Oakwood Country Club seeks buyers for land

The Oakwood Country Club is officially putting its sprawling golf course up for sale, according to an announcement posted to its Web site.

The online message, displayed prominently on the home page, says the club is seeking proposals from developers interested in buying its dormant golf facility, a residentially zoned site situated at the meeting point of the Rivermont and Boonsboro neighborhoods.

The club’s board of directors shut the course down Dec. 31. At the time, President Bill Martin indicated they were re-evaluating its future.

Many speculated a sale was in the works. Martin acknowledged that was one possibility under consideration.

The golf course is currently zoned low- to medium-density residential, a designation that by-right allows homes, some office uses, small day care centers, and private recreation sites.

Don Pendleton, a broker with Consensus Real Estate Services, is handling the property. He said it was officially listed for sale Monday, and proposals for development will be accepted until Dec. 1.

“I think this is a great opportunity for someone to maximize this property while keeping the community and the city in mind,” he said by phone Wednesday afternoon.

Pendleton added they would be looking for ideas that considered the historical nature of the area and sought to blend in with the existing neighborhood. He expected any future project would be residential in nature.

“Certainly, the neighborhood will be considered and consulted as the process moves forward,” he said.

The Oakwood Country Club owns a total of 86.55 acres, according to online records maintained by the city assessor’s office.

Pendleton said the club is listing 65 acres for sale. The remaining land houses the Oakwood clubhouse and amenities such as a swimming pool and tennis courts, none of which are included in the offer.

The assessed value of the total club property is $3.29 million. Pendleton said no minimum sale price was attached to the request for development proposals.

The club’s directors convened a membership meeting last week to present their decision. Their online announcement invites community members to navigate to another page to view copies of written material distributed during that session, although the referenced page was empty Wednesday.

The golf course’s current zoning allows for a maximum of 4.35 dwellings per acre, with each building allowed up to two residential units apiece.

In the case of the golf course, that translates to a maximum of 282.75 dwellings or 565.5 residential units allowed. It’s possible the site could not, in practice, accommodate that many units.