$60M luxury community to be built on Sugarcreek golf course

Credit: Staff photo

Credit: Staff photo

A senior living community is in the works in Sugarcreek Twp. that the developer says will be a “cruise ship on land,” and more apartments, town homes and duplexes will be set in a private community on the land currently devoted to the game of golf.

A sign in front of the Rollandia Golf Center, 4990 Wilmington Pike, tells passersby The Grand of Sugarcreek is taking reservations for senior citizens looking for independent/assisted living or memory care residential accommodations.

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Earlier this month, township trustees approved plans to build the luxury senior living facility, a $65 million project, said Cara Tilford, Sugarcreek director of planning and zoning.

Tilford said this development is consistent with our long-range, land-use plan.

“The property is located in Planning Area 1, wherein planning area recommendations are reflective of possible annexations,” she said. “Open space, quality of design and architecture, landscaping and lighting are all keeping with the high standards established for new developments in Sugarcreek Township.”

The Grand project calls for 242 senior living residences, a mix of independent/assisted living and memory care residential units to be built on 16 of 42 acres.

The developer, Guttman Properties, is partnering with Civitas Senior Living to manage the senior living community.

Tilford said this development will have an impact on the township’s tax base as well as on community services.

“The development’s focus on serving an aging population will meet a need not currently being met … and, we believe, will be an asset to the community.”

When asked what separates this planned community from others, Guttman Properties CEO Ian Guttman said “Location, Location, Civitas.”

The developer ultimately plans to build a multi-family unit residential community — Rollandia Greene. Guttman confirmed the plans are currently to add 276 multi-family rental units on about 23 of the 42 acres.

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The community is to feature private roads, a clubhouse, pool, dog park, playground and an “interior pedestrian network connected to the senior/assisted living site,” according to township records.

The general contractor on the entire project will be Louisville-based DMK Development Group and the architect is Columbus-based Ph7 Architects, Guttman said.

The Rollandia Golf Center will remain open until the property purchase is closed on, which could happen in June or July, according to Zachary Fink, the owner of Rollandia Golf Center and The Magic Castle.

Fink said he leases the property from the property owner, Craig Fanning, who is negotiating with Guttman Properties on the deal.

“We’ve lost a tremendous amount of business because people assume we’ve been closed,” Fink said. “They are now dealing with Greene County to get permits to move dirt … We will keep the golf course open until that happens.”

Fink said The Magic Castle, an 18-hole miniature golf course and 11,000 square-foot venue for family activities, “will remain open indefinitely.”

Guttman declined to comment about the status on the purchase of the golf course.

Tilford said construction on the senior living facility, which is the first phase of the project, is expected to start in July and be completed around the end of 2019.

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