Where I live is a small community of modest homes in the
desert just outside of Palm Springs ‘neath the San Jacinto Mountain range and
overlooking the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm. At the far end of my sandy back yard stands a six
foot cement wall which encloses a massively failed, exclusive gated community
called “The Cove” consisting of approximately 50-75 “custom” homes and an
equally failed golf course, which now amounts to 18 holes of continuous sand
pits and which is home to a parliament of Burrowing Owls.
(photos taken on previous visit)
This morning I took a walk down the street to the
south-western entrance of this gated community to see the owls as they give me
some comedic pleasure in watching them defend their nesting area that consists primarily of broken cement slabs, rebar and the remains of the unfinished sewer
drainage system of The Cove and the graveled broken paths of the defunct golf course. However, as I
approached this morning I noticed the addition of a chain link fence having
been erected around the broken gated entrance that prohibited me from entering
this quiet posted "No Trespassing" area. I am sure that the fence erectors felt obligated to defend the
perimeter based on such considerations as vandals having ravaged the
abandoned construction project for anything they can turn over for a quick
buck. And I am sure they felt it within their prudent diligence to stave off
potential liability lawsuits that would have inevitably been filed should one
of those vandals hurt themselves out there amongst the ruins. But it pissed me off, not only because
it derailed my morning walk but also because of the fact that more money is
being spent to protect what amounts to, in my opinion, pure vandalism of the
natural environment by greedy developers who had the foolish audacity to build a golf
course community in the desert in one of the hottest, driest and windiest parts
of the state and then walking away from it because it failed to turn a
profit. And now it sits in ruins
awaiting, I assume, the next economic upswing.
(golf cart path on the back nine)
(Desert Water Authority sewer cap)
(Sprinkler head - for waterin' ...the DESERT!)
(Water Meters)
(Space Waste? No, waste of space.)
(Vandalized Rainbird watering system)
(Urban waste)
I would estimate that only about 15–20 % of the custom homes
are currently occupied. Even fewer are occupied
full-time, as most are 2nd (or 3rd) “vacation” homes,
such as in the case of our current landlords.
The circumstances surrounding our
involvement began when we were presented with the seemingly generous
once-in-lifetime offer of living in one of these exclusive homes and becoming
the caretaker of this gated community with the task of showing the homes to
potential investors. We were told of living rent-free with a potential income
of $2000/month for the caretaker role. (The circumstances leading to our even
considering such deal fell on the heals of two plus years of unemployment and
our own subsequent dire financial downturn.) But the deal fell through when yet
another multi-million dollar investor backed out at the last minute, at which
point we were consigned to live in a much more modest home also owned by the
landlord/real-estate “investor” outside of the six-foot walls and having no
prospects of gainful employment. Which is where I find myself today having moved five hundred miles to a place sight unseen. And which begs the question, 'Who is the bigger fool'?
"Welkome 2 DA 'HOOD - W.S." (W.S. = WestSide)
(Crazy f*&$#@^ Money!)
Wizened owl is not impressed by your foolhardy waste of money.
"I will dance a jig on your failed dreams and your fences won't keep me from flying."
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