I was wondering, what else can be built atop a former landfill and create revenue?
The city of West Covina realized that building a golf course atop their landfill would not be the best idea:
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_9892915West Covina shelves plan to build golf course
By Jennifer McLain, Staff Writer
WEST COVINA - City officials have shelved plans to transform portions of the former BKK landfill into an 18-hole public golf course.
The move came earlier this month after predictions that construction of the course would be another financial thorn in the city's already struggling budget.
"The fiscal impact to build it would result in a negative cashflow to the city," said Public Works Director Shannon Yauchzee. "When it was conceived five years ago, construction costs were half of what they are today, the economy was booming, and golf was more popular than ever."
The City Council on July 1 rejected a round of bids for the 18-hole course, with construction costs ranging from $32 million to $40 million.
Elsie Messman, who attended the meeting along with other residents in opposition to the course, said she would prefer to see nothing done with the land for now - especially since the city approved a budget last month with a $2 million deficit.
"We don't have the money," Messman said. "By the way, we have seven golf courses in the area. How many more do we need?"
One of the courses, Industry Hills, is located less than two miles south the proposed site.
Craig Kessler, executive director of the Public Links Golf Association of Southern California, said that the proximity to other golf courses isn't necessarily telling of the success of a course.
"Any facility which has a good value to price correlation can be successful," Kessler said.
But with construction costs of the course as high as they were projected for the West Covina course, greens fees in the range of $30 to $50 could be possible, Kessler said.
The concept for a golf course has long been part of the city's plans for development on the former landfill. It is the last phase of the West Covina Sportsplex.
"It has always been a component," said City Manager Andrew Pasmant. "But there are so many components to the project. We are slowly working our way up there toward the golf course."
Big League Dreams, a sports complex that contains four replica baseball fields, opened five months ago. It is also now awaiting the completion of the Heights, a shopping center that is expected to be completely open by the end of the year.
The entire facility required a $57 million bond.
City officials hope to generate significant sales tax revenue from the stores and from Big League Dreams, and have long believed that the golf course would provide a steady stream of income.
Some residents suggested that instead of spending $40 million to build a course, that the land be kept undeveloped.
But if the city wants to produce cash flow, its best option would be to use the land as a golf course, Kessler said.
"A golf course is one thing where you can make money, and provide the community with something valuable," Kessler said. "If they build open space, that does nothing but cost money."
Yauchzee said there are two portions of land that are being considered for a golf course. The top deck of the landfill is 100 acres, another section is 75 acres.
"On the top deck, it is fairly well limited to golf activity, we can't build structures there," Yauchzee said. "But the 75 acres of raw land is fairly open."
Other options that the city council could consider on the property is a nine-hole golf course and driving range.
Kessler warned that a nine-hole golf course, though half the size, is not usually half the price.
"The nine-hole golf courses in Altadena and Eaton Canyon (in Pasadena) are probably the only two courses in the San Gabriel Valley that are really financially struggling," Kessler said. "They are half the golf course, but cost considerably more than half to operate. They are the financial step-child in every system."