Controversial Plans for 550 Homes Forge Ahead as GL Homes Buys Calusa Golf Course

Homebuilder GL Homes is pursuing its controversial plan to build 500 houses on West Kendall’s Calusa golf course as it just closed on the property for $32 million.

Sunrise-based GL Homes, through affiliate Kendall Associates I LLLP, bought the 168-acre shuttered course from Fort Dallas Golf Club Ltd. and Northeastern Golf LLC, both affiliates of Miami’s Bacardi family.

The course, at 9400 SW 130th Ave., is within the Calusa Club Estates residential community and the source of much contention over its development.

Thousands of residents fought to keep a restrictive covenant in place to preserve the golf course through 2067, arguing they bought their Calusa Club Estates home in part betting on having the green space long term, and on the promise it would be preserved from urban sprawl.

The Miami-Dade County Zoning Board last October voted 9-3 to lift the restrictive covenant, despite residential opposition.

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Miami-Dade Discards Calusa Golf Course Covenant Despite Pleas From Residents

At the time, proponents reiterated the vote merely lifts the covenant and that only 30 homes are allowed on the site, but a variance would be needed to build more. Opponents argued they have seen plans for 550 homes in a 2016 GL Homes application and in a settlement of a long-standing lawsuit over the land.

GL Homes in early February filed an application with the county for 550 homes.

There’s a need for housing in the area, according to F. Thomas Godart, managing director of Godart Florida Real Estate Investments in Fort Lauderdale who put together the Bacardi-GL Homes joint venture.

“There is a pent up demand for the type of product that is being proposed for the site and I am confident that GL Homes will build a great community,” Godart said.

The South Florida Business Journal reported that an agreement said GL Homes’ affiliate would compensate Bacardi family’s affiliate an additional amount for each home developed and sold to a third party, although this amount hasn’t been made public.

The houses will range from 3,084 square feet to 5,108 square feet, with an average lot size of 5,532 square feet, according to Godart. There will be several lakes, a 75-foot green space buffer and a 5-acre recreation area.

Calusa isn’t the only South Florida golf course getting developed, as builders increasingly are buying courses in the wake of land shortage with plans for residential communities.

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Disappearing Greens: New Housing Rises on Shuttered Golf Courses in South Florida

Lifting the covenant required sign-off from owners of Calusa homes immediately surrounding the golf course, called the ring-lot owners. The 1968 covenant could be released if 75% of owners of the 146 homes on the golf course agreed, and GL Homes said 84% signed.

But remaining Calusa residents argued they should have a say, too, questioning why 146 residents get to decide the future of the entire 2,300 community. Opposition’s concerns include increasing traffic, overloading the local schools and plummeting property values.

Attorney David Winker, who represents neighbors opposed to the application, said they plan to continue to fight the development by intervening to oppose GL Homes’ application in front of the County Commission.

“This land is designated parks and recreation land and the idea of putting 550 homes into this already overcrowded area is selfish and unworkable,” Winker said.

The course is the doughnut hole in a single-family neighborhood that fills most of the space between four major thoroughfares: Kendall Drive, 104th Street and 127th and 137th avenues.