Highland seeks to wedge upscale homes on golf course grounds

Highland Golf and Country Club on the northwest side has teed up plans to build homes on the property and raise revenue for the aging 18-hole course and private retreat.

The country club at 1050 W. 52nd St., just east of Michigan Road, wants to sell nearly 25 acres to a developer that would build 46 high-end houses.

Money from the sale would be used to make several improvements to the club, which is nearly a century old. It was organized in 1919 and opened two years later. The club hopes to remodel the clubhouse and build a new pool, tennis courts, golf course maintenance facility and parking lots.

Highland is seeking to rezone the land for the new development, which would be called Highland Estates, according to plans filed with the city. Home prices would range from $400,000 to $2 million and include 14 gated estate homes, 19 garden homes and 13 townhouses.

Club president Paul DeCoursey declined to comment on the plans until they’ve been presented to members at a July 7 meeting.

But a city filing paints a bleak future for the country club should the plans fail to receive approval. A hearing has yet to be set.

“Highland Estates is critical to the long-term viability and maintenance of the club,” the filing said.

Many of the homes in the development are expected to be purchased by club members, according to the filing. The project would be built on the southeastern portion of the 152-acre property, adjacent to White River.  

The new addition would be accessed via the same private driveway from West 52nd Street as the country club.

Highland Estates Development LLC would be the developer on the project. Its principals are local custom home builder John Eaton, real estate agent and developer Brad Litz and landscape architect Adam Garvey.

The developer has hired attorney Mary Solada, who also is a member of the club, to represent it.