The dispute over the future of Shalimar Golf Course in Tempe continues to unfold, with residents raising concerns about a pungent smell and deteriorating conditions after the closure of the facility in April. According to Arizona's Family, the golf course has become an unwelcome presence in the neighborhood, with residents witnessing dead fish in the dried-up pond and large cracks in the parched earth. Locals arguably believe the foul conditions are a deliberate maneuver by the owners to push through a redevelopment plan, which involves selling the course to a developer for the construction of high-density housing.
Once a lush, well-maintained field of play, the golf course's decline is starkly visible. Residents Elba Quintero and Trudy Mussigman, both part of the group Save Shalimar, have pointed out the dire state of the once-vibrant golf course, with Elba Quintero voicing concerns over increased traffic and noise that a high-density community would bring. "It’s becoming a dead area. The grass is dying, some of the trees are already suffering--obviously the fish in the pond--they’re gone," Quintero told Arizona's Family.
Meanwhile, Jane Neuheisel, the current owner of Shalimar, has maintained that the decision to halt maintenance and pursue redevelopment is a difficult but necessary measure. In a statement given to FOX 10 Phoenix, Neuheisel explained, "Our back are against the wall, we put everything into it, and we’re out of money." Despite the community's pleas and even an offer to cover the water costs, Neuheisel expressed financial unable to continue operating the course, citing a monthly water bill of $30,000 as a prohibitive cost.
There's been a vocal divide between the interests of immediate residents and broader economic considerations. Mark Stapp, the Fred E. Taylor Professor of Real Estate at Arizona State University, noted in a FOX 10 Phoenix interview that the land's high demand due to a housing shortage might outweigh local concerns. "As painful as it might be for those immediately adjacent, it’s the best thing for the entire region that you have this kind of redevelopment occurring," Stapp said.
As things stand, the developer is set to hold two neighborhood meetings in the coming month, offering residents a platform to voice their opinions. The City of Tempe has not yet received a formal proposal for the rezoning required for redevelopment, and the City Council's decision remains pending.
