Building beginnings

Developers, local officials celebrate groundbreaking of Crescent Bar resort community

CRESCENT BAR — Officials are calling it a boon for economic development, the planting of a cherry tree in this canyon adjacent to the Columbia River.

Growing in the 70 acres around that tree will soon be a restaurant, nine-hole golf course and more than 200 homes, many that have already been spoken for. Crews have already started work on the golf course for Sunserra at Crescent Bar, and developers and local officials gathered Thursday to celebrate the start of construction of the resort's 10,000-square-foot clubhouse.

"We're not here to break the ground," owner Robert Hadley said during a brief ceremony, "but mark the birth of this new community, Sunserra Crescent Bar."

The project is one of three in the Crescent Bar area to attract developers, according to Grant County Commissioner Deborah Moore. Moore, State Sen. Joyce Mulliken and other local officials all came down to the site to celebrate the start of construction at Sunserra.

Mulliken saw the facility as a boon for the county, mentioning the opportunity for future jobs created by the residential and commercial development happening at Sunserra.

"From an economic development standpoint, this probably rates among the top first class for Grant County," she said.

In designing the community, Hadley said developers had an objective that was a little bit different than existing communities in the area. He described the community as "casually elegant."

"We're aiming at just a little different niche for this clubhouse," he said, "or people at Crescent Bar now that don't have that amenity."

The first phase of units in the 207-home, three-phase project will be open later this year, and Hadley said developers are currently meeting with future owners to finalize agreements. The first 50 homes have already been reserved, and a waiting list has approximately 100 people interested in future development.

Following the ceremony, Hadley said crews will now continue to develop the golf course and will soon start construction on the clubhouse. The planned golf course is one Hadley hopes will work well in addition to the existing Crescent Bar golf course.

"Crescent Bar has a nine-hole golf course, it's very popular." Hadley said, "It's designed to compliment that."

In addition to the views and golf course, Hadley said there will also be several pools and hot tubs located near residences in the area. An ice cream and latte shop have also been planned in addition to the restaurant.

Completion of the project is scheduled over three years, but Hadley and fellow developer Ed Pace said the homes could go faster if developers continue to see an interest in Sunserra.

"We've had a very positive reaction from our buyers," Hadley said.