SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY 鈥 The site on which the Tower Tee golf complex sits is up for sale and could be redeveloped for new homes or some other use.
However, Steve Lotz, whose family founded the Affton area institution in 1963, said he has submitted a bid to buy the property and hopes to continue operating.
He said he didn鈥檛 know how many other bidders there are or who else is in the running.
He said the 27.7-acre site was put on sale more than a month ago by Tegna Inc., which also owns KSDK (Channel 5). The station鈥檚 transmitter is adjacent to the golf center.
The website of CBRE Inc., the real estate brokerage handling the sale, lists a $4.77 million price for the site, at 6727 Heege Road.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely too early to predict an outcome in this situation,鈥 Lotz said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a hot real estate market right now. I suspect the variables in play are whether or not the property will be easy to develop for someone.鈥
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The CBRE listing calls the site a 鈥減rime infill location鈥 ideal for mixed-use development such as single-family and multifamily housing, town houses, 鈥渟enior housing鈥 or 鈥渋nstitutional鈥 uses.
Lotz wouldn鈥檛 say when his current lease is set to expire.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to run the business as we have,鈥 he said. 鈥淓ven if there is another buyer (selected), we anticipate being here for some time.鈥
The golf complex includes a driving range, putting green, an 18-hole par 3 golf course, batting cages, a miniature golf course and a party pavilion.
鈥淕enerations of people have learned how to hit golf balls and baseballs here,鈥 Lotz said.
He said Tegna has been 鈥渁n outstanding party to engage with in this process鈥 and has operated with transparency and integrity.
A CBRE broker, Mark McNulty, declined to comment. A Tegna spokesman could not be reached for comment.
This isn鈥檛 the first time Tower Tee鈥檚 future has been up in the air.
In 2001, the site鈥檚 owner at the time, Gannett Co., looked at different business options for the property but in the end decided to sign a new long-term lease with the golf center.