Another Club Goes Down

[Cpl2share]

The Cherry Pit in Texas (did not catch the cities name) is being shut down because it is "operating as a business" in a residential area. Ina city of 36000 people no one likes to get laid?

[BiloxiCouple]

The problem is usually local ordinances/codes that limit what you can do in your house and/or business.

Not knowing them personally and only from their website, I surmise they are doing it from their home. They probably ask for "donations" which doesn't appear on their website at this time. Parking is probably another problem and can be a nuisance for a neighborhood.

If you want to operate a lifestyle party/club, especially on a regular basis, get with a lawyer who can help you wade thru all the legalities of doing this. It keeps us all safe.

I wish the Cherry Pit all the luck in their legal battle.

[Ed & Bunny]

I saw this article and I read it with great intrest after seeing Phoenix close down all on premise clubs. I was thinking here is another attack of the so called Moral Majority.

Well In this case I have to side with the city and other residents. I have no problem with neighbors having parties. Even weekly. But to have a house with parties of up to 100 every Friday and saturday night!!!! Sorry, if those were my neighbors I would be bitching about it too.

[JP51]

Originally Posted by Cpl2share

The Cherry Pit in Texas (did not catch the cities name) is being shut down because it is "operating as a business" in a residential area. Ina city of 36000 people no one likes to get laid?

They are not being shout down totally, but they have agreed to stop acting like a business on the Web and in flyers etc... see below some examples...can't say that I blame the other folks living on the cul-de-sac!! If someone on my block had 200 close friend over every weekend I think I might get a little hurt about not being invited

"This Pit promenade isn't just a social event.

When you regularly post Web invitations listing prices of expected "donations," that's not a party.

That's an adult-entertainment business.

Yet Duncanville city officials have been quoted as saying they can't prove that the Cherry Pit is a business, which would be illegal in a residential neighborhood.

I guess they must not have high-speed Internet.

In only a few spins around the Web, I found announcements that sound a lot more like ads than invitations:

From "Hotblondeandhubby": "Party with us June 9th -- Cherry Pit Style Baby!! Donations are $50 per couple or $80 per carload. Single ladies get in FREE. Call ..."

The phone number in the ad is listed in Turlock's name.

On another site: "Make a suggested donation ($20) and join a party in Dallas."

Before Halloween, the "Nawtys Playmates" Web site announced a "'Tricks and Treats' Bash! ... We'll have Cash Prizes for Best Male, Best Female and Best Couple. ... $80 Suggested Donations from Couples and Single Males." Again, the phone number is listed as Turlock's."

[Spoomonkey]

Originally Posted by Ed & Bunny

Well In this case I have to side with the city and other residents. I have no problem with neighbors having parties. Even weekly. But to have a house with parties of up to 100 every Friday and saturday night!!!! Sorry, if those were my neighbors I would be bitching about it too.

I had the same impression when I read it.

Not being there, I don't know the whole sordid tale, but I'd definitely sign a petition against such a party if it were in my neighborhood and interfered with my a) sleep b) parking and/or c) property value.

On the other hand, sure would be nice to have a swing club in walking distance. In fact, if I could have a swing club, a target and a liquor store in walking distance I could probably retire...

Spoomonkey

[Ed & Bunny]

Originally Posted by Spoomonkey

I had the same impression when I read it.

Not being there, I don't know the whole sordid tale, but I'd definitely sign a petition against such a party if it were in my neighborhood and interfered with my a) sleep b) parking and/or c) property value.

On the other hand, sure would be nice to have a swing club in walking distance. In fact, if I could have a swing club, a target and a liquor store in walking distance I could probably retire...

Spoomonkey

I must agree. the closest club is about an hour away, and this past weekend we traveled 2 hours to go to an off premise dance. Yes, close would be nice. Well I guess one of the very few disadvantages of living in a rural area.

[ShellyM]

Originally Posted by Cpl2share

The Cherry Pit in Texas (did not catch the cities name) is being shut down because it is "operating as a business" in a residential area. Ina city of 36000 people no one likes to get laid?

From what I understand it was the parking issues that got them. The home is in an affluent neighborhood...its funny because I always thought it was a club and never knew it was in a home. Thats what I have been told, that the neighbors were raising hell because of parking....if thats true I can't say I blame them. If I pay $500,000 for my house and my friends can't park on the street I'd be raising hell too lol. I don't honestly know too many details on it though. Its in the Dallas area; I don't know if its in Dallas proper or the suburbs.

[fun4Ds]

funny thing, this article was in our local paper Saturday morning. we were at bob evans and reading the paper waiting on our meal when i saw the story. i blurted out a little to loud "hey check this out, swingers under attack in Texas" you could have seen everyones ears grow 2 inches in my direction. Mrs.fun said "lets talk about this when we get home".

the thing is, we didn't see it as the actual town officials against the lifestyle. but rather the neighbors complaining about parking. witch led to local ordnances actually being broken. i agree 10 maybe 15 guest visiting our neighbors wouldn't be such a big deal. but 100 on the weekends? thats a pretty large group.

plain and simple with that many faithful attendees, would be enough clientèle to be looking into renting or purchasing a building elsewhere.

[socolais]

I've never visited the Cherry Pit, so all my information is second hand. It is a big house in a nice community just south of Dallas (Duncanville). The neighbors' primary issue was the congested parking (we all know that's just the tip of the iceberg). Most folks don't want a permanent party in their neighborhood the same way they wouldn't want a permanent yard sale. Their current solution is off-site parking with a limo shuttle between the rented parking area and the house. They're "operating" within the letter of the law and enjoying the free publicity.

There's another 6 or 8 houses (maybe more) "operating" in a similar manner here although some of them don't advertise. They're scattered around, mostly in the suburbs. I'm starting to get the impression that it's a creative way to pay the mortgage....

[BiloxiCouple]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,316251,00.html

Found this on Fox News and it's dated December 9th 2007.

[ShellyM]

Originally Posted by socolais

I've never visited the Cherry Pit, so all my information is second hand. It is a big house in a nice community just south of Dallas (Duncanville). The neighbors' primary issue was the congested parking (we all know that's just the tip of the iceberg). Most folks don't want a permanent party in their neighborhood the same way they wouldn't want a permanent yard sale. Their current solution is off-site parking with a limo shuttle between the rented parking area and the house. They're "operating" within the letter of the law and enjoying the free publicity.

There's another 6 or 8 houses (maybe more) "operating" in a similar manner here although some of them don't advertise. They're scattered around, mostly in the suburbs. I'm starting to get the impression that it's a creative way to pay the mortgage....

LOL, don't give me ideas! Yeah. There was one like that in Austin called the Jungle. We went once, didn't like it much to be honest. You parked in a parking lot and they drove you to the house...BUT at the end of the night they didn't drive you back to your car! So poor Jay would end up with a drunk wife in heels and mini skirt going down the street. lol. Actually one of the men usually walked and got the car. They closed down the Jungle though, he wanted his home back lol.

[JP51]

They filed the law suit yesterday. But, frankly it not going to go very far IMHO. They are talking about their rights to privacy etc, not going to hold water in Texas. Even if they do manage to win some kind of adjustment from the courts, I am sure that now that other are involved someone will tell all the other property owners in the area to form a home owners association and establish rules about parking, types of cars allowed, numbers, etc. If I recall from my limited experience HOA can and do set a bunch of rules that carry a lot of weight in court. In Texas they carry a lot of clout, another one of the in too much control in government and group think bodies, just another IMHO.

Glad I live in rural environment, with a nice little 4 acres and no one looking in the windows.

[ShellyM]

Yeah, I don't know. I do have to say that I can agree with the neighbors though. Like I said before, an occasional party is one thing but EVERY week and I'd be pissed.

[davephx]

The problem is a business which it obviously is in residential zoning.

I have had communications with the owners, but don't give them much of a chance.

They also have a SOB ordinance patterned after Phoenix's although from what I hear not as well written so might be subject to challange, but only if they were in Commercial Zoning.

I was active in the Phoenix fight, and we lost even at the 9th Circuit the most liberal Appeals Court. The same religious group's goal is to help 1000 cities across America pass similar SOB laws (Sex oriented Business). Sadly they have been very successful across America.