The former Chautauqua Point Golf Course was sold for $2.2 million.
File photo

The public is invited to hear about plans to turn a former golf course in the town of Chautauqua into a new housing community.

A public information session will take place on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Chautauqua Municipal Building, 2 Academy St., Mayville. “Ellicott Development Co.is excited to share plans for the redevelopment of the former Chautauqua Point Golf Course into a resort-style community to be called Sunset View at Point Chautauqua. We invite you to join us for a presentation where our development team will outline the proposed plans. Your attendance is welcomed for any questions and feedback that you’d like to offer,” the developer wrote in a flier.

The Chautauqua Point Golf Course closed after the 2021 season with many people in the community wondering what would happen to the property.

A year ago Chautauqua Lake Development LLC of Springville sold 5621, 5687, 5710 East Lake Road, Chautauqua town to 1200 Group, LLC of Buffalo for $2.2 million. In addition, 1200 Group purchased property on East Lake Road for $200,000 and 5695 East Lake Road for $200,000.

“I know that there’s been a lot of discussions. People have reached out over the last couple of years, wondering what’s going on. We’ve been working away at it,” Tom Fox with Ellicott Development Co. explained. “I think people are going to be interested in what the plans are. For some, that can turn into an interest to be a part of it in a higher fashion.”

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

According to Fox, there are three separate sections proposed for the 35-acre property. On the south end would be a section for up to 32 single family home lots.

The majority of the site, the middle section, would be a series of townhome unit buildings. It could have as many as 138 units in total. These could be one, two or three stories tall. “We have it in blocks of four units and six units scattered along the hillside, taking advantage of the views, certainly some great views toward the sunset and toward the lake, looking west,” he said.

At the north end of the site a four-story building is proposed to be constructed along the hillside. This could have 30-40 units in it. In that building would be three floors of condominium-style residential units. The lowest level of the building would be a community center and an outdoor section for the residential community. Amenities could include meeting spaces, pool, hot tubs, a dog park, pickleball courts, and other indoor/outdoor activities.

Also in this area could be a restaurant or taproom that would be open to the general public. “There’s not really one in that location up until you get to Mayville or downtown Bemus (Point). And then from that point, there will be access to the water,” Fox explained.

Other businesses could be there as well. “We’ve got a bit of frontage down there where we have water access. Maybe there’s some small watercraft rentals, some transient dock slips,” he said.

Fox noted that boaters could visit this area. “Potentially folks could stop there, grab a bite to eat, and get back on their boat and head out to where they might live or be staying on the lake,” he said.

TIMELINE

Fox noted these different options would be built over time. “It will be a phased project. We don’t intend to build all these units at one time,” he said.

Right now they’re in the process of getting approval from the town. They’ve submitted a draft of the project for review. “We are retaining a substantial amount of green space, which ties in nicely with Chautauqua’s zoning guidelines for a Planned Unit Development. That’s one of the main focal points of the project – not to overbuild but to have a nice natural landscape with a lot of green space for folks to enjoy,” he said.

He said they will also need state approval from the Attorney General’s Office in order to form a Homeowners Association.

Once the town and state signs off on the project, Fox said they will start marketing the project for reservations and potential sale. “We’re hopeful to be able to start marketing by this fall,” he said.

If things line up, they would like to start some of the early construction work by next year.

At this point, Fox isn’t certain of what the different living units will cost for future buyers, but noted it will “lean towards a luxury style living community.”

Even so, Fox believes they will be able to find necessary buyers to make it a reality. “I think we’ll be priced right for the market. We’ve done a lot of research and worked closely, and continue to work closely, with some local brokers who know the market really well. We’ve used their expertise to kind of shape the size and style of what we’re putting together,” he said.

Because it’s being constructed in phases, Fox said they don’t have to pre-sell much in order to make this project move forward. “It could be anywhere from a dozen or two dozen units that we have to have reservations on before we start the first phase. I don’t think we’re intending on doing much on speculation but once we get this pre-marketing approval from the state and start the work, I think we’ll have plenty of ramp up time to build that list of interested parties and be in a position so that early next year we can start,” he said.

Ellicott Development is a full service real estate management and development company with over 40 years of experience in Buffalo, Upstate New York and Western Pennsylvania. Some other notable projects Fox mentioned include 11 hotels built, owned, and operated by them, including 500 Pearl St., Buffalo. They are the developers of a housing development in Angola at Mickey Rats. They also are working on a housing project in Orchard Park.