of Lawrence owned Lawrence Yacht & Country Club building that was damaged in Hurricane Sandy.

Two trailers are on the Causeway side of the club. One trailer is being used by club members as temporary locker rooms and the other is housing club administration.

Village Trustee Irving Langer said that estimates with contractors should be finalized during January and preliminary discussions have been held with architects regarding plans for the renovation. “We are moving rapidly as possibly to be ready in April or the beginning of May,” Langer said. “It will be superior and more elegant. We want certain things such as a nice entrance and a fireplace.”

Langer also said that plans are in the works for an extension to the current catering hall, that could accommodate 100 to 150 more people than the 308-person capacity. “It would be a benefit to the community as the needs of the neighborhood are calling for larger halls for functions,” said Langer, adding that it is possible that hospitality rooms could be built on the upper floor for overnight accommodations that would be used only when there is Shabbos or a holiday and a huge event, but they wouldn’t be used during the week.

The renovated building would also include mitigation features such as raising the electrical outlets and a possible se wall that would surround the perimeter of the club’s building to protect it against flood waters.

Inwood-based architect John Capobianco is one of the architects Langer has consulted with. Capobianco said all plans are very preliminary, but he said a sea wall could be built outside the building, and would also include putting back the locker rooms, a restaurant and a better functioning catering hall that could accommodate 400 people and kosher and non-kosher kitchens as the building did prior to Sandy.

Capobianoco also said that potential plans include using club property in the back of the building for the expansion, increasing the size of the lobby and relocating the golf cart storage area.

“These are all good suggestions, it depends on the budget,” he said. As for constructing a sea wall, Capobianco said, “That would have to be researched to see if it would be a good thing and the extent (what size wall could be built).” The wall may need to be three to four feet high, he said.

In spite of the club’s damage after Sandy, general manager Leo McMahon said 30 new members have joined, which increases membership to nearly 400 and weekday memberships are closed out.

“Our year-round heated driving range with 15 stalls is open,” said McMahon, adding that if it helps the village and club he endorses the sea wall idea.