A Marlton-based real estate consortium, First Montgomery Group was the winning bidder on the Woodcrest Country Club in Cherry Hill on Monday morning.
The winning bid was $4 million, higher than the appraised value of the property.
The company out-bid the Camden County Freeholder Board and Cherry Hill Township which partnered together to save the club, according to a press release from the county.
“I am disappointed and outraged,” Freeholder Jeffrey Nash said. “I find it difficult to believe that a real-estate group would bid more than $4 million above the appraised value, for a historic parcel that would be extremely difficult to develop in an environmentally sensitive area that requires federal, state, county and municipal approvals.”
Woodcrest Country Club is a 155-acre, par-71 layout in the southwest corner of Cherry Hill adjacent to two heavily traveled county roadways, between Route 561 and Evesham Road. The facility lies geographically in the center of Camden County. The golf club dates back to 1929, when Camden City’s Jewish population was barred at other golf courses and started its own.
“I know residents will continue to have concerns about the future of this property and we still believe this is an ideal property to protect from residential and commercial development,” Nash said in a press release. “We are going to explore all of the options at our disposal to work towards that goal and we are now focused on speaking to the winning bidder about their intentions.”
“Regardless of the auction, I still believe this natural area should stay a golf course or become a park that would be a benefit to everyone in the county,” Nash added.
Mayor Chuck Cahn was definitive in his support for the zoning of the property and the preservation of the land.
“Together with the county, we put our best foot forward in trying to acquire the property. I am disheartened by the outcome, but our position has not changed: Council and I do not want to see this site developed, and we will not support any change in zoning,” Cahn said. “We intend to do everything in our power to keep this property as either a golf course or open space – and to ensure that the integrity of this environmentally sensitive piece of land is preserved.”
Council President Dave Fleisher voiced the local governing body’s support for the current zoning.
“Township Council stands squarely with the mayor against any change in zoning and still believes this parcel should remain as open space,” Fleisher said.
Comments