(Spirit Lake)– Major news today (Wednesday) for the city of Spirit Lake.
City officials announced plans for a major retail, residential area and 18-hole golf course to be constructed between Highway 71 and Hill Avenue, north of 175th Avenue, or Stakeout Road, and south of 41st Street.
City Administrator Mark Stevens says developers Marty and Alex Benskin of Benskin Developers, Incorporated of Des Moines and its Iowa Great Lakes Development Division CEO, Glen Maddox, Jr., will coordinate the development team for the creation of the Iowa Great Lakes Lifestyle Center.
Stevens says the combined retail, residential and 18-hole golf course will encompass more than 415 acres. He says it will include a clubhouse, hotel and a variety of housing with over 600 lots and condos to be constructed by Weitz Golf. The course will be designed by Nicklaus Design, founded by golf legend Jack Nicklaus. Troon Golf, the world’s largest upscale, daily public fee, brand golf management company will manage the courses daily operations.
Some of the area proposed for the development is not currently in city limits, but Stevens says annexation is planned.
Stevens says a zoning issue must also be addressed in order for the development to become a reality. It would allow for a golf course to be placed in multi-family residential and high commercial zoned areas. A portion of the area will also have to be re-zoned from highway commercial to multi-family.
Other details of the development, including the retail portion of the development, are still being finalized.
The development team also includes Beck Engineering, Simonson Architects and Benskin Reality, Incorporated.
Earthwork is slated to begin in the spring of 2009 with initial construction to start shortly afterward.
Stevens told KUOO news the development represents a huge advancement for the city and further establishes the community’s key role in commercial and retail attractions in northwest Iowa, adding the attraction should bring a lot of people to the area and that it would greatly expand the city’s population base.
