Post #452738 by KreepyTiki on Sat, May 9, 2009 1:35 PM

Didn't mean to scare you prematurely, Bigbro, in that I don't actually KNOW if the A-frame and wormwood are gone. They certainly WERE when I was last there about a month & 1/2 or two months ago, but as for now... who knows?

But here's my own take, folks... I have a gut feeling that the main structural changes will probably manifest primarily on the front and back of the building, rather than the sides, even though the manager, Ashley, had the impression the A-frame would eventually be history. But she didn't seem to have SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE of that. It seemed more as though she were expressing a general IMPRESSION fostered by the proposed artwork they now have out by the street:

In fact, she referred me to that architectural rendering as a confirmation that the A-frame wouldn't be retained, when, in fact, it actually shows only the REAR of the building by the pool, and none of the A-frame side at all (which would be around the corner to the right).

I'm also cautiously optimistic for two other reasons... 1) If you study the rendering closely, you'll see that the only obvious additions/changes are the four brick pillars and those sail-like roof-awnings -- ALL of which are clearly relatively INEXPENSIVE "cosmetic" add-ons. And, 2) If they WERE to change the overall building structure TOO radically and make it TOO trendily "contemporary", it just wouldn't seem to be a part of the same resort any longer and would look weirdly out of place.

So my guess -- especially considering the MUCH greater cost of a total structural overhaul -- is that they WILL retain the basic A-frame, still relevant in that it mirrors/complements the massive A-frame of the main entrance which frames it as one drives in -- demonstrated so eloquently in this great pic by Sven:

So I think the bottom line here is that, barring some miracle, even IF the wormwood would be allowed to remain, the Reef sign will surely go. For one thing, I doubt the NAME will fit the NEW Mid-Century Modern styled bar that I believe they're planning to put into the old space. (Ashley DID show me one of the new lighting fixtures and it was a white cylinder with lots of different size round glass bits embedded, through which the light will show. Classic Shag cocktail party decor if I ever saw it! And though Shag's MCM interiors DO seem to interact well with some tiki here and there, I'm not hopeful for ANY tiki presence in the revamped Caliente Tropics bar. Heck, there wasn't much of that in the previous incarnation (Reef 2), either, come to that!

Lastly, Bigbro -- not to be overly insistant, but, once again, could you (or somebody) PLEASE clue me in re. the mystery of THIS:

[ Edited by: KreepyTiki 2009-05-09 13:52 ]