UC Funds, a vertically integrated commercial real estate specialty finance firm, funded a $30 million first mortgage to finance and re-brand a 100-acre development into a five star, 500-unit multifamily and golf resort community in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
We have been impressed that, in just a few years, a complete transformation of this 500-unit development has been manifested, ” said Cathy Oniffrey, Managing Director of Asset Management for UC Funds. “Our sponsor pulled off a vision that includes the look of Palm Beach, South Beach, and Hilton Head Island.” Earlier this year, the property, now known as ONE CLUB Gulf Shores, was named the #1 multifamily community in the entire region, home to many amenities including “The Best 45 Holes in Golf” and a beautifully adorned restaurant known as Bar 45 .
The transformation reflects a modern-day American Dream where golfers, beach lovers, families, travelers, and retirees can make a lifetime of new memories with family and friends. At ONE CLUB, there are enough individual and family activities to make kids of any age put down their devices and live life to its fullest.
ONE CLUB features one, two, and three bedroom apartment residences designed for long-term and permanent living. ONE CLUB’s fully-furnished residences and a luxurious 5-star 4,500 square foot penthouse are in high demand year-round and rented by vacationers, golf destination groups, winter and weekend get-away groups. A special segment of ONE CLUB residences is called the Select Series and is custom designed.
The golf course offers fun for golfers of any age or skill level with four tee placements, challenging fairways, undulating greens, and deep bunkers. At night, it converts into an entertaining sports venue with glow golf and a lit-up practice range complete with varying levels of targets, music, and a full-service catered bar. Other sporting venues have been designed at the resort, including the only public pickle-ball courts on the Gulf Coast, a regulation beach volleyball court, bocce ball and horseshoe courts, and practice putting greens and range.
Three completely renovated luxury pools surround the Clubhouse, the 15,000 square foot centerpiece of the resort. The swimming and adult lap pools are part of the Pool and Cabana Club, with the only swim-up cocktail bar in Alabama. Alongside the Clubhouse is a Southern-style porch where guests can recline in style in Adirondack rocking chairs while enjoying craft cocktails and fresh, gourmet cuisine from Bar 45 , ONE CLUB’s new onsite restaurant and music venue. At Bar 45 , known as “The Home of Champions” , patrons are entertained with more than 20 large screen TVs, big screen projections of music concerts and playoff games, as well as trivia, karaoke, billiards, ping-pong, darts, and air hockey.
Inside the Clubhouse is ONE LIFE Fitness, the newly designed fitness facility and yoga studio with assorted strength and cardiovascular equipment, and prized Peloton spinning cycles that let members take streamed spinning classes with world-class instructors from New York studios.ONE CLUB is fast becoming the “drive to” destination of choice for individuals and families and reflects the growing popularity of Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Situated on the Emerald Coast of the Southeast coastline, Gulf Shores, Alabama is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. The Alabama Gulf Coast has more than 32 miles of pristine, quartzite white sand beaches and 13,500 acres of preserved land with numerous hiking and biking trails, including the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail in Gulf State Park.
The Alabama Gulf Coast has the world’s leading artificial reef zone with more than 1,100 square miles of perfect habitat for numerous species of fish. In Gulf Shores, there is also the world-class ecotourism and experiential learning facility, developed in partnership with Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society. For these natural attractions and amenities, Gulf Shores beaches and tourism attractions have been rated the #1 beach in the Southeast by Southern Living magazine.
Extending outdoor activities in the region, ONE CLUB is part of “The Best 45 Holes in Golf” , inspired and designed by Arnold Palmer and located a “chip shot” away from the famed Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail (RTJ) that spans the entire state of Alabama. The RTJ Trail is a collection of 26 courses and 468 championship-level holes of golf at 11 sites across Alabama. ONE CLUB members rave about the trail, famous for its player-friendly topography, featuring assorted creeks, marshland, and lakes, with each hole cutting through indigenous hardwood and pine. At the end of the trail lies the jewel, “The Best 45 Holes in Golf” , quickly becoming a most popular destination for golfers to play and experience 12 months out of the year.
On the beaches and along the Gulf are year round sporting events and festivals that bring travelers and visitors from every region of the United States. Every May, Gulf Shores is home to the NCAA Women’s Beach Volleyball National Championship covered by ESPN. ONE CLUB’s Bar 45 is “The Home of Champions” during these sporting events and is host to many national championship teams including Florida State University, Pepperdine, UCLA, LSU, and regional exhibition and club teams across all sports who travel to Gulf Shores to compete. National festivals along the beach include the world-famous Hangout Music Festival, the Flora-Bama Mullet Toss, and the National Shrimp Festival.
On the waters, the national boating and fishing industry starts and ends their seasons along the Gulf Coast in more than 20 nearby marinas and with national sporting events such as the Blue Marlin Grand Championship. Power & Motoryacht ranks this region’s marinas in the US Top 25 Marina list and boat charters will bring good catches of speckled trout, red drum, triple tail, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, bluefish, pompano, red snapper, amber jack, rigger fish, grouper, blue marlin, tuna, or wahoo.
It comes as little surprise that home values have doubled, year-round tourism and relocations from large cities have tripled, and a regional airport for Gulf Shores has been recently approved – all significant marks of a lasting growth trend in this real estate market.
