The future of a prominent property at World Golf Village is tied up in a bruising legal battle—and the World Golf Foundation is sounding the alarm on its implications.
The organization argues that unless decades-old restrictions on how the land can be used are lifted, the area could remain dormant and deteriorating until 2046.
The dilemma centers on land-use restrictions placed on property owned both by World Golf Foundation and St. Johns County.
These rules — imposed by the tract’s original master developer — dictate that the land can only be used specific pursuits: the World Golf Hall of Fame, PGA TOUR Productions, an IMAX theater or something similar, and an 18-hole golf course with a clubhouse.
Those restrictions are in place for another 21 years.
But all of those ventures have either shuttered or decamped. The Hall of Fame closed in in 2023 and moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina. The IMAX theater turned off the projector in late 2024. The PGA Tour production facility headed for Ponte Vedra Beach at the end of last year.
With the original uses now defunct, the foundation argues that the developmental shackles no longer make sense — and are hampering the property’s potential.
“While we’re encouraged by the County’s efforts to proactively identify a potential candidate to fill the vacant Hall of Fame and IMAX Theatre, as we have done with the former PGA TOUR Entertainment building, the fact remains that no redevelopment can commence without the removal of the over-restrictive Use Restrictions, which the original master developer – IT Land – has been unwilling to agree to,” World Golf Foundation CEO Greg McLaughlin told The Citizen.
THE INSIDE STORY ON TRAVIS HUNTER”S JACKSONVILLE HOME SEARCH
After negotiations stalled, the foundation filed a lawsuit in April asking the court to annul the restrictions, asserting that the original vision no longer applies to the current reality.
The obstacle, McLaughlin said, is that new development could trigger costly infrastructure obligations — estimated at upwards of $10 million.
“They may not be in favor of bringing more activity into the World Golf Village, which could accelerate their obligations to do these improvements,” McLaughlin said. “If nothing happens, this property will sit vacant until 2046.”
The county, sources said, is actively negotiating with IT Land to hammer out a deal.
Despite the legal uncertainty, the county has taken its own steps to revitalize the area. Just this month, officials issued a Request for Proposals looking for partners to help redevelop the former Hall of Fame building it now owns.
“Unfortunately, the opportunity to develop this project into something very special and meaningful for our community is a complex and challenging process. County Administrator Joy Andrews said in a statement. “While it hasn’t been easy, we remain fully committed to seeing it through. I want to assure our citizens that we are dedicated to creating a project we can all be proud of, and we will continue to keep you informed every step of the way.”
The history of ownership complicates things further. The County owns the land under the Hall of Fame and took full ownership of the building in 2024 after a ground lease ended, while the foundation owns the surrounding parcels.
Efforts by the county to buy the foundation’s assets fell through in late 2024 once the restrictions were discovered.
