Today's SunSentinel article on the golf course reveals more information about the possible chess strategy that Lennar (and their local legal representative, Mitch Kirschner) are playing with the city. The news article notes that Lennar has made an offer of $28 million to buy the current municipal golf course located on west Glades road contingent upon development approval (from PB county) to build at least 400 homes. Approval is contingent upon PB county approval since this property is not located within the city of Boca Raton and is in the unincorporated area of the county/west of the turnpike.
It appears that Boca Teeca residents are the pawns in this chess match as Lennar/Wells Fargo has announced the closure of the golf course as of 7/1, BUT, will this backfire on Wells Fargo as residents & customers can pocket or withdraw funds from Wells Fargo if they do not like being a pawn of the large bank. Unhappy residents may want to complain to their local Wells Fargo branch managers and/or send an email to chairman John Stumpf at john.g.stumpf@wellsfargo.com. Complaints may also be sent to Marc.Curtis@wellsfargo.com since he is their chess player that oversees the ocean breeze golf course property and made the decision to close the course on July 1st.
City councilman Jeremy Rodgers was also cited in the SunSentinel article as saying that the current municipal golf course is worth closer to $50 million. There is also a reported interest in the current city owned golf course by developer Toll Brothers.
Why the interest in selling the current city golf course? This property was acquired many years ago and was developed when there were few homes or other public golf courses in the area. Subsequently Palm Beach county has built/acquired 2 courses in the west Boca Raton area, Southwinds and Osprey Point. The Osprey Point golf course has 27 holes of championship level golf and has been acclaimed as one of the best public courses in the state of Florida. The popularity of the nearby Osprey Point golf course has probably had a negative impact on the number of rounds played at the current Boca Raton municipal golf course. Osprey Point golf course is also located on Glades road in west Boca Raton.
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