Beth C. Hollister
| Your Turn
Controversy in the capital of our country’s third largest state is not surprising. But the latest uproar over the city’s proposed sale of the Capital City Country Club golf course land is perplexing. What is most curious: There is no good reason to sell, and plenty of reasons not to.
There is no need to sell the golf course land because if 20 years is considered insufficient, try a lease extension or modification to satisfy lenders and benefactors. There is also no need to sell to obtain a MOU with FAMU because this could be had at any time, in fact, why not decades ago? And why spend money purchasing land when the $1.255 million could be used to make the club’s desired course improvements?
Adding to this bewildering scenario, it is illogical and unreasonable to expect a business to stay in business in perpetuity. The club’s own letter cites dire financial straits, the city’s agenda item reports financial deficits at other city golf courses, and trends in the decline in golfing popularity and closure of golf clubs with conversion to other uses have been seen across the state and nation. What then?
If one day the balls stop flying, maintaining public ownership will help ensure that future land uses will be in the best interests of Tallahassee. On this topic, there has been no shortage of opinion on what this prime real estate might one day become.
To those who suggest a public benefit such as affordable housing, thanks but there is already an overabundant plethora of affordable units just steps away on the other side of Magnolia Drive – about 1,200 on 80 acres – existing or in the works. But wait, there’s more. The future land use plan envisages 26-50 dwelling units per acre over the majority of South City. That is more than enough. Better to spread affordable homes around the city and county.
The notion that it should be a grand public green space exclusively is misguided for several reasons. First, 179 acres – five times the size of Evening Rose, a mixed-use community with 90 homes and a village center – is plenty of land to serve many needs and purposes. Secondly, affluent neighborhoods do not need yet another amenity at our doorsteps – most especially when there are dire needs for basic infrastructure such as more flood mitigation in greenspaces and parks on the southside of Tallahassee.
Third, more people living in the downtown area would help support a more vibrant downtown area. A nice, quality conservation new urban community compatible with surrounding neighborhoods would have generous green spaces that protect natural assets, capture more runoff to help limit downstream southside flooding, and provide public recreational spaces while also adding reasonable density to support multi-modal mobility and thriving businesses in the urban core.
There is no need for 179 acres to be a zero-sum game. But if the city does give away this valuable and important property for $7,014 per acre, there is no telling what might become of it, because, again, it is illogical and unreasonable to expect a business to stay in business in perpetuity. Moreover, the city may want or need this prime asset sometime in the future.
There is no reason to sell, the price is implausibly low, golf club closure is possible, so why sell? Do what is best for Tallahassee. Don’t sell.
Beth C. Hollister has lived in Woodland Drives on the east side of the golf course for 23 years and has been a South City volunteer supporter and advocate since 2020. She has an MSc. in Urban Development Planning and Environmental Management.
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