Chicago Southland Economic Development Executive Director Reggie Greenwood | govst.edu
Chicago Southland Economic Development Executive Director Reggie Greenwood | govst.edu
Chicago Southland Economic Development Executive Director Reggie Greenwood still sees great economic potential in the Calumet Country Club.
“Certainly the land has economic viability as something other than a golf course,” Greenwood said in the wake of the club’s split from Homewood. “Certainly there is an opportunity for a project to be put there. The developer would have to do it in a way to get support from whatever municipality he is in.”
In the meantime, developer Walt Brown Jr. recently noted that a settlement is now in place with the Village of Homewood and that the Country Club development is moving forward despite the village's now month-old vote against rezoning the site.
Brown, who also serves as CEO of Diversified Partners, which runs the 800-acre site, said the company will now disconnect the Village of Homewood's acreage.
Nearby Hazel Crest surrounds the property on three sides and Brown and company have previously sought to have it annexed by the village. He added only time will tell what happens.
“I don't know what that economic opportunity is,” he said. “I don't know what Hazel Crest will agree to. I haven't spoken to the mayor of Hazel Crest.”
With supporters of the development insisting that it stands to generate in the neighborhood of $2 million in annual taxes for the local economy and create as many as 2,000 full-time jobs, Brown said he’ll continue to push.
"The community wants jobs," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "And we're excited about bringing them."
For now, Brown said the company will collect funds from an earlier development lawsuit. The village also previously agreed to pay Diversified Partners $250,000 if the project could not move forward by May 12
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