Site work has begun on an 84-unit time-share condominium on Sid Snyder Drive Beach Approach in Long Beach.
Construction of the WorldMark by Trendwest at Long Beach condos was approved by the Long Beach City Council in mid-July when site construction began and should be completed in 12 to 18 months, according to Long Beach City Administrator Robert Strope. "Trendwest has been working with the city since April 2005," he said, "when the company asked the city to modify its shoreline substantial development permit."
Since the project consists of time-share condos, zoned for itinerant lodging, Strope said the city will receive lodging tax funds every time a unit is used.
The four-story building will be built in a C-shape on about four acres with the legs of the C pointing toward the ocean. Within the recessed area will be a swimming pool and part of the parking will be under the building.
The design of the building has been approved by the city, which still must do a structural analysis before a review can be completed and a permit issued for construction of the remainder of the facility.
Trendwest Resorts is the exclusive developer and marketer of WorldMark, The Club, the world's third-largest vacation ownership program. According to its Web site, the company "pioneered the concept of points-based timeshare with a network of drive-to and exotic resorts. Today, more than 200,000 WorldMark owners have access to resorts across the United States as well as in Canada, Mexico, Fiji and Australia."
Trendwest Resorts is a subsidiary of Cendant Corporation (NYSE:CD), a Fortune 500 company with a focus in the travel and real estate industries, including Avis and Budget Rent-A-Car, Howard Johnson, Ramada Inn, Fairfield Resorts, Century 21, Coldwell Banker and Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, according to the Web site.
Trendwest/WorldMark facilities are located in Birch Bay, Discovery Bay, Lake Chalen, Leavenworth, Seattle and Surfside in Washington and Depoe, Eagle Crest, Gleneden Beach, Seaside, Running Y and Schooner Landing in Oregon.
