The Shalimar Golf Club in Tempe, Arizona, is set to close at the end of 2025 and be redeveloped into housing by BB Living, a rental home developer. The course, which first opened in 1961, has been under contract to be sold to BB Living, as the current owners, Jane and Dick Neuheisel, have decided to sell the property. The restrictions on the property that require it to operate as a golf course will expire in January 2025, paving the way for redevelopment.
Residents in the area are frustrated at the prospect of losing the golf course and adding density to their neighborhood. Many residents see the golf course as a community gathering space and a beloved amenity in the area. They have expressed a desire to preserve the course and find a solution that could involve the city partnering with a private business to keep it open. Residents fear that rezoning and losing the golf course would have a negative impact on the neighborhood, adjacent neighborhoods, businesses, and the overall lifestyle that many enjoy in the area.
Despite opposition from residents, BB Living has not made a formal submittal for rezoning to the city yet. The initial proposed plan included almost 400 rental homes, but after concerns were raised by residents about density and the lack of for-sale homes, the plans were adjusted to include about 200 rental homes and about 70 for-sale homes. BB Living has also partnered with Cachet Homes, a luxury homebuilder, to create some for-sale housing in the development.
The plan for the redevelopment of the Shalimar Golf Club property also includes a two-mile public trail system with passive amenities like picnic areas and benches for surrounding neighbors to use. BB Living aims to create a development that will provide both rental and for-sale housing options, as well as public recreational spaces for the community to enjoy. Although the golf course will close regardless of rezoning, the developers are working on plans to begin land development late next year with the goal of opening the new development in 2027.
As of now, the proposal has not yet been brought before the City Council for any action. Tempe officials have indicated that it is still early in the process, as a formal application has not been submitted. BB Living plans to hold a neighborhood meeting before the end of the year to gather input from residents. The developer is committed to working with the community to address concerns and ensure that residents have the opportunity to have their voices heard throughout the process of rezoning and redevelopment.
