Oceanside Covetously Appraises Girlie Club

Like most live adult entertainment businesses, the Play Girl Theater & Teen Club in downtown Oceanside is neither subtle nor shy.

At night, neon lights and a voluptuous female figure on a lighted sign beckon customers to come in, sit down and sip a cool near-beer while gaping at nude dancers. (No alcoholic drinks are served, and patrons need only be 18 years old.)

But, one short block up 3rd Street, huge new white buildings with graceful arches and gleaming blue tile stand as an anchor of the city’s downtown redevelopment effort. And work is proceeding apace toward the October completion date for the $30-million civic center. With the club and the center soon to clash, something will have to give.

It won’t be the pristine civic center, say city officials who now have a chance to buy and raze the aging building that houses the nude club.

Rather than seek the expensive and time-consuming option of condemning the building, the city paid $6,500 last month for an appraisal of the property. Plans for the particular block in the downtown redevelopment area include a collection of small shops, artists’ studios and cafes.

A Slight Possible Snag

But there’s one snag that could thwart any plans for a deal.

The building’s owner, Skip Arthur, has told the city that he has an offer of $480,000 from a buyer who wants to expand the adult business. Arthur has said he won’t take any less, said real estate broker Dan Daniel.

That has put the city in somewhat of a tight constraint as it awaits the appraisal.

The city can’t buy the building without an appraisal and the figures must come fairly close for any negotiations to begin, said Patricia Hightman, acting head of the city’s redevelopment agency. A decision should be ready by the end of the month.

Hightman said Wednesday that, if the appraisal falls within Arthur’s asking price, the redevelopment agency will recommend that the city negotiate to buy the building, demolish it and replace it with a historical building to be moved on the site.

“We would love to move forward with the acquisition of the property,” Hightman said. “It depends on Mr. Arthur’s cooperation with the appraisers.”

Not only would the proposed deal aid the city, but it would serve as a tidy way for Arthur to defer taxes and allow him two years to reinvest the money as opposed to six months, Daniel said. Under the deal, the city would pay Arthur an agreed-upon price over one to two years, Daniel said.

“It’s a little difficult to do, but I think it’s possible,” he said. “It’s one of the uses (adult entertainment) that the city and citizens would like to see terminated.”

‘In His Heart’

Arthur, who is out of town, could not be reached for comment, but Daniel said his client considered the option of selling to the city “because in his heart, he feels that the city may be better off without that property there.”

Most council members have applauded the chance to buy the building, but at least one has expressed skepticism with the proposal.

“I don’t think it should be the city’s position to buy places, then knock them down,” Deputy Mayor Lucy Chavez said.

Chavez said she wants an assurance that the building is being bought as part of the historical plans for the block.

A heavy mix of barber shops, dry cleaners and men’s clothing shops, the block is part of an area that has been designated historical. Three buildings in the area have been declared historic edifices and will be kept, Hightman said. The rest could eventually be replaced with historic buildings moved there and renovated by private developers, she said.

However, if the city’s plan to buy the nude club fails, Daniel warns that it won’t have another chance to purchase the building without paying more.

“The other deals are easier . . . and all cash,” he said.

Moreover, the downtown area--including the new civic center--would have to endure the same type of nude business if the other buyer puts up the money instead of the city, Daniel added.

“It’s a bargain from the standpoint that, if they don’t buy it now and try to do so later by condemnation or friendly transaction, the price now would look good,” he said.