By Jane Smith
The Atlantic Crossing developers now say the delays caused by Delray Beach have cost them more than $25 million in rising construction costs, according to the amended lawsuit filed on Sept. 25.
The developers, Ohio-based Edwards CDS and local partner CDS Delray Redevelopment, first filed a lawsuit in Palm Beach County Circuit Court in June, alleging the city wrongly delayed it from moving forward with its $200 million, mixed-use project on 9.2 acres along Atlantic Avenue.
“Atlantic Crossing earned final City Commission approval more than 19 months ago. Since then, we’ve faced repeated, unreasonable delays in trying to complete the final administrative steps with the city,” said Jeff Edwards, president of Edwards CDS, in a statement.
Commissioners had asked the developer several months ago to add a fully functioning east-west road to help alleviate traffic. The developers instead proposed a one-way road into the project’s garage.
The lawsuit also asks the court to decide that two abandoned alleys belong to CDS Delray, even though the city followed the five-day rule and asked for them back in August. The lawsuit also asks that the city certify a site plan for Atlantic Crossing and pay attorneys’ fees and costs.
The Delray Beach city attorney could not be reached for comment.
Comments
City commission approves hundreds of apartments and still fights atlantic crossing? What gives? We need a new mayor and city commissioners!