Transforming aging facilities is difficult for many voluntary organizations, be they community, religious or recreation groups.
But partnering with a developer can help them overcome the financial hurdles while delivering an upgraded experience for members and the broader community.
In the case of Granite Pointe Golf Club in Nelson, the $2 million sale of 17.5 acres to Hallō Properties of Vancouver earlier this year has put the club on a firm financial footing and set the stage for a $500 million redevelopment that will transform the century-old course into a Doug Carrick-designed course managed by internationally recognized operator Troon Golf. It will be the only Troon course in Canada.
“We wanted to build something and add a lot of benefit to the community, and at the same time, what’s special about Nelson is the quirky, hipster, cool, organic style that Nelson has,” said Farhad Ebrahimi, president of Hallō Properties. “Nelson itself is the recipe. It’s a really, really special place.”
Granite Pointe is located within city limits, and Hallō’s development will offer a range of housing types and amenities that will complement the club without overwhelming it. Just over 300 residential units will be built, with the first 24 fully furnished townhomes being offered for sale this fall.
Construction is set to begin this fall with full build-out completing within 10 years.
In addition to the residential portion, the project will feature two boutique hotels, a commercial hub and a village green and outdoor ice skating rink.
Ebrahimi says the pandemic set the stage for the project.
Nelson, the largest city in the Central Kootenay region, benefited from an increase in residents during the pandemic as the internet facilitated remote work arrangements and rural locations welcomed an influx of people from more densely populated areas. The city’s population grew 3.7 per cent over 2019 to 11,931 residents last year.
Meanwhile, international travel restrictions had people looking homeward for vacation opportunities, and Nelson was on their radar, too. While it operated on a deficit for years, Granite Pointe turned profits in 2020 and 2021 as outdoor activities such as golf gave people a chance to socialize at a distance.
But if the pandemic proved the concept, Hallō is now capitalizing on the potential. Ebrahimi voiced hopes of attracting people for whom Nelson’s character – an eclectic blend of freedom-loving groups from hippies and draft dodgers to outdoor enthusiasts – resonates.
Hallō has been fielding interest from Ontario, Alberta, B.C. and within Nelson itself.
Air Canada plans to double its flights into Castlegar from Vancouver and also add an extra flight from Calgary that will facilitate visitor traffic. Charter flights will also increase service.
Hallō is also undertaking projects in Revelstoke focused on the alpine ski market, while a third project in Pender Harbour on the Sunshine Coast is focused on waterfront properties.
While the ambitions for its project in Nelson are big, the success of past projects such as Red Mountain in Rossland – where a community ski hill was transformed into a destination that’s paid big dividends for the area – shows what’s possible. Part of the so-called Powder Highway, a network of resorts and backcountry ski destinations through the Kootenays, Red Mountain has breathed fresh life into Rossland without overwhelming it.
Similar to the Powder Highway for skiing, the new course in Nelson will be part of a trio of top-tier golf courses including the recently announced Cabot Revelstoke course, a sibling to Cabot Cape Breton, Canada’s top-rated course, and Predator Ridge in Vernon.
“This is going to be the No. 1 golf, lifestyle and entertainment development in the whole country,” Ebrahimi said of the Nelson course, christened the Dodger.
Resurgent demand from recreational buyers is positive.
“Recreational property appetite in the area is pretty much back to 2019 numbers,” said Clark Coyston, owner of Re/Max Four Seasons Realty in Nelson.
While he couldn’t speak to Hallō’s plans directly, Coyston said demand for a project of that calibre will most likely come from Calgary and Vancouver.
