Developers Give City Ultimatum
An attorney says the redevelopment project could be left in limbo.
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The Temple Terrace City Council can approve Inland Atlantic Development Corporation’s plan to build 214 apartments in the downtown redevelopment area at its meeting tonight (March 20) or Inland will walk away from the project.
That’s according to a March 16 letter from Atlanta attorney W. Daniel Hicks Jr. representing the Vlass group, which is developing the project and working with Inland to build the residential component. The Vlass group will also reconsider its interest in the project, the letter states.
“If the votes are ‘no’ (or if no decision is made), Inland will have no further interest or involvement in the residential phase of the development and, if that occurs, Vlass, having already brought to the table one of the largest and most financially-capable real estate companies in the United States, and having arranged for a sterling second phase of development that the City would not approve, will also have to reconsider its position and all of its options regarding the project as a whole, including its on-going involvement in the development, as a result of which future development of New Downtown by Vlass could be seriously jeopardized,” Hicks wrote.
The City Council will meet tonight as the Temple Terrace Redevelopment Agency at 5 p.m. before their regular meeting at 6 p.m.
Both meetings are open to the public and will take place at the Lightfoot Recreation Center instead of City Hall, the usual City Council meeting location.
It is unclear whether council members will take a vote on the housing element of the project. At a special meeting Feb. 16, the council heard the developer’s proposal to build 214 apartments at the site. They voted to continue a public hearing and postpone their vote until March 20. Now, city staff has said the council could continue the hearing again until April 3.
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Omar K. Lightfoot Recreation Center
10901 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, FL -
City of Temple Terrace City Hall
11250 N 56th St, Temple Terrace, FL -
Quentin
4:15 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
bullying! that will get the job done. If you give in you'll never get anything, If you think he'll actually walk away you're denser they they are. This is a form of pressure, if you give in after all the crap he already pulled you are worth nothing, WALK AWAY!! we would be better off at this point because we will not get anything close to what was promised.
Dale Morphew
5:48 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Fire them NOW Just say NO to Bullying.
Martha Collins
6:38 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Sounds like an ultimatum. Threats are not a responsible way to do business.
Pat Mackall
7:15 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
I'm not sure I trust these people (either side). I don't know who is handling the leasing, and what I've seen does not impress me. With the retail mix currently in place, apartments are not going to draw the best tenants. Why did Beef's go North instead of the 'newer, brighter' Temple Terrace?
Al Martini
8:31 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
I agree. Why did Beef O'Brady open to the north? Also Dunkin' Donuts completely rebuilt their entire store six months ago. Why not in the new downtown?
Quentin
8:54 pm on Tuesday, March 20, 2012
"Why did Beef O'Brady open to the north? Also Dunkin' Donuts completely rebuilt their entire store six months ago. Why not in the new downtown?"
Because they KNOW the downtown area is a loser. From the very beginning to now when you are being coerced into a deal, most who don't have rocks for brains know that we've been scammed from the beginning. A few have come to realize this but most still live in the magic kingdom where everything turns out good. This developer has changed the rules, bullied, threatened to get what he wants and even insulted long time business owners. wake up you sheep!!
Lucinda Johnston
9:16 am on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
I am very concerned that the "individual" meetings with city council members, held just before a crucial vote, violate the intent of the Government in the Sunshine laws. To their credit, several of the council members tried to make the mandatory disclosures. However, the mayor was way too busy pushing his own agenda to provide them that opportunity. I feel an investigation or at the very least, an explanation is called for. Its time to put a stop to hush-hush, wink-wink politics in Temple Terrace. If you agree, write to city council and demand an explanation of the meetings.
JS
1:09 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
If any thinks the Sunshine laws have been violate by the Mayor or Council members, you can contact the state ethics commission at: http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/
The complaint form is downloadable in pdf here: http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/forms/Cmplaint+FAQ.p
JS
1:14 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
http://www.ethics.state.fl.us/forms/Cmplaint+FAQ.pdf
Quentin
2:07 pm on Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Please do because having a personal lobbyist who is supposed to be a city leader should be looked into.