09/05/2026
Bear Valley Springs Residents,
As of today, I want to provide an update on where we stand with the Whiting Center.
Unfortunately, due to numerous delays and additional electrical and mechanical repair issues, the Whiting Center reopening has been moved to Friday, September 11, 2026. We are unable to open on Monday as previously projected. I sincerely apologize for this additional delay.
I know many of our residents have been looking forward to getting back to the Whiting Center, and I think we can all agree that this entire closure has been frustrating. The good news is that we are very close to the finish line. Our staff, contractors, and vendors have been working long hours over the past month to get the facility repaired and ready to reopen.
HVAC Equipment Update
We are pleased to announce that, as of yesterday, all the HVAC units have now been installed. The final HVAC work, including the installation of the new digital thermostats and ice machine, will be completed this Tuesday. We are confident that this work will pass inspection by the Kern County Building Department no later than Wednesday or Thursday.
Unfortunately, while bringing equipment back online over the past week, we experienced several additional equipment failures. One of the issues involved unforeseen damage to another heating unit that provides heat to the Lobby, Restrooms, and Game Room. The unit’s heating components, motor, and electrical panels failed while the system was being tested yesterday.
As a precaution, the unit was disconnected from the main electrical panel and will need to be replaced. This is in addition to the four heating units located in the Gymnasium that were also damaged by the SCE electrical surge.
The replacement units have been ordered and will be installed as soon as they arrive. As mentioned in my last update, the location of these heating units will only require a temporary closure of the Gymnasium when the installation takes place. We expect this work to have little or no impact on the operation of the other areas of the Whiting Center.
Electrical Panel Update
One of the main reasons for the delay in reopening the Whiting Center was obtaining the permit for the electrical subpanel that controls the lighting and electrical outlets throughout the facility.
The permit issue was resolved Thursday, and replacement of the subpanel will continue this Tuesday. If everything goes as planned, we expect to have the remaining work completed and the facility ready for final inspection on Thursday, September 10th.
Equipment Replacement Update
The equipment replacement for the spa has been completed, and we expect the spa to be fully operational next week. We have also received the new sauna equipment and will begin making the necessary repairs as time permits. Our goal is to complete this work after reopening so it does not cause any further delays to the reopening of the other areas of the Whiting Center.
The new treadmills are scheduled to arrive this Friday. All of the fans in the Fitness Center have been replaced and will now operate using switches installed by our electrician.
The new drinking fountain for the Fitness Center is also scheduled to arrive this week and will be installed once it arrives. The irrigation timers and electrical system were also damaged in the surge and have been replaced.
The old scoreboards that were damaged have been removed. The new scoreboards have been ordered and are scheduled to ship later this month. Once they arrive, their installation will require temporary closure of the Gymnasium, most likely sometime in October. The installation will require significant manpower, along with the use of scissor lifts and scaffolding.
On a final note, I know this has been a long and frustrating closure, and I sincerely appreciate everyone’s support, patience and understanding. I am also very proud of our entire Staff, Contractors, Vendors and the Board of Directors. They have spent an enormous amount of time and effort over the past month working through the issues, the long list of repairs, equipment replacements, inspections, and unexpected problems to get the Whiting Center back open and operating safely.
I am hoping to send out a “The Whiting Center Is Open” update later this week as soon as we complete the final required repairs and pass the final inspections. I will keep everyone posted as we move through the final steps.
I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend!
Don C***a, CMCA, AMS
General Manager / COO
