Doomsday shelter concept resurrected

By Tanya Mannes, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
Monday, May 17, 2010 at 12:04 a.m.

THE REAL ESTATE DEAL

Vivos is selling 1/200th ownership interests in the $10 million shelters. The full cost per adult is $50,000; the cost for a child is $25,000. Vivos owner Robert Vicino said owners will get a tenant-in-common deeded equity interest in the property and the structure. Owners could visit and enter the property, sell their interest or will it to heirs. Vicino declined to reveal the method by which he would purchase land and under what name, adding that every effort will be made to keep locations secret.

What would you do to keep your family safe?

Robert Vicino is betting enough of us are willing to spend $50,000 a person — half-price for children — to buy a stake in secret underground shelters.

The Del Mar time-share entrepreneur said he wants to give average citizens an affordable way to survive everything from colossal storms to Armageddon. He envisions a network of 20 concrete-and-steel communal shelters across the U.S.

“We’re offering you a quality real estate product: prebuilt, prefortified, prestocked,â€