New condos going up by Short Hills Country Club

By Dustin Lemmon | Friday, October 12, 2007

A new housing development should soon break ground on the southeast corner of East Moline’s Short Hills Country Club.

The development in the 1100 to 1200 blocks of 30th Avenue will include four single-family condominiums, East Moline Mayor John Thodos said.

A zoning change for the property was approved by the East Moline Plan Commission Tuesday and should go to the city council at its next meeting, the mayor said.

Developer Ben Eastep would like to start construction before the end of the year. The property is near the intersection of 30th Avenue and Archer Drive.

“It’s a nice project,” Thodos said. “It’s been something they have been looking at for quite some time.”

The country club previously used the land for growing sod and seedlings for the golf course, Thodos said, noting the golf course already has several homes surrounding it.

Matt Nice, head golf professional at Short Hills, said the golf course has been looking to develop the land since early 2005.

“In the past two years there has been some talk about it and how much use is that to us,” he said.

Having more people near the golf course can be a boost to membership, he added.

“It certainly provides additional opportunities for players or members and there may be a convenience (to the residents) with it being nearby,” he said.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.