After more than a year of negotiations, developer Park Ridge Properties has finalized the purchase of the 110-acre property. The developer plans to transform the site into an “urban village,” including a medical campus with a hospital; retail and dining; residential and multifamily housing; and parks, walking trails and open space.
After more than a year of negotiations, the sale of the Las Cruces Country Club property to Park Ridge Properties has been finalized, with a price tag of $7.1 million, the Las Cruces (N.M.) Sun-News reported.
The developer hopes to convert the 110-acre site into an “urban village” that will include a medical campus with a 42-bed hospital, a combination rehabilitation and fitness center, doctors’ offices and an assisted living center; retail and dining; residential and multifamily housing; and parks, walking trails and open space, the Sun-News reported.
Redevelopment of the property, which was a golf course from 1928 until 2011, will be the largest in-fill project in Las Cruces’ history, the Sun-News reported.
“Both parties are pleased with the sale and are committed to improving the local economy and recreational facilities in Las Cruces,” said Robert Caldwell, president of the Las Cruces Country Club Board of Directors.
Caldwell is hopeful the sale could be closed as soon as Friday. However, Bob Pofahl, Park Ridge Properties President, said he doesn’t anticipate final closing of the property that soon, the Sun-News reported.
“In the next 30 days it’ll close,” Pofahl said. “There are still a few final things to get taken care of that will probably take a few more weeks to settle.”
In November 2012, the country club’s 110 acres were conditionally sold to a group of local and regional investors, led by Pofahl, the Sun-News reported.
“Las Cruces Country Club and Park Ridge Properties have, over the past two years, coordinated with the city of Las Cruces to manage re-development of the old course,” said a portion of a news release announcing the sale of the former country club property.
In August, the Las Cruces City Council approved rezoning 30 acres of the property so a medical campus could be built. At that time, Pofahl told the council the sale of the property was contingent on rezoning approval, the Sun-News reported.
On January 10, a subdivision application on the proposed 30-acre development was submitted to the city’s Community Development Department. David Weir, community development director, said the application and an accompanying 71-page traffic impact analysis are being reviewed by several city departments, as well as the Mesilla Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization and the New Mexico Department of Transportation, the Sun-News reported.
“They will take some time to review and offer their recommendations to amend the application,” Weir said. “In the subdivision application process this is just the second step in a five- or six-step process.”
Susana Montana, senior planner for the city, said review of the subdivision application should be completed in a timely manner for construction of the medical center to happen, the Sun-News reported.
A planned urban development application would be submitted to the Community Development Department when Pofahl and developers are ready to begin redeveloping the remaining 80 acres of the property, the Sun-News reported.
“All we’re asking for at this point is the subdivision application,” Pofahl said. “We’re not asking for any variances. We’re prepared to respond to any review recommendations that could be offered.”
After closing the sale with Park Ridge Properties, Caldwell said Las Cruces Country Club members will continue negotiations to purchase Sonoma Ranch Golf Course. In October, an agreement in principle to purchase Sonoma Ranch Golf Course was announced, the Sun-News reported.
“There is nothing I can perceive that would stop that from happening,” Caldwell said. “It’s going to happen.”
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