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Developers file suit, seek damages
Published Wednesday, January 21, 2009
NATCHEZ — The City of Natchez is being sued by low-income housing developers Brownstone Developments LLC.
The developers had planned to construct Audubon Terrace in the Bluebird Drive area when the board of aldermen denied the developers the right to rezone the land.
Michael Cory, the developer’s attorney, said Brownstone was given a letter of assurance by the former city planner that the land purchased for the project was zoned properly for the housing development.
Later, the planning commission, citing zoning as its reason for denial, turned down the development plans for the project.
The developers then applied to rezone the area, were denied, attempted to gain approval on rezoning from the board of aldermen and were denied again.
While several months ago Brownstone filed an appeal to the board’s decision with Adams County Circuit Court, they are now seeking damages, as well, Cory said.
The damages are being sought for the costs of purchasing land, moving forward with the project and any other expenses incurred, he said.
“I believe they’re probably well in excess of $1 million at this point, but we haven’t come up with any final figures,” Cory said.
He said even more damages have accrued since the initial discussion of filing a suit took place in June.
Because the project is low-income housing, tax credits would have been given to the project. But now that’s changed, Cory said.
“Because of the downturn in the economy, the pricing of the tax credits has plummeted,” he said.
The civil suit was filed in the Adams County Circuit Court Friday.
The suit will be served to City Clerk Donnie Holloway, who said he has not been served yet.
Mayor Jake Middleton said as soon as the city is served, he plans to sit down and discuss the suit with City Attorney Everett Sanders.
“I’m not going to worry about it until I’ve talked to Everett,” he said.
Comments
Posted by EnKiKur (Marty Ellerbe) on January 21, 2009 at 12:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder if there is any relationship between this denial to Brownstone and the city's drive to demolish 200 houses. Didn't Alderwoman Arcenaux-Mathis say something about wanting low income houses spread out all over town instead of one area? And what did that HUD fellow talk about when he came to town a few months ago. The Democrat was kind enough to tell us he was coming and that he came but I don't recall any details on what he discussed during his visit. Could the city be planning to demolish 200 houses, seize the property and sell them to some other developer?
Posted by presby (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 12:39 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Andrew Smith AND Mayor West created this mess.
Posted by erohed (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What is City Hall for?
Posted by redusmfan (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 6:37 p.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Natchez at it's best again...
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on January 21, 2009 at 8:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I do believe Brownstone should take full responsibility for this. They should have made absolutely sure it was a go from the standpoint of the citizens living there and the Aldermen. Don't ever take the word of one or two people. Look what happened to Larry Brown when he took Wests words about the condos at the Pecan Factory.
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