The City of Alameda announced it has reached an amicable and non-financial settlement agreement (link downloads PDF) with Greenway Golf Associates, Inc., which operates the Chuck Corica Golf Complex on Bay Farm Island. This agreement comes as a resolution to a four-year legal dispute between the parties that went to trial in Alameda Superior Court last month.
Corica Park is a 333-acre public golf complex which has been the City’s largest park since 1927. The complex features two 18-hole championship golf courses, a nine-hole Par 3 course, driving range, clubhouse, pro shop, and restaurant, making it a destination for golfers of all ages, skill levels, and backgrounds. The property is currently leased to Greenway Golf.
Among the terms of the agreement, the City and Greenway Golf will negotiate a new lease, removing references to the Capital Improvement Reserve Fund and clarifying the City’s audit rights. The City will have the right to audit Greenway’s gross revenue records for up to three prior years and request audited financial statements annually. The agreement also addresses increasing greens fee and providing discounted fees for residents, seniors, and youths, as well as free golf for public school golf teams, and equal access for residents and non-residents.
Other terms of the agreement include expanded mandatory alternative dispute resolution and amendments to tenant improvement rights, such as upgrades, repairs, and rehabilitation, plantings to conceal the sewage pump station, and closures for maintenance. The agreement also addresses responsibility for parking lot maintenance and the addition of a non-disparagement clause.
A representative from Greenway Golf provided the Alameda Post with a statement which reads in part, “The settlement includes new and important guardrails in the lease that ensure fair dealing, giving Greenway the protections needed to continue investing in the course over the next four decades and expanding its offerings for golfers and non-golfers across Alameda and the greater Bay Area.
“Greenway looks forward to resetting its relationship with the City and building on progress achieved over the past five years, ensuring that Corica Park continues to make strides in serving as a welcoming, vibrant, and accessible public asset for generations to come.”
Greenway also provided copies of documents to the Alameda Post showing their responses to the City’s Notices of Violation and other correspondence.
A City of Alameda press release stated, “The City welcomes this opportunity to rebuild and strengthen its partnership with Greenway and pursue our mutual interest in assuring Corica Park remains a premier public golf destination and public recreational space, rooted in environmental responsibility and community accessibility, for generations to come.”
The City had no further comment when contacted by the Alameda Post.
