Space cleared to make way for new Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club building

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's looking a lot different at the Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe facilities at the former Al Tahoe Elementary School on Lyons Avenue.

The current South Lake Tahoe site for BGCLT had major clearing this week to make way for a brand new clubhouse. Old portable buildings were removed as were some trees as crews make way for their multi-million dollar future home.

As Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) started to make plans for the old school where BGCLT currently leases space for their hundreds of members, the nonprofit started to make plans for a new home.

BGCLT Executive Director Jude Wood was excited to see the portables leave to make way for the new clubhouse. She shared that the new space will not resemble a school and will feature a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) room, an art room with a kiln and a dedicated TK-1st-grade room. Other than that, there won't be spaces that look like classrooms, but more like big spaces.

Wood said the kids are sitting down in class all day and she wants to see them enjoying after-school activities in spaces where they can be kids. She is even thinking about not having chairs in those spaces.

"There will be a proper game room," she said with a big smile on her face.

Wood also said they are adding a shower, washer and dryer, and restrooms at both the entrance and back playground door. That way the kids won't track in snow to use the facilities and there will be no need for non-students to be in the clubhouse.

The new building will have a bullet-proof glass reception area too, something she wishes they didn't have to have but in this day and age it is recommended.

BCGLT was a big supporter of Measure P in 2016 when voters agreed to increase the transient occupancy tax in the City of South Lake Tahoe by two percent with funds earmarked for a new recreation complex. They promoted the measure to create a new complex where they could possibly have space for the kids. Wood said they would like to see a Teen Drop-In Center at the new complex. The measure, which raised the hotel tax to 12 percent in most of the city and 14 percent in the redevelopment area, was estimated to generate $2 million annually. To date, that figure is much higher from $2.2M to $3.3M.

Another feature will be a "hot space" for partners of BCGLT like SOS Outreach and TINS, both who have offices on the North Shore but no space on the South Shore where they serve many students and conduct business. Wood also envisions the space being available for rentals when the kids are not utilizing the building. Nonprofits would be able to use the meeting room and other groups may even rent the clubhouse for events.

She said this would give BGCLT a chance to give back to the community in a new way as well as being a revenue-generating feature.

Lisa Maloff, the Angel of Tahoe, contributed a large sum to the Club for the building, and they have been raising funds through their two Brewfest events, but more is still needed. The fundraising efforts have pushed them to this point and they will continue, including a capital campaign in 2020.

For more information on Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, visit https://bgclt.org/