Meaney, Wessman build 11 homes next to Coachella Fest for Goldenvoice
Directly across from the Empire Polo Fields that play home to Coachella Fest and Stagecoach is “The Orchard,” a high-end gated community of 11 mid-century modern homes currently under construction.
“They’re 3500 square feet, five and six bedroom units, pretty much right on the festival grounds without actually being on the polo grounds,” said Wally Nesbit, principal planner for the city of La Quinta.
The Orchard is located just off Madison Street about a half-mile north of Avenue 52. The city says Goldenvoice executive Skip Paige bought the five-acre plot of land back in 2013 and plans to use the homes as vacation rentals.
But Paige contacted News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2, providing the following statement:
I definitely am not the owner. Desert Polo Land Company is on the deed. That is the company that Goldenvoice has that owns the land in the desert. -Skip Paige
During the popular festivals, that could mean major revenue for the city in transient occupancy tax.
“They’re going to be nice. They’re going to have nice big lots with fire pits and pools,” Nesbit said. “Skip will own the units and get to rent the units to whoever he wants.”
Nesbit said he wasn’t sure if Goldenvoice planned to package the homes with the contracts for artists who play the festival.
Some prominent valley developers are also involved with The Orchard. The one who filed the application to build it is Richard Meaney of Nexus Palm Springs.
Meaney made headlines this April for employing outgoing Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet as a consultant from 2013 to April 2015. Pougnet collected at least $200,000 in that position.
“I would have no comment on that,” Nesbit said of the controversy surrounding Meaney and Nexus in Palm Springs.
The city issued the building permits for The Orchard in September to developer John Wessman, making this another project Meaney and Wessman have partnered on, in addition to Hacienda Cantina and Beach Club and the Dakota in Palm Springs.
The city of La Quinta said it is not aware if Meaney is no longer employed by Nexus as a principal.
The homes were designed by architect Chris Pardo. Pardo also designed Hacienda Cantina, the Arrive Hotel and the Aberdeen projects in Palm Springs.
Wessman Development, Nexus, Chris Pardo and Goldenvoice would not offer a comment on The Orchard.
The city says the homes will be complete in time for the next Coachella Festival in April.
