In 1997, the county bought 272 acres next to the port from Swerdlow for $120 million or $441,176 per acre. The county planned to have a railroad cargo hub built on the land that lies between the shipping port and the local airport.
Swerdlow leased back the northern 97 acres for $1 million a year to build warehouses. The agreement called for the developer to start initial construction no later than April of this year. That hasn't happened, and county commissioners voted this week to seize the five acres.
Swerdlow says the county is violating its contract because it failed to promptly notify him of the problem and has now taken action five months too late. Also, the county has dragged its heels on implementing the rest of the cargo hub plan.
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