Centex Will Donate Palm Harbor Golf Course to the City of Palm Coast (Updated 4/11)
In return, Centex expects to gain a time extension for the Palm Harbor Resort PUD.
April 4, 2007 – In an unexpected announcement at last night’s City Council Meeting, City Manager Jim Landon revealed that Centex Destination Properties (CDP) had informed the city just before the meeting that it planned to donate the Palm Harbor Golf Course to the City of Palm Coast to be used an a public golf course.
The announcement came up during an agenda item to approve an $18,500 contract with National Golf Foundation (NGF) for a feasibility study. The study is to determine the cost of rehabilitation of Palm Harbor as well as an estimate of the on-going operating costs and revenue potential. NGF previously worked with the city to determine that a public golf course in the area was feasible.
Landon cautioned that nothing had been signed and that negotiations continue, but that Centex was eager to get this issue behind them. He said that the Centex legal counsel was already drafting an agreement. In return, Centex was asking the city to extend the time period of the Palm Harbor Resort/Condominium PUD. An extension will make it more likely that Centex will be successful in selling the remainder of the development to other developers. The uncompleted portions include two more condominiums and a resort/hotel, all located at the site of the old resort, and a condominium development along portions of the golf course.
During the public comment period, a local resident said that he heard from someone within Centex that they had offered $3 million to rebuild the golf course. This was not confirmed by Landon.
Officials praised the City Manager, local residents, and the Friends of Golf group for their active participation in what appears to be a positive outcome. The due diligence report from NGF is due in 60 days. The public and some council members urged everyone to fast track this project. Centex’s decision to donate the golf course will help mitigate the public relations debacle which rose from the announcement to suspend development of the resort/marina and condominium project.
Text of Centex Communication to the City:
Centex Destination Properties Update
Centex is working to respond to current market conditions while paving the way for the development of our communities in Palm Coast as the first-class resorts and second-home communities that we have always envisioned. Our plan is to work closely with the City of Palm coast to find solutions that result in positive outcomes for the community and our customers, both present and future. Here is an update on our current plans and efforts.
Palm Harbor Golf Course
Centex is working with the City of Palm Coast to develop a plan to donate the Palm Harbor Golf Course to the City. We believe that the Palm Harbor Golf Course represents an ideal opportunity for Centex to contribute an important recreational area to the community and assist the City in fulfilling its long-standing desire to provide a municipal golf course to its citizens. We would like to move as quickly as possible to transfer the golf course to the City.
Tidelands
At our Tidelands community, the clubhouse and main pool are scheduled to open at the end of April 2007. Centex is seeking permits for the construction of the remaining amenities for Tidelands – the Intracoastal pool pavilion and tennis courts – with a goal of completing these amenities by November 2007. Furthermore, Centex intends to complete the buildings currently under construction, but does not plan to construct any new buildings at Tidelands, until we have sold our existing condominium inventory. Once we feel that the market supports additional development at Tidelands, we intend to construct the remaining buildings in our plan or find other strong developers to purchase and/or develop some or all of the buildings.
Palm Coast Resort and Marineland
We consider Palm Coast Resort and Marineland to be two of the most attractive resort projects in Palm Coast and Flagler County, if not all of Florida. Our desire is to see construction of the planned hotel at Palm Coast Resort commence as soon as reasonably possible. Given current market conditions, the best way to achieve that goal may be to attract a hotel developer. In order to make the project more viable for development under the current environment, we will request changes to various aspect of our plans for Palm Coast Resort. We will also seek opportunities for other strong developers to purchase some or all of the Palm Coast Resort and Marineland and develop these as outstanding waterfront resorts. As the original developer, we want to ensure completion of the vision for these outstanding projects.
Centex Destination Properties Local Staffing
Given our revised plans and current market conditions, we will adjust our staffing levels in Palm Coast. We will retain key management, sales and project team members who have been involved with these projects as long as necessary to complete existing buildings, units and amenities, to perform ongoing warranty work and sell our remaining units. Being part of the Centex Homes family, we also have the ability to use the talent of other local Centex Homes Divisions as necessary to support our efforts.
Damage Control
WOW! what a smart way to stop the slide of the companys image in Palm Coast.
Muni Golf Couerse
So, how much is it going to cost us, the Palm Coast city tax payers, to have a municipal golf course? Will we wait three years for the course to be ready for us? Will city residents get a greens fee discount?
wow
You people are amazing (H. Gordon) Centex is laying off the vast majority of their staff here and as a parting shot they give you a golf course and the only thing you are worried about is weather or not you will get a discount. Unbelievable, the 3.6 they think it is going to cost to get it up and running is a fantasy. People always want something for nothing
money hungry
its all about the money. they have lied before , whats to say they wont do it again?
let go
cdp let go 15 employees today. down with the ship. Ginn is the true professional here. cdp is run by heartless folks who dont care about their employees nor their clients.