Laguna De La Paz is a planned community occupying approximately 50 acres in La Quinta at the corner of Washington and Eisenhower. Construction took place between 1984 and 1995 under the auspices of three different developers. The community consists of 390 homes ranging in size from approximately 1600 square feet to 2000 square feet. This year home prices have ranged from $128,000 to $280,000. Association dues are $295/month and include cable and the exterior maintenance of the homes.

The homes are attractively arranged around a 6.5-acre lake, which is home to 2 paddleboats and one electric boat accommodating up to 8 people. Homeowners enjoy the privilege of fishing from shore. Other association amenities include 15 pools and 18 spas.

The association recently concluded, in its favor, a 5-year litigation with the developers. At issue was the poor design and construction of the association’s 9 tennis courts, to the extent that 8 of the courts became unusable. In addition there were problems with the construction of the clubhouse and landscaping. However, an imaginative and forward thinking board of directors found opportunity in the occasion of this evident misfortune and turned an otherwise negative situation into an overall benefit to the association.

The need to completely demolish the tennis courts allowed the association’s board to reconsider and redesign the total package of amenities in the clubhouse area. This has resulted in a project, currently under way, to rebuild and expand the clubhouse. The expanded clubhouse will offer a new, larger management office, multi-purpose room, larger kitchen and an extra large meeting facility. There already exists an exercise room and two saunas. There will be 5 tennis courts in lieu of the original 9. This made room not only for the clubhouse expansion but also a variety of other amenities that did not previously exist. These include a putting green, chipping green, shuffleboard, bocce ball, horseshoes, and 2 rose gardens. There will also be a pavilion/gazebo for family outings, wedding receptions and other occasions. In addition and on an entirely practical note, the board has made provision for a maintenance building. The schedule calls for the project to be completed by Christmas. Valentine Construction, who handled the destructive testing for the association’s litigation, is managing the project for the association.

Don Guarascio is president of this very active 7-member board of directors. Says Don: "President of Laguna De La Paz. Title yes but here in our community I function more as a facilitator motivating my fellow board members to accept responsibility for their assigned tasks. With the strong daily support of our manager, Bonnie, and our very capable maintenance personnel, Carlos and Ralph, Laguna De La Paz has become a very successful HOA and a wonderful community that we are all very proud to be a part of. We are all anxiously awaiting the completion of our new Lake/Park project scheduled for December 1999."

Desert Management is the association’s management company. Desert management has served Coachella Valley homeowner associations since its inception in 1981. It currently manages 48 associations valley-wide. The company attributes its success to proactive and progressive management with owners Jim Lewis and Alan Polk heavily involved in all aspects of the company’s work on a daily basis. Bonnie Hagerman is the on-site manager at Laguna De La Paz. Steven Burt & Associates assists Bonnie with landscaping work. Steve Stratton Pools handles pool maintenance.