Another public golf course in northwest Bradenton will soon give way to a residential development.
Village Green Golf Club, at 1401 Village Green Parkway, is closing its doors to golfers Sept. 30.
Jack Watson, owner of the club for 25 years, said his club has a closing scheduled for the first week in October.
"It looks like it's sold," Watson said. "You can contact the club the first week in October to talk to the new owners."
Watson declined further comment and did not disclose a purchase price.
A market study placed the value of the land between $11.2 million and $11.4 million. But Watson has stated that he has rejected offers more than double that amount.
The proposed buyer for the Village Green course is Reynolds Glanz, a developer who already has a vested interest near Village Green.
Glanz owns Hidden Lake Condominiums, a community of 136 condominium units in 17, two-story buildings that are being built just south of the Fountain Court Shopping Center on Manatee Avenue West and just west of 63rd Street West. Purchase price for each unit is around $225,000.
Glanz, who is out of town, also has developments in California, Indiana and Ohio.
Robert Schermer, Glanz's attorney, confirmed that the club is under contract and his client wants to do something with Village Green "that's in keeping with the neighborhood."
"It's fair to say that there would not be condominiums or high-rise buildings being built on the property," Schermer said. "He is looking at building single-family homes or one-story townhomes."
Preliminary plans, surveys and an environmental study are in the works, Schermer said.
Village Green association president Roger Smith has had a discussion with Glanz and has voiced his concerns about development on the golf course.
Smith is pleased with the conversation he has had thus far.
"I have a number of issues and concerns from the homeowners association," Smith said. "And Glanz told me that he plans to work with us in a collaborative and cooperative manner."
Smith said Glanz will contact him after the sale is complete for a follow-up meeting.
Smith said the association's first concern is the appearance of the golf course once the sale is complete.
"We don't want the course to turn into an eyesore while plans are being made," Smith said.
Schermer confirmed that along with the 42-acre golf course, the mowing equipment is also a part of the deal.
Smith said the community would like to see one-story houses that "are not jammed too close together."
"It would be nice if the new community could match the standards of the existing one," Smith said.
Smith also wants to work out traffic and noise level concerns that would arise while the development is under construction.
And the community is hoping that the city will work with them in the future about property values for its more than 1,200 residents, Smith said.
"Many people paid a premium for property in this area, especially those that are right on the golf course," Smith said. "We hope the city would find some way to help our residents when assessments are made in the future."
Smith sent an e-mail to Councilman Gene Gallo, asking for his support during this matter.
"My response to Smith was that in my personal and professional opinion, only single-family homes and one-story villas would be appropriate in that area," Gallo said.
Gallo said he cannot comment further on a development that has not even been submitted for planning.
A set of preliminary plans needs to be sent to the planning department, which would come back to the city council for approval at a later date.
"That land is deemed a planned development project and all plans must be submitted first," Gallo said. "I don't think there will be any construction on that golf course for at least six months."
It won't be the first course in the area to yield to homes.
Down the street, Palma Sola Golf Course was annexed to make way for more than 550 upscale homes in a neighborhood to be called Palma Sola Trace.
Source: The Bradenton Herald (Fla.)