Status of Reading (PA) C.C.?

[Craig_Rokke]

Reading CC has been mentioned a couple of times on here
as being a Findlay design with some interest. My buddy told
me that the club was close to being developed commercially,
but the local municipality had launched an effort to purchase the course, and convert it to a public facility. Anyone hear anything about this?

[Steve_ Shaffer]

The City of Reading may use its powers of eminent domain to save the course from development. The club was sold to a developer  who is proposing to build more than 500 townhouses. The city proposes to keep the course open to preserve open space and operate the course as a public facility. I remember reading an article about this recently but can't seem to locate it.

[Rob_Waldron]

The City of Reading acquired the golf course under eminant domain. Billy Casper Golf is being retained to operate the course for the city.

[Mike_Cirba]

Craig,

Rob is correct.

The latest news is that RCC is suing the township because they aren't moving fast enough to put the new infrastructure in place.  

Ironically, it seems the much maligned eminent domain law is being applied in a way where a golf course is saved and suburban sprawl takes a hit.  Perhaps that's not such a bad thing, after all.

[wsmorrison]

Nothing wrong with sprawl being subordinated to golf architecure, you're sure right there Mike.  Unfortunately it seems that Pete Trenham is likely to suffer regardless of the results.  He's one of the really good guys and a wonderful asset to Philadelphia golf.

[TEPaul]

Well, I'll be go to Hell. The goings-on up there in Reading with this residential developer, the golf course, and the township and its eminent domain is a pretty Goddamn interesting wrinkle on that recent Supreme Court eminent domain ruling!

And now you say the RCC is suing the township for not performing fast enough?? There has to be something else involved here unless all those people up there are idiots! Why in the world would the RCC, if that's the entity that is or will be the golf club, be suing the township that one would think has cut them one helluva break by saving them through eminent domain?  

[Craig_Rokke]

Perhaps we'll be hearing more about eminent domain as it relates
to golf courses. As you local guys may know, there was a very protracted and very heated eminent domain battle between
a local Coatesville, PA farmer and the city, who wanted to build a municipal course using his land.  The farmer finally came out on top, but at great financial expense.

[Rob_Waldron]

My understanding is that the developer (Mignatti) had the property under contract. It is Mignatti that gets paid from the City. The City (or Township)will own the course. It will we open to the public.

[Kelly Blake Moran]

I believe it is Exeter Township that is buying the course from Mignatti.  BCG was referenced in a local newspaper article but not as RCC managers, although that could be the case now.  

[TEPaul]

Well then, it's probably Mignatti who owns the course or the land or is still under contract or whatever who's suing the township to perform quickly. When someone said RCC is suing the township they must have meant Mignatti. You know these developers, time is money and they don't like their money tied up for long particularly when they just had their 500 townhouse development project ripped out from under them by eminent domain. You know what I say to townhouse developer Mignatti? I say tough shit Migs!

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