SunCal revives Virginia development

Irvine, Calif.-based SunCal Cos. is prepping to complete a Northern Virginia golf course that stalled for three years during the downturn.

The unfinished 18-hole course is part of a 2,000-acre community called Harbor Station in Prince William County, which sits 35 miles south of Washington, D.C. SunCal picked up the bank-owned development in August, which is one of the last large undeveloped parcels off of Interstate 95.

It's the first big East Coast move for the 38-year-old land developer, which primarily plays on the West with nearly two dozen communities in California, as well as residential projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada.

The course, called Potomac Harbor Golf Course, is one of only two Jack Nicklaus courses located in northern Virginia. The other course, finished in 2007, sits about 30 miles away in Aldie, Va. at the Club at Creighton Farms.

The par 72 Potomac Harbor course includes four sets of tees with a total distance ranging from 5,389 to 7,156 yards. The course, carved through stands of hardwoods, has more than 200 feet of elevation change and some of its holes run along Powell’s Creek, according to SunCal. A golf course management company has not yet been selected, according to the company.

McLean, Va.-based Kettler Inc. formerly owned 45 percent of the project and invested $200 million into it until the recession put the project on pause. Kettler was negotiating to take back the project but walked away because it couldn’t reach a deal.

Kettler completed most of the development work on the golf course and the grounds have since been well maintained. SunCal is identifying the remaining work to be done to make the course ready for play. A date has not yet been set for when it will open to the public.

Harbor Station is envisioned to eventually contain 4,000 residential units, 3 million commercial square feet, a golf course and railway station. Harbor Station's entitlements have stayed in place for six years, and most are still effective, so SunCal is able to quickly pick up where the project left off.