The giant golf dome on the edge of Whitehall is a recognizable landmark on the east side.
The city wants it gone and has development plans for the site. But the company that runs it doesn’t want to leave.
The Four Seasons Golf Dome allows people to swing their clubs even in our sometimes cold climate.
The greens and fairways of the Columbus Country Club are right across the street. Some of the golf pros use the dome in the winter.
“They'll take our members over there and teach lessons, as well as the public,” Columbus Country Club general manager Jay Frank said.
But in the summer, some golfers think it's a bit of an eyesore.
“Our first hole, the very starting point, that's what you look at,” Frank said. “Part of the plan on that hole is to add trees, kind of a wall, a visual wall.”
If Whitehall has its way, the country club won't need to worry about camouflaging the view.
The city wants to raze the dome and develop either a medical or office complex. It just released a study that shows it would be a profitable move.
“Not only is it a million dollars in revenue in new tax dollars for the city but it also has the potential to generate an additional quarter of a million dollars for the school district through property tax,” Whitehall Development Director Zach Woodruff said.
They would also use some of the land to expand an adjacent park. While the city owns the land and dome, there's a big dispute over the lease.
“We currently are in litigation, we have served notice, an eviction notice to them,” Woodruff said.
The attorney for Four Seasons says the dispute is over an extension in the lease. The city says the lease was up in April and golf operations should have ceased.
But Four Seasons says it exercised an extension to the lease. The city says it wasn't notified in time.
“I think if we can put something that's positive in there, it will be really a benefit to the area,” Frank said.
The 700 workers expected to come with new development may mean more membership for the club. But for now, the future of the dome is in the courts.
Four Seasons has filed two lawsuits against the city. The city has filed a motion to dismiss the case. They're all waiting now for a decision from the judge.