In the space of five years, District 10 Councilman Mike Gallagher has gone from villain to possible savior, at least as far as Paul Flaman is concerned.

Flaman and other investors bought the Northern Hills Golf Club for $1.5 million in 2000, intending to sell the 130-acre golf course once a covenent expired.

In 2009, everything was proceeding as planned. The owners had improved the property, a developer was interested in buying and the land was zoned to allow multi-family housing.

Enter meddling Gallagher. As president of the Northern Hills Homeowners Association, he led a successful charge to snuff out the planned development.

“He instigated it,” said Flaman, still sore five years later.

Gallagher persuaded John Clamp, then the District 10 councilman, to create a “G” Golf Course Zoning District, unprecedented for the city, and foist it on the golf club. The new category barred the development the owners hoped would replace the golf course.

“Gallagher got buses of people to go down to the council meeting,” said Flaman, his feathers still ruffled.

Council finalized the zoning change in January 2011. The owners argue this effectively condemned the property.

Unsurprisingly, the Northern Hills Management Corp. sued the city. It wants $10 million plus interest; a trial is set for March.

“The City’s rezoning of the Property constitutes a taking of Plaintiff’s property … in violation of the Constitution of the State of Texas,” the lawsuit states. “It is not economically feasible to operate a golf course (or any other use now permitted) at the Property.”

The golf club made only $200 in profit last year. What was intended as a retirement investment is a money pit.

“We don’t make enough to operate, not without additional cash infusions,” Flaman said.

But wait … in the wings, there’s a win-win scenario. This summer, the owners offered to sell the golf course, along with a 22,000-square foot clubhouse, to its legal adversary for $9 million.

“They appear interested, but so far (the city wants) to pay substantially less than what the market is,” said James Deegear III, an attorney for the owners.

Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni confirmed the city’s interest in purchasing the property.

“We’re still negotiating with the landowner, and the city is serious about the negotiation,” Zanoni said. “We’ve been trying to manage it so it doesn’t get to the trial stage.”

Zanoni sounded upbeat about the prospect. For one, the city just broke ground on a $10 million senior center near the golf club, the only course on the Northeast Side.

A purchase “would link up (the senior center) with the potential golf course,” Zanoni said. “It would safeguard the city investment.”

Also, Gallagher supports the city acquiring the property, Zanoni said. Once an obstacle to selling the club, the councilman could now facilitate it.

Pete Peterson, general manager of the golf club, echoed that.

“He’s keen,” Peterson said. “He’s very keen.”

Yet, in a council briefing room on Wednesday, I asked Gallagher just how keen he was, and he reacted like Superman to kryptonite.

“I’ve stepped away from the entire situation,” he said.

Gallagher remains a resident of Northern Hills. Although the deal seems “logical,” advocating for it could be perceived as a conflict of interest, he said.

“It’s kind of ironic that I have to step away,” he said.

Cue Flaman, shaking his fists at the sky.

bchasnoff@express-news.net