Westchester County town must pay $7M more for golf course property

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A Westchester County town has been ordered to pay $7 million for a golf club property seized in 2021.

Willow Ridge Country Club Inc. had financial trouble for several years before the members put the property on the market in 2020.

The town stepped in to seize it through eminent domain with a plan to operate it for public use. The town took title for the land on June 23, 2021.

A bench trial was held before state Supreme Court Justice Robert S. Ondrovic to determine how much Willow Ridge should be paid for the taking of the property.

The property contains substantial improvements including a clubhouse, golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts, and playground. An advance payment of $13.7 million was paid by the town to Willow Ridge in June 2021.

The town of Harrison is represented by Bond, Schoeneck & King PLLC, and Abrams Fensterman LLP.

Willow Ridge and its creditors are represented by Goldstein, Rikon, Rikon & Houghton P.C., and Holland Schriever LLP.

Ondrovic visited the property on July 15, 2024.

Attorneys for Willow Ridge’s argued that the best use of the property would be the development of an 86-lot single family residential subdivision. Willow Ridge’s appraiser valued the property at $55.6 million, or $650,000 per lot, rounded.

The town’s attorneys argued that the best use would be for continued use as a public golf course and outdoor recreational facility, operated commercially for profit.

The town’s appraiser valued the property at $13.2 million. The town argued that, if the highest and best use of the property is found to be as a residential subdivision, Ondrovic should find that only 42 single-family residential lots are achievable.

The town’s appraiser valued the property at $8.5 million, or $202,500 per lot, rounded.

Since 1917, the 122-acre property operated as a private, 18-hole golf course and country club. The property is in a residential district for single-family homes on a minimum lot size of one acre. Zoning exceptions include private recreation, nonprofit and nonprofit club, and recreation.

The bench trial was held on 18 nonconsecutive days between October 2024 and January 2025.

Ondrovic ruled that the town must pay Willow Ridge $7 million.

The figure was calculated based on the potential of 56 building lots, each worth $368,000, which is a total of $20.61 million.

Since the town was paid an advance payment of $13.7 million, that leaves a balance owed of $6.96 million to be paid, plus interest from June 23, 2021, the date of the taking.

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