Glenwood Golf Course, shown in February, dates back to the 1920s. (BizSense file images)
With the blessing of Henrico supervisors, the oldest public golf course in metro Richmond is now cleared to make way for a 290-home development.
At their regular meeting last week, supervisors unanimously approved Godsey Properties’ latest proposal to develop the 120-acre Glenwood Golf Course along Creighton Road in eastern Henrico into two residential subdivisions separated by a stream that bisects the property.
The revised plan passed the county Planning Commission in July after it was reworked over multiple deferrals since February, when Godsey initially proposed a total of 320 home lots.
On top of reducing the number of homes, Godsey agreed to other commitments as part of the reworked plan, including a $2 million investment to widen Creighton Road by 10 feet along the length of the property, with additional turn lanes, curb-and-gutter improvements and sidewalks to be installed along the road.
Pedestrian lighting along Creighton also is planned in the park area that would follow the creek’s path, as well as in front yards of homes via solar-powered lights. A third of all of the homes also are required to have side- or rear-loading garages.
A rendering of the homes planned for the Glenwood Golf Course redevelopment.
Working with local attorney Andy Condlin with Roth Jackson Gibbons Condlin, Godsey held three community meetings on the project over the course of the county’s review.
At last week’s board meeting, a resident of the neighboring Glenwood Lakes subdivision spoke against the project, citing concerns over lot sizes, project density and traffic.
But Supervisor Frank Thornton, whose Fairfield District includes the property, expressed support for the reworked proposal, as well as county planners’ work on it, in leading the board in its approval.
“The planning staff has done a good job here,” Thornton said before the vote. “In my view, the future of Henrico County is actually the eastern corridor — the Fairfield District and the Varina District. I have noticed that for the majority of the planning cases of this level, we have done it properly and appropriately. That is my understanding for this case.”
With the approval, Doug Godsey, who runs Henrico-based Godsey Properties as well as homebuilding arm NK Homes, said he’s finalizing designs and planning to break ground in fall 2022, with the golf course allowed to continue operating through next summer.
A revised site plan shows how the 290 homes would be separated by the creek area that bisects the property.
He said Ryan Homes is lined up to build the bulk of the homes, with his NK Homes reserving the right to build on some of the lots. Amenities planned include lighted trails, ponds with footbridges, picnic pavilions with grills, and an amphitheater.
Godsey said buildout is projected for 2027, and he put the total development cost at about $17 million. He said his deal with Glenwood’s owners is to purchase the property for $3.5 million. County property records did not reflect a transaction as of Tuesday.
The county most recently assessed the property at $1.32 million. Glenwood most recently changed ownership in 1996 in a nearly $4.5 million transaction, property records show.
Owned by Harry Griffin and Frank Adams, the nearly century-old golf course has been in operation since the 1920s. The 18-hole, par 71 course was designed by Scotland-born golf architect Fred Findlay, whose credits also include the Meadowbrook Country Club course in Chesterfield County
Godsey is working with engineering firm The Bay Cos., which drew up site plans included with the case.
Homes built on the Glenwood Golf Course site would have one- and two-level floor plans.
Innsbrook mixed-use plan deferred, Starbucks store approved
Also at last week’s meeting, supervisors deferred a vote on Highwoods Properties’ proposed mixed-use development on about 34 acres at Innsbrook’s northern entrance at Nuckols Road and Interstate 295. Highwoods requested the deferral to the board’s Oct. 12 meeting.
The Planning Commission supported the project in August after previously voicing concerns about traffic impacts of the development, which would fill the site with a mix of retail, office, multifamily residential and potentially a hotel. The largely undeveloped site includes the Innsbrook After Hours concert venue and the recently acquired Elks Lodge property.
Supervisors also approved a rezoning request from Starbucks Corp. to convert the former BB&T branch at 6201 River Road into a new store that would feature a drive-thru. The building is located at River Road Shopping Center beside the convergence of River and Huguenot roads.
Glenwood Golf Course, shown in February, dates back to the 1920s. (BizSense file images)
With the blessing of Henrico supervisors, the oldest public golf course in metro Richmond is now cleared to make way for a 290-home development.
At their regular meeting last week, supervisors unanimously approved Godsey Properties’ latest proposal to develop the 120-acre Glenwood Golf Course along Creighton Road in eastern Henrico into two residential subdivisions separated by a stream that bisects the property.
The revised plan passed the county Planning Commission in July after it was reworked over multiple deferrals since February, when Godsey initially proposed a total of 320 home lots.
On top of reducing the number of homes, Godsey agreed to other commitments as part of the reworked plan, including a $2 million investment to widen Creighton Road by 10 feet along the length of the property, with additional turn lanes, curb-and-gutter improvements and sidewalks to be installed along the road.
Pedestrian lighting along Creighton also is planned in the park area that would follow the creek’s path, as well as in front yards of homes via solar-powered lights. A third of all of the homes also are required to have side- or rear-loading garages.
A rendering of the homes planned for the Glenwood Golf Course redevelopment.
Working with local attorney Andy Condlin with Roth Jackson Gibbons Condlin, Godsey held three community meetings on the project over the course of the county’s review.
At last week’s board meeting, a resident of the neighboring Glenwood Lakes subdivision spoke against the project, citing concerns over lot sizes, project density and traffic.
But Supervisor Frank Thornton, whose Fairfield District includes the property, expressed support for the reworked proposal, as well as county planners’ work on it, in leading the board in its approval.
“The planning staff has done a good job here,” Thornton said before the vote. “In my view, the future of Henrico County is actually the eastern corridor — the Fairfield District and the Varina District. I have noticed that for the majority of the planning cases of this level, we have done it properly and appropriately. That is my understanding for this case.”
With the approval, Doug Godsey, who runs Henrico-based Godsey Properties as well as homebuilding arm NK Homes, said he’s finalizing designs and planning to break ground in fall 2022, with the golf course allowed to continue operating through next summer.
A revised site plan shows how the 290 homes would be separated by the creek area that bisects the property.
He said Ryan Homes is lined up to build the bulk of the homes, with his NK Homes reserving the right to build on some of the lots. Amenities planned include lighted trails, ponds with footbridges, picnic pavilions with grills, and an amphitheater.
Godsey said buildout is projected for 2027, and he put the total development cost at about $17 million. He said his deal with Glenwood’s owners is to purchase the property for $3.5 million. County property records did not reflect a transaction as of Tuesday.
The county most recently assessed the property at $1.32 million. Glenwood most recently changed ownership in 1996 in a nearly $4.5 million transaction, property records show.
Owned by Harry Griffin and Frank Adams, the nearly century-old golf course has been in operation since the 1920s. The 18-hole, par 71 course was designed by Scotland-born golf architect Fred Findlay, whose credits also include the Meadowbrook Country Club course in Chesterfield County
Godsey is working with engineering firm The Bay Cos., which drew up site plans included with the case.
Homes built on the Glenwood Golf Course site would have one- and two-level floor plans.
Innsbrook mixed-use plan deferred, Starbucks store approved
Also at last week’s meeting, supervisors deferred a vote on Highwoods Properties’ proposed mixed-use development on about 34 acres at Innsbrook’s northern entrance at Nuckols Road and Interstate 295. Highwoods requested the deferral to the board’s Oct. 12 meeting.
The Planning Commission supported the project in August after previously voicing concerns about traffic impacts of the development, which would fill the site with a mix of retail, office, multifamily residential and potentially a hotel. The largely undeveloped site includes the Innsbrook After Hours concert venue and the recently acquired Elks Lodge property.
Supervisors also approved a rezoning request from Starbucks Corp. to convert the former BB&T branch at 6201 River Road into a new store that would feature a drive-thru. The building is located at River Road Shopping Center beside the convergence of River and Huguenot roads.
While I’m always happy to see more economic development in metro RVA – I’ll admit to being saddened by the loss of Glenwood. My brother and I and our good friends used to play golf at Glenwood quite frequently in our younger days. I made many multiples of par and thoroughly embarrassed myself on that golf course dozens of times over the years, lol!
I will be sorry to see the oldest course in town close since I learned to play out there with my Dad when I was ten. Our many days of golf while pulling a cart with hotdogs and Cokes afterwards are my fondest childhood memories. Glad to hear I have until the summer of 2022 to take my two boys out there to show them where my love of the game got its start.
More houses for people from NY and CA to move into
Great, now NVR can just mow down all the trees like they always do. Have they announced how many crappy little retail strips they will build?
Need opinions: Will the surrounding home values drop? Say you live off Elkridge Lane?
I have 3 properties in the area, one is on Elkridge Lane, another on Binford Lane, and the other on Beau Lane. I know how property values work and I’m pretty sure all these nearby properties will see an increase in value. Thank you to the investors that bought the golf club buh-bye boring golfers hello homeowners :).
Way too close to Richmond to be this low density. I thought we were learning from our mistakes. Henrico will really regret approving this development in the future.