The Prince George Golf and Curling Club is in the real estate business for the second week in a row.
A week after selling its property on North Nechako Road, the club and the city have finalized a deal with Brent Marshall's Crosstown Land Holdings to sell about eight acres of the golf course lands along Highway 16.
The deal with Marshall - president of Northland Dodge - and his partners will amount to about $15 million worth of investment in the property, with more to come.
"This will drive more," Marshall said, predicting about $100 million worth of investment in the city when further parcels of land are dealt.
Marshall said the subject piece of land stretches between the Sandman Signature hotel and the turn off to the Prince George Playhouse and back to the edge of the golf course.
The group has been trying to secure a deal for the past five years, Marshall said, and the purchase will facilitate the move of the Dodge dealership from its current 20th Avenue location to a much-needed larger space.
"The land beside our Hyundai store will become a Nissan facility," Marshall confirmed.
The sale doesn't only benefit Marshall's business prospects, but it also bodes well for the rest of the community, he said.
"It's very positive... Now the money can be used to offset some of the costs of the 2015 Winter Games and for updating the facilities," Marshall said.
According to Marshall, there has also been collaboration with the Ministry of Transportation, which will take over a slice of the land next to the highway to create longer acceleration and deceleration lanes.
"So everybody worked incredibly well together, especially the city, after what they've been through with previous people," Marshall said, adding that he and his partners attempted to purchase the land at least five years ago.
The land, which used to house the Prince George Tennis Club, was rezoned by the city earlier this year for commercial use. Eight new courts are to be constructed on the northwest side of the PGGCC clubhouse.
In the fall of 2010, city council approved the Golf Course-Pine Centre Neighbourhood Plan which designates the nearly 30-acre section of land along Highway 16 for regional commercial use.
Marshall said he hopes to break ground as soon as possible.
