Riordan Hall is our community center

Most of us were drawn to Bella Vista because of its spectacular natural beauty. Around every turn, over every hill, is another breathtaking view. It was this very landscape that inspired E. Faye Jones, apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, to design a Bella Vista landmark, the Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel. Nestled in our forested hills is another Bella Vista landmark, Riordan Hall. Built in the classic mindset of architects like Wright, accented with natural stone, low to the ground and unimposing, it is a beautiful structure. On any given day, it is bustling with activity. It is our community center.

Now Mr. Judson and his board of spendthrifts, having burned through millions of our reserves, have trained their guns on this historic building. Their plan is to demolish Riordan Hall after building a monstrosity “community center” resembling a garish strip mall in Anywhere, USA. Gone will be the original vision of Wright and Jones that structures should be built in concert with nature, not dominate it. This concept seems lost on Mr. Judson and his board of demolitionists. Which community is this proposed “thing” supposed to serve? Certainly not ours.

Riordan Hall already has large areas that are not being utilized. It already contains many of the features that are being touted in the proposed new building. We don’t need a fake climbing wall or another indoor pool with a cheap plastic water slide. The main purpose of the new center, it seems, is to further inflate Mr. Judson’s ego.

Then there’s the astounding cost of 14 million dollars? We would be forced to pay for this with increased assessments. Mr. Judson and his board of minions have already given themselves 700 votes in future assessment increase elections, and you can be certain that they’ll stop at nothing to rig the results.

They seem to live in a bubble, fingers stuck in their ears, surrounding themselves with people who agree with everything they do. They don’t appear to know or care what the majority of us want. Take a moment out of your day and let them know what you think.

Bella Vista doesn’t have a revenue problem. We have a spending problem, thanks to Mr. Judson and his board of prodigal spenders. Like Home Shopping Network addicts, they can’t seem to stop themselves. Nor do they want to. It’s this kind of recklessness that forces any organization into bankruptcy. And maybe that’s part of the plan, to drive Bella Vista into a financial crisis so that the membership has to bail them out of their intentionally-created insolvency. That’s why they need an intervention. I’m calling for Mr. Judson’s resignation.

We, the membership, want to preserve the natural beauty of our town. But when we point at the trees, Mr. Judson and his fawning board just stare at our finger.

Community center and assessment increase? Just say no!

Kevin Dooley Bella Vista