FREEPORT — A closed golf course in the borough could convert its fairways and putting greens into a new neighborhood.

The former Phoenix at Buffalo Valley Golf Course in Freeport could add about 300 new homes on 241 acres, according to Sean Naylor, an engineer with Red Swing Group of Monroeville.

“We're really in the beginning stages,” Naylor said. “We are literally just starting to crawl.”

Naylor said the early planning stage is highly dependent on other factors, like the municipality's willingness to accept the project.

“Our main focus is looking at (sewer) routing,” he said. “We're hoping (the development) can tie into Freeport's system.”

Developer Gary Nese owns the property with some family members under the company name Trilogy Golf Development.

Nese said the company and its engineers need to finalize their subdivision plans before moving forward.

“There are a lot of considerations to this property,” he said. “There's a lot of factors that are yet to be determined.”

The company closed the 18-hole course in 2012, after a two-year stint. Since then, it has sold pieces of the property. The essential parts of the course's infrastructure — like maintenance buildings, the clubhouse, and other structures — were sold to Mike and Virginia Graff of Fawn Township, Allegheny County. The Graffs have since been working to open a 9-hole course of their own.

Nese said they also plan to work with XTO Energy, which plans to build a natural gas extraction site in a southern portion of the property.

Nese said the property is worth the effort.

“We love the property because the property itself is a beautiful piece of ground,” Nese said. “There's pretty much everything you could want in a ground there.”

Nese said he's optimistic about the impact a development could have on the Freeport community.

“I think that's nothing but a benefit to the community,” he said. “It certainly would provide customers to existing businesses and new businesses.”

Nese said he and his company are committed to the subdivision, but the work beyond that could be sourced elsewhere. He said it's still possible that his company handles development, but a bigger company would bring more experience and more versatile capabilities.

“We bought the property In 2010. We've been through opening a golf course and closing it down. We're committed to getting the subdivision approval done,” Nese said. “That's what we're focusing on right now.”