MAUI MAKEOVER

If San Diego's coastline isn't alluring enough, second-home seekers can always head to Maui for a little seaside living and invest in a luxury suite at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua.

Scheduled to open this month, the one-and two-bedroom residential suites, as they're called, are part of a $125 million renovation of the entire Ritz Carlton hotel, located on 50 acres of Maui's northwest shore. The developer, Gencom Group, converted 250 hotel rooms into 107 suites. There are an additional 256 guest rooms that will also be a part of the Ritz Carlton.

So far, the interest list includes 97 people from San Diego. Sometime this month, interested buyers will be asked to sign sales contracts.

Prices for the units, most of which have ocean views and all of which have generously sized lanais, range from $895,000 to $6 million – for the 2,500-square-foot presidential suite. Buyers have the option of placing their condos in the hotel rental pool or living there year-round. Owners will also have access to the hotel's upscale amenities, including a golf course, luxury spa and gourmet restaurants.

Developer of the project is Gencom Group, which has a portfolio of seven Ritz Carlton hotel projects.

Much of the design of the units incorporates Hawaiian materials and motifs, down to the weaving patterns in the custom-designed carpeting.

“One of the reasons we did the conversions is that when families travel, they like to have suites where the sofa folds out for the kids or to just have extra living area, like having a kitchen to take advantage of simple meals in their room,” said Jerry Landeck, a senior partner with Gencom Group.

Landeck says that Southern California is the single largest source of visitors to the Kapalua property.

– LORI WEISBERG

RAINY DAY PROBLEMS

Responding to recent rainstorms, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is urging state residents to conduct thorough inventories of their belongings and to review the terms of their homeowner insurance policies.

“First and foremost, all Californians should take precautions to stay safe during these harsh storms,” Poizner said. “It is also essential that homeowners document their possessions before any type of disaster strikes.”

Residents should contact their insurers to determine if the purchase of flood insurance is a worthwhile option for them, he added. Suffering the loss of a home or belongings is stressful, and relying on memory to document possessions a mistake.

If possible, photograph or videotape household possessions, the commissioner said. Photographs are helpful when an item is difficult to describe or if a purchase receipt cannot be obtained. If a camcorder is used, provide commentary of each item and date stamp the video.

Poizner's office an be reached for help filing claims at (800) 927-HELP. The online address is insurance.ca.gov.

– EMMET PIERCE

IT'S ABOUT TIME / FEBRUARY 1958

First in a monthly look back at 50 years ago in the Sunday Home section.

Nels G. Severin, 51, became the first San Diego County resident to be elected president of the National Association of Home Builders, The San Diego Union's Sunday Homes and Gardens section reported in the Feb. 2, 1958, issue.

“We are leading up to the biggest housing shortage ever to face the nation,” he said. “We must build far more than a million units a year to meet the needs of our expanding population and the rapid increase in family formations.”

Severin headed a family home-building business that constructed about 200 homes a year. There is a Severin Drive in La Mesa that bears his name.

A new trend in cooperative apartments for sale was taking hold locally, the Feb. 23 issue reported. Examples included La Jolla Capri Aire by the Lionel V. Mayell organization; Wind 'n Sea on Coast Boulevard by Charles E. Carpenter Co.; and 256 units planned by Vanderbilt Co. on Torrey Pines Road.

The co-ops' boards had the power to approve who could buy a unit and who could rent one from an owner. The projects were meant to be occupied by adults only and Mayell was quoted as saying that he discourages young couples from buying.

“In the East and Midwest, this is not true,” wrote Clyde V. Smith, the Union's real estate section editor. “Many projects have been developed especially for families with children and play accommodations are provided for the youngsters. This may come about in San Diego as the trend grows.”

Opening in February 1958: Tinkerbell's Musical Hills in Emerald Hills – from $16,950, with $1,450 down plus costs.

Prices: Sears custom-made venetian blinds, 49 cents per square foot; at Pascoe's Nursery in El Cajon, 49 cents for 2¼ -inch camellia pots, 3 pounds lawn seed mix, 90 cents.

– ROGER SHOWLEY