What to know about Tempe, Arizona
Founded in 1879, Tempe is home to Arizona State University, Tempe Town Lake and over 180,000 Arizonans.
The Repubilc
The owners of a Tempe golf course that is slated to be redeveloped for housing called the upcoming closure of the course “bittersweet” as they prepare to move out of the neighborhood and into senior living.
Shalimar Golf Club, a nine-hole course near Southern Avenue and Country Club Way, is under contract to be sold to Scottsdale-based BB Living, a rental home developer.
Dick and Jane Neuheisel have owned the course for decades, and wanted to sell to another golf operator, but never found a viable buyer, Branden Lombardi, president of BB Living, said in October.
“Over the last decade, the Neuheisels have had multiple conversations with the city, various neighbors and even the ASU Foundation, attempting to find a nonprofit entity to buy the golf course,” Manjula Vaz, the zoning attorney representing BB Living wrote in a submittal to the city. “They have however, been unsuccessful in finding a buyer who wants to own and operate a 9-hole executive golf course.”
In a letter posted on a website about the future of Shalimar, the Neuheisels said the decision to sell the site has been “made with great care and consideration.”
“After careful reflection, we have decided that it’s time to close the chapter on Shalimar Golf Course,” the Neuheisels wrote in the letter. “The golf business for nine-hole courses is no longer sustainable. As we look to the future, we believe it’s the right decision. While this change is bittersweet, we want to express our deepest gratitude for all the joy Shalimar has brought us over the years.”
The Neuheisels said they will remain in Tempe but will move into senior living, and out of the neighborhood where they have lived for 55 years.
“We believe the future holds new opportunities for all of us and the Shalimar community will continue to thrive,” they wrote.
The course and clubhouse will remain open through March and April before closing.
“We hope you will come by and celebrate the spirit of Shalimar during these closing months,” they wrote.
BB Living submitted plans to Tempe in late October for the project. It will partner with Cachet Homes on the development, which will include for-sale homes and rentals. According to documents submitted to Tempe, the project will include 68 single-family, for-sale homes, 43 single-family rental homes and 166 townhome-style rentals.
Neighbors in the area have been adamantly opposed to the prospect of redeveloping the golf course, and have said they would like to see the city partner with a golf course operator to keep the course open.
“What we don’t want to see is higher density development that will wipe out our uniqueness, any special trace of the neighborhood,” Carl Streiff, president of the Shalimar Association, said in October about the project.
The proposal has not yet been discussed by the Tempe City Council, which would need to vote to approve the rezoning to allow the project to be developed.
Reach the reporter at cvanek@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @CorinaVanek.
