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Show Here today, here tomorrow say Park Plaza developers k V 1 Glenlvy Financial Group, the owner of the Park Plaza, has pledged to give a Park City nonprofit group $1,000 for every $1 million in sales. Here Glenlvy President Ralph Mann, right, gives a check for $1,000 to Jack Dozier, principal of Park City High School, to be put in the school's scholarship fund. by David Hampshire Think of timeshare and what comes to mind? Aggressive salesmen sales-men trying to hustle you with offers of free meals? Stories about companies teetering on the edge of bankruptcy? Let's face it. Timeshare does not have a good name, at least not in Utah. And Ron Eckhoff knew that when he talked to the Glenlvy Financial Group about taking over the Yorktown condominium project in Prospector Square. He admits that he had reservations reserva-tions at first. But the more he looked at Park City and looked at the project, he says, the more convinced he became that it was the right decision. So Glenlvy made its first move outside of California. The Yorktown was renamed the Park Plaza. And Eckhoff became the project manager. man-ager. When Glenlvy officially took over in late November, Eckhoff says the building was almost ready for occupancy. Almost. "The construction was complet- ed," he says. "But there were a lot of loose ends. The (building inspection) punch sheet looked like the national debt." About a month later, sales began. And, in spite of an overall slump in the real estate market this winter, the unit have been selling well. "We've sold well over $1,250,000 since Dec. 21," he says. But you won't find Park Plaza salesmen lurking around the entrances en-trances to the local ski areas, ready to apply the Big Squeeze. "We're not into high pressure," Eckhoff says. "We believe that if people see a good product in a good location with the proper terms and prices who needs pressure?" The product? Well, Park Plaza consists of 63 units arranged around an indoor heated pool and jacuzzi. The units range in size from studio to two bedroom. Some have fireplaces; all have some type of kitchen facilities. There is a bathroom off every living room or bedroom. The Park Plaza also boasts amenities like a common area with large-screen television, van shuttle service, a 24-hour switchboard, underground parking for about 70 cars, and free use of the facilities at the nearby Prospector Athletic Club. Prices range from $4,500 to $12,000 per week. Beside selling people on the amenities, Eckhoff is working hard to sell his company. "Everybody wants to know: 'Who are you? Are you going to be here in 1999? "We're here to tell them who we are." The Glenlvy Financial Group, headquartered in Corona, California, is celebrating its 10th anniversary. It has a timeshare development in Corona, two in Palm Springs and, by. August, plans to open another near San Luis Obispo. The president of the company is Ralph Mann, who was in town Friday when Park Plaza held its grand opening. Through direct links with other timeshare companies, Glenlvy offers exchanges with 33 locations in Mexico, Hawaii and the continental United States. And its affiliation with Interval International means that exchanges with another 500 resorts are available for a one-time $100 membership fee and a $49 fee per exchange. Eckhoff estimates that 70 to 80 percent of the Park Plaza sales to date have come from California residents, with much of the remainder from the Wasatch Front. "In California there is a tremendously tremen-dously different attitude toward timeshare than there is in Utah," Eckhoff says. "The consumer has put the proper demands on the developer to cause the right things to happen." |