New Potential Buyer

Following Patrick Starr’s letter to our website, we followed up with him a few weeks later as we all had questions and a need to hope again.

Patrick Starr is a Commercial Realtor with John L Scott in Bellingham who helped 18  Paradise purchase the property 13 years ago. He is also the agent who has been trying to help 18 Paradise sell the property for the last 3 years.

Many have asked us if Mr. Scholten is still the current interested buyer but Mr. Starr confirmed in his interview with Cascadia Daily News (Our Updates, Cascadia Daily News Article) that Mr. Scholten and his son Willy’s full-price offer was blocked by our ongoing lawsuit and therefore, no longer active.  

Regarding the current, seriously interested, potential buyers, as detailed in his letter we published in Our Updates section, Real Estate Broker’s Update, as well as in his interview with Cascadia Daily News, they approached Mr. Starr as a group of business owners with the desire and resources to restore our very deteriorated golf course.  They did not sound like mere “tire-kickers” as they took the time to meet with Intervenors, people with the City, and spent time extensively studying the condition of our course.  Amazingly, their goal was to re-open our course in time for Spring which is just a few months away, a sight we would all love to see.    

But when the plaintiffs filed their appeal Nov. 4, 2024 (Our Updates, Plaintiffs’ Appeal), this group was forced to withdraw their offer, however, they remain interested if the appeal is denied, resolved, or ended.   

Mr. Starr described the potential buyers as “champing at the bit to get in there and fix things.”  If they do buy our golf course, at least one of them will be a hands-on, accessible owner, working every day at the golf course, available to meet with homeowners.  We also learned one of the owners used to golf at Homestead, making this a personal goal for him to bring our course back to its former beauty.  And yes, in answer to your questions about language, they speak perfect English.

According to Mr. Starr, the buyers have expressed an interest in meeting with members of the community (including Plaintiffs and City of Lynden, if appropriate) to discuss a path forward as well as hear the needs and wishes of the community affected by this lawsuit.  However, with an abundance of caution, neither the buyers nor Mr. Starr is eager to jump into the middle of ongoing litigation. 

Yet another reason for the plaintiffs to drop the appeal and join us in re-building our community, please!