Office Condos to Replace Driving Range at Bougainvillea Golf Club

When the Pitman family bought Bougainvillea Golf Club four years ago, they saw tremendous growth potential in its Baseline Road location and close proximity to downtown. Now, as the projected expansion closes in, they’re making changes that are expected to attract new services to Laveen.

Plans are underway to reduce the size of the course’s underused driving range – which borders Baseline Road – so the land can be developed into a 60,000-square-foot office condo complex.

“The bottom line is that we can accomplish the same thing the range is doing by providing a nice practice facility with warm-up nets,” said General Manager Warren Pitman. “Then, we can actually enhance the practice facility by giving it a really nice short-game area.”

Pitman said improvements, such as adding lighting, were considered for the driving range, but developing the land allows the family to put more money into the golf course and “upscale” the area. He added the design will look similar to the surrounding neighborhood.

“It’s going to be an upscale project,” he stressed.

One objective is to bring in as many services as possible that are currently lacking in Laveen, with medical facilities being a top priority.

“Another goal is (attracting) professional services that aren’t medical,” said Pitman, adding the idea for an office condo development was hatched about two years ago. “We feel like that’s going to elevate our potential to bring more jobs to the community and higher paying jobs.”

Instead of leasing, tenants will be encouraged to purchase their spaces. Because his family owns the land, Pitman said he’ll be able to offer very competitive pricing.

“The people who are coming here are making an investment in the community,” he added. “They’re not just leaving in five years; they’re making a long-term investment.”

A portion of the project funding came from selling the west corners to accommodate commercial tenants. The southwest corner of the 13-acre parcel – along the east side of the 59th Avenue alignment – is slated for a gas station/car wash combination, while a sit-down restaurant is being pursued for a pad directly behind it.

A fast-food restaurant with a drive-thru is planned for a pad on the east side of the gas station.

Construction could be completed in phases and is projected to begin in June 2009.