Source: Dayton (Ohio) Daily News
The city of Huber Heights will announce a "master developer" for the Benchrock golf course project in the very near future, City Manager James Pierce said.
"There is an intense amount of activity and work going on right now, and as soon as we can complete the selection of a master developer, the entire project will restart," Pierce said.
The project, which envisions a $23 million golf course as the centerpiece of a larger development that will eventually include more than 1,100 upscale, singlefamily homes, and about 500 condominiums, has experienced several hiccups along the way to its completion.
The delays have led to some concern among citizens about the city's investment in a $7 million road. In 10 years, the city has estimated that the entire 668-acre project could be worth upward of $350 million.
But Pierce said negotiations between several developers - including previous master developer Kendall Group LLC and the Hills Community group - have been fruitful, and with the backing of Fifth Third Bank, the project should be under way as soon as a master developer is announced.
While a short list of developers has been made, Pierce said the city is not in a position to reveal those names.
Construction on the project between Ohio 202 and 201 south of Interstate 70 had stalled about last August when the Columbus-based Kendall was unable to finalize financial commitments necessary to continue the project.
Construction picked up later in the year for the housing section of the project, but the golf course remains largely incomplete.
Cincinnati-based developer Hills Community announced Sept. 30 that it would purchase the golf course and land set aside for housing and commercial development from the Kendall group.
A Hills community spokesman did not return phone calls last week concerning the status of that agreement.
Huber Heights has agreed to build a five-lane boulevard at the cost of $7 million to help attract interest in the project, but the city intends to recoup the road's cost from the final developer.
Council members have repeatedly expressed concern that if the cost of the road is not recouped, it might affect the city's bond rating; but that scenario appears, at least for now, to be distant.
The project's work also stalled in July 2003 because of incomplete paperwork, prompting early concerns from city council members.
