Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
The Large -Scale Project Would Envelop Oakwood, Lake Wales Country Club Golf Courses
A controversial high-density development involving Lake Wales Country Club and Oakwood that was nixed by city planners earlier this year is returning with new designs even as new information emerges about Falgun Dharia, the principal behind the project, who had introduced himself last year as Frank Ghandi. (See our stories below.) The new conceptual site development plan still combines the two golf courses but relies more heavily on single-family home sites.
Many residents at Lake Wales Country Club had expressed opposition to the first plans, advanced last December, which required using much of the two present golf course layouts for new housing, leaving an 18-hole course. It is unclear from a review of the conceptual plan how existing Oakwood homes would be connected to the street grid, as the entrance at Old Wailes Road would be relocated to serve new homesites.
A representative of the City of Lake Wales Growth management Division indicated that the conceptual plans are very preliminary and would face several levels of review from city staff even before proposed site plans can be submitted.
A new proposed site plan for the redevelopment of the two country club golf courses shows a far-different layout than originally proposed, with a central boulevard that connects SR 60 with Masterpiece Road, The design is an effort to avoid comply more closely with Lake Wales Envisioned goals of interconnected neighborhoods, while also avoiding the creation of "enclaves" of county residents surrounded by in-city lands..
The new plan appears to call for a similar number of houses, apartments and townhomes but much less commercial frontage, limited to an area west of the club's main entrance. In keeping with the Lake Wales Envisioned standards of an interconnected street grid, the new plan also adds access to the project from Masterpiece Road as well as Capps Road and SR 60,
The plan also includes a "multi-use trail" running the length of the new central boulevard, as well as a nature trail that threads its way to a scrub preserve. Single-family home sites appear to abut one existing Oakwood neighborhood that currently backs to a golf fairway. Home sites also lie adjacent to a small portion of Country Oaks.
Although details were not available, site plans appear to include a hotel adjacent to the existing clubhouse, a goal Ghandi shared with residents more than a year ago. He explained at that time that the golf course is not presently attracting sufficient business to survive. A hotel making it a golfing destination would enable him to preserve at least a single course.
Dharia has promoted his plans to residents as an effort to reinvigorate the business operations. "Our plan is to redevelop the combined properties as a master planned golf course community with a vibrant 18 hole golf course that incorporates many of the Donald Ross designed Lake Wales Country Club golf holes," Dharia wrote.
"Our development team incorporated input from the City planners, neighbors and Association leadership who provided comments to us," Dharia said, citing such changes as the multi-purpose trail and internal boulevard as helping to address those comments. Dharia explained that his team is "scheduling meetings in the near future with the residents and several homeowner associations to share our plan and seek further feedback."
The first proposal was rejected for annexation by Lake Wales planners because it would create illegal "enclaves" of county lands within the city limits. The new plan is apparently designed to eliminate at least most of that problem so as to receive annexation rights and utility service. Both plans combine the Lake Wales Country Club with undeveloped lands at adjacent Oakwood Country Club owned by Dr. Andrew Hanzlik, a Davenport, FL ophthalmologist. The first plan included a new hotel and hundreds of townhomes, apartments, and single-family homes, a total of 1,424 dwelling units spread across 522 acres.
Controversial Past Generates Fear of Future for Some
In reviewing the plans and those involved, Lake Wales News learned that the principal of the firm, who introduced himself to country club residents as Frank Ghandi, is the same person as Falgun Dharia, who has faced multiple federal charges for past activities, including bank fraud related to arson of a hotel of which he was co-owner. The conspiracy charge was reduced to mail fraud after he successfully argued that he was unaware of the arson plot, but failed to report it and continued to pursue an insurance claim, according to New York attorney Robert Wolf, who represented Dharia.
Dharia has also led multiple business ventures which ended in costly bankruptcies and millions in losses. Dharia released a lengthy statement acknowledging his past misdeeds and regrets. (See our stories below.)
Dharia is a principal in multiple golf course communities across the eastern US. Lake Wales News has reached out to residents and management at several of them to determine the state of the projects. The responses were mixed. Several reported significant investments since Dharia acquired them, with improvements to both courses and clubhouse facilities. Those which are being redeveloped are reported to be in top condition, with new investments in facilities and equipment.
The upscale community of Ford's Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, VA, recently purchased by Dharia includes three golf courses. Residents report that the Colony's fine-dining restaurant has been closed and one of two golf professionals fired, among other cuts, according to residents. A group of property owners there have organized in opposition to Dharia's ongoing reduction of services and increased fees as well as his legal history. They told Lake Wales News that their members are resigning from the club en masse and demanding it be sold.
"Bottom line, we just want him out of here," a resident wrote in an email while asking not to be identified for fear of repercussions. "What we are worried about is what has happened before (property goes into foreclosure as loan monies are redirected to Paru Ghandi versus being used to improve property.)"
"Interest in golf is growing, but I see the course is being abandoned," said a 27-year resident of the club who asked to remain unidentified. "The clubhouse is in terrible shape."
Other clubs we contacted were in much the same state as Lake Wales Country Club, which has yet to be redeveloped, and were reportedly receiving little maintenance. Residents locally report that normal maintenance such as fertilizing has been skipped and that groundskeepers have been cut from the payroll.
Reader Comments(1)
Luismendez writes:
I was at the golf course yesterday, and I couldn’t help but wonder if it had been abandoned. There were weeds everywhere, the grass was overgrown, and the clubhouse appeared neglected. It's disappointing because poor management like this really hurts the value of the homes in the area. Who would want to invest in a community where the HOA and overall maintenance are clearly being ignored?
09/05/2024, 9:04 am