BALTIMORE-The developers of the ill-fated “Superblock” project here have filed suit in Baltimore Circuit Court seeking more than $50 million in damages from the city.
After six years of delay, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake rescinded Lexington Partners' exclusive rights to the west side property. Lexington Partners, in its suit filed on Tuesday, charges that it spent more than $7 million in its efforts to develop the site, according to the Baltimore Sun. Under Lexington's $152-million plan, the project would have featured 300 apartments, more than 200,000 square feet of retail space and a parking garage for 650 vehicles.
"The city has taken an unreasonably aggressive position," stated attorney Charles O. Monk of the Saul Ewing law firm, who represents Lexington Square Partners in the litigation.
Baltimore City Solicitor George Nilson says the mayor was correct to pull the developers' exclusive deal and invite outside bids, adding that the Lexington Square firm is welcome to bid again for the project.
"This is not a huge surprise," Nilson says of the Lexington lawsuit. "I tried to point out to them that it would not be a smart idea to sue. The fact that they did sue suggests they are no longer interested in the site." See story in the Baltimore Sun.
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