The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center received welcome news when the owner of an adjacent vacant lot reversed their plans to subdivide the property for new duplexes and agreed to sell the parcel directly to the center.

CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center received welcome news when the owner of an adjacent vacant lot reversed their plans to subdivide the property for new duplexes and agreed to sell the parcel directly to the center.

Michelle Grant, Veterans Community Center president said escrow on the parcel is expected to close by press time. The purchase price was not disclosed, but was considered “satisfactory to both parties,” she said and included reimbursement to the property owner for his expenses in developing plans for a duplex on the site.

In February, the Citrus Heights Planning Commission heard a project application by Serhii Shutiak of Tangent Design and Engineering in Rocklin on behalf of the developer Igor Kolotyuk and the property owner Yuriy Honchar. During the meeting, Grant and other veterans spoke out against the development of duplexes on the lot.

The vacant lot where the two duplex residential units and two auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) were to be built is regularly used for overflow parking during special events with the consent of the property owner. Parking closest to the building is generally allocated for those veterans and their families with disabilities.

“He listened to concerns which were publicly voiced at the Planning Commission hearing and decided to pause the project to give us (the Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center) time to purchase the property,” she said.

“He didn’t realize the extent to which the Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center serves the public and its important mission on behalf of local veterans,” she said.

The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center, located at 6921 Sylvan Road, has since raised approximately $60,000 in donations towards the purchase of the adjacent property. Ongoing donations to support the cost of the land purchase are continuing.

Grant said she and the board worked closely with Mechanics Bank in Roseville who provided a referral to a private lender which would suit the center’s unique needs as a designated non-profit organization.

“The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center is a registered historical landmark and a non-profit organization, and it was difficult to find conventional loan funding as income is based on donations from private events,” she said.

Grant said once escrow closes, perimeter fencing will soon be installed around the parcel to better secure it. Some additional physical improvements to the existing parking have been recently made, adding 10 new designated parking places for disabled veterans or handicapped guests.

“We also moved the shipping containers further back on the property which created additional general parking,” she said.

The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center also recently observed the nation’s 250th anniversary with a special family barbecue birthday bash on July 11 celebrating “250 Years of Freedom and Honor.”

The Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center observed the nation’s 250th anniversary, celebrating with a special family barbecue birthday bash on Saturday, July 11 from 11 am to 2 pm celebrating “250 Years of Freedom and Honor.” Photo courtesy of William Evans, Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center

The free, public event attracted a crowd of over 150 guests including Citrus Heights Mayor MariJane Lopez-Taff and city council members Porsche Middleton and Tim Schaefer.

Live music for the event provided by the Stone River Revival Band in the main hall while children took turns happily cooling off in a large blue inflatable waterslide a dunk tank set up outside.

Live music provided by the Stone River Revival Band in the main hall while children took turns happily cooling off in a large blue inflatable waterslide a dunk tank set up outside. Photo courtesy of William Evans, Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center

The historic Sylvan School is the home of the Veterans Golf Park for Disabled Vets best known as the Citrus Heights Veterans Community Center, hosts its annual Hawaiian-themed buffet luau from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 22 kicking into the Aloha spirit with “Elvis – Hawaiian Style” and Tahitian dancers. Event highlights include a silent auction of a variety of Elvis memorabilia and collectables. Ticket information for the Hawaiian-themed buffet luau is available on the Center’s Facebook page and website at: www.veteranscommunitycenterch.com.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. A calendar of monthly events can be found on the center’s website.