Officials call for upkeep at shuttered northwest L.V. golf course

By Jackie Valley

Wednesday, June 1, 2016 | 8 p.m.

The water-starved Silverstone Golf Club has become an eyesore, threatening vegetation and property values in this northwest valley neighborhood, according to residents who are on a mission to save it.

The Las Vegas City Council agreed on Wednesday and unanimously approved a $97,380 lien against the property, which is owned by Stoneridge Parkway LLC. It’s the latest turn of events in the saga that has plagued this former golf course since it was sold last year.

“We are up against a huge monster, and we need as much help as we can get from you,” Dale Gardner, a resident of the Silverstone Ranch Community, told council members. Her community borders the golf course. “We’re tired of being victimized.”

Community members say the deterioration of Silverstone Golf Club, 8600 Cupp Dr., began last year when Desert Lifestyles LLC purchased the 27-hole course from the now-dissolved Par 72 LLC. After Desert Lifestyles took possession of the golf club on Sept. 1, the company closed the course, ceased watering it and put a fence around the clubhouse, according to court documents.

Homeowners, in turn, filed a lawsuit against the California-based company. The golf community contains about 1,520 homes, including 747 that border or have views of the course.

U.S. District Judge Richard Boulware issued a preliminary injunction, ordering the owners to restore the course to the condition it was in when purchased. He set a Dec. 17 hearing to determine how the restoration would take place, but a day before the hearing, Desert Lifestyles sold the golf club to Stoneridge Parkway.

Stoneridge Parkway, also based in California, filed for bankruptcy a day later, Dec. 18.

In mid-January, the city of Las Vegas’ code enforcement department re-issued a notice and order to the new owners, advising them of the maintenance requirements, including upkeep of ponds and all landscaping areas on the golf course. But on May 10, the golf course’s sprinkling system ceased operation again because of an upaid NV Energy bill.

A handful of Silverstone residents appeared before the City Council, urging members to approve the nuisance-related fees and penalties. The neighbors complained of sagging property values, browning shrubbery and grass, overgrown weeds and vandalism at the golf clubhouse.

The code enforcement department had assessed $2,880 worth of failed inspection fees and daily civil penalties totaling $94,500 from May 10 to June 1.

One person spoke in opposition to the fines. Matthew Zirzow, an attorney representing the lender, Aevitas LLC, asked the council to postpone a decision because he said his client was putting together a financing plan to present in bankruptcy court.

Timothy Elson, an attorney representing the Silverstone homeowners, argued that procedural games in the court system are taking too long and putting the golf course on a path to destruction.

“This is very important to the community,” Elson said. “It is a middle-class community that was very beautiful until Sept. 1 when the golf course was purchased.”

Councilman Steve Ross, whose ward includes the golf community, called its current condition a “nuisance” and said he wants to see solutions for the residents impacted by the course’s condition. He moved to approve the nuisance notice and order, drawing applause from the residents who attended the meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Zirzow declined to comment after the meeting.

Elson said he hopes the fines persuade the owners to maintain the golf course. Code enforcement will continue dispensing the fees and penalties until the property is in compliance.