In 1969, Tom Morris had the idea for a development of homes, a shopping center, townhouses, luxury apartments, a hotel, an office complex, and a private club.
The project was undertaken by a joint venture partnership, Valle Verde Company. The corporation included Tom Morris Enterprise, National Life Insurance of Vermont and Home Mortgage Investment Company. In 1971, Tom Morris unveiled plans to build housing for 10,000 families, and a mix of apartments, homes and a country club near the future Mercy Hospital. That project, The Greens, became the first development to front Memorial Road, still a sleepy country road. The joint venture acquired property on north Portland between NW 122 and NW 150th Streets. The developed area was 591.627 acres.
Early home construction in the square mile started on Inverness Avenue and Pinehurst Road, where homes were finished in 1962. Greater concentrated home building started in the southeast quarter around NW 125th Street in 1965 and on Saint Andrews Drive in 1966. More activity was on Saint Andrews Terrace 1965 - 1973. This area is called Rolling Hills 2nd Addition, which was started before “The Greens” was planned. Houses on the east side of Saint Andrews Drive up to house number 12716 are also part of the Rolling Hills 2nd Addition and were constructed from 1965 to 1971. Homeowners in this area have their own private park which is located in the triangle, bordered by NW 125th, Saint Andrews Terrace and Saint Andrews Drive. The park is called Medera Park and has no public access.
When Mercy Hospital relocated from downtown to Memorial and Meridian in 1974, the joint venture generously donated half the land needed to build the hospital. The area was still just farmland, but state transportation officials had set the stage for the area’s development a decade earlier with plans that included building a new loop around the city, including a highway that would parallel Memorial Road between Broadway Extension and Portland Avenue.
With the Golf Course as the focal point, area development followed the fairways. Saint Andrews Drive (west side) bordering on fairways No. 10, 11 and 12, were constructed from 1972 to 1975. At the same time, construction also progressed on Green Valley Drive which views the 13th and 14th fairways on the east side and the 15th and 16th fairways on the west side. Home construction on Green Valley Drive, from NW 122nd Street to the club house, was from 1972 to 1975. Luxury apartments called The Invitational, north of 122nd Street, west of Saint Andrews Drive, were built in 1982. A few years later in 1985, the Augusta Apartments were erected west of Green Valley Drive. The commercial area, west of the Augusta Apartments was not part of the Greens development. A gated community, “Saint Andrews Court”, was added in 1997 - 1998. Also, at about that time, the Office Park developed north of 122nd Street and east of Saint Andrews Drive.
Arrowhead Drive bordering on the 17th and 18th fairways was started in 1975. Arrowhead Lane, next to fairway No. 1 and Arrowhead Terrace with some homes on fairway No. 2, was also built in 1975 -1976. Tamarisk Drive abutting the 3rd and 4th fairways with a view of one of the lakes, had most of its construction in 1977 to 1978. Building at Arrowhead Way, Cherry Hill Lane and Windsong Way was underway from 1974 to 1979. Windsong Way was originally scheduled to be a commercial site. One part of the Greens, the “Saint” section, was named after six of the seven sons of Tom Morris, (Chris, Greg, Patrick, John, George, Tom) and opened for development in 1978. William, number seven son, has his street in Val Verde as Williams Court. Saint Gregory Drive next to No.5 fairway, has a view of one of the lakes; Saint Johns Drive, adjoining fairway No. 6. Saint Thomas Drive is adjacent to No. 7 fairway and has a
beautiful view of a lake. Construction in this area lasted until 1980.
The northwest quarter of the Greens was opened for development in 1977. Homes on Green Valley Drive, Apple Valley Drive, and Thunderbird Drive were built in 1977 to 1978. In 1989 a row of Townhouses filled in the space on Coletta Drive.
In the northeast quarter, Wingfoot Drive, Spyglass Road, and Burlingame Avenue were under construction from 1980 to 1982. This area was originally scheduled for six of the additional nine golf holes. It should be noted that Burlingame Avenue and Spyglass Road are also located in Green Valley Plaza. On the north side where Spyglass Road and Burlingame Avenue meet, is a small (.6759 acres) city children’s park, The Greens Tot Lot.
Because Rolling Hills 2nd Addition, the Quail Ridge to Rolling Hills Addition, and Green Valley Plaza are located in the “Mile Square”, (NW 122nd – Memorial Road – Portland Avenue and Meridian Avenue) they are commonly referred to as “The Greens”. The Greens Homeowners Association maintains islands and entrances there. Homeowners in these areas can also be members of the Greens Homeowners Association.
