An architect rendering of Barisi Village, which Blackard Global hopes to build at the old Pharaoh Valley Country Club. Courtesy Photo
A languishing, overgrown golf course along Ennis Joslin and Pharaoh roads may soon turn into a pre-1900 Italian village. The old Pharaoh Valley Country Club has moved closer to becoming Barisi Village, developer Jeff Blackard told local residents at a meeting recently. His company, Blackard Global expects to close on sale of the country club soon. The city approved a zoning change in July to enable mixed-use development of 57 acres of the land.
Designed by Ralph M. Plummer, ASGCA, The Pharoach Valley Country Club opened in 1964. The course closed in 2010 because of waning membership. Today the once-proud course is a community eyesore.
The Blackgard proposal is the first of many failed attempts to remake the area that has gained popular support. The McKinney-based CEO says he want to create “…a compact pedestrian-scaled environment" that mimics the scale and livability of a small, European village. He presented a 3D video tour of his plans at the meeting.
Included in the idyllic village layout are residential housing plots, spaces for restaurants and coffee shops, and areas for small retailers. The back nine of the old course will be renovated and opened again for play.
Reactions from local homeowners have been mostly positive. Some residents oppose the plan because of traffic concerns along Ennis Joslin, where the entrance to the residential area will go. Other neighborhood residents cite concerns about flooding or the tall buildings that would be located directly behind their homes.
According to the Pharaoh Valley Neighborhood Association Facebook page, neighborhood vote totals show 67 for the new development and 12 against. Rock Creek voted 55 for and 4 against, while Carriage House voted 97 for and 5 against.
Blackard needs 75 percent of the neighborhood’s residents to agree to a change in deed restrictions to make his vision a reality. More votes are needed. Anyone abstaining in the past is still allowed to vote, reports the Facebook page.
The new development is expected to cost around $2.2 million.
