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Court of Appeals to hear State Center case
Court of Appeals to hear State Center caseThe state's highest court will review a Baltimore Maryland's  In January, Judge Althea M. Handy voided the development contracts that set up a framework for a mixed-use overhaul of a 28-acre site in midtown Baltimore that houses several state agencies. If her decision stands after the Court of Appeals' review, it would effectively killed the current plans for the State Center redevelopment, which has been in the pipeline since the administration of Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. In 2010, a group of business owners The project's developers The Attorney General's office, representing the state agencies, and the developers want to resolve the litigation as quickly as possible. The case, they say, is preventing them from getting financing The request for the Court of Appeals' immediate review was not opposed by the business owners and landlords who filed the suit. A hearing date has not yet been scheduled.
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State of flux - Legal setbacks puts future of State Center in doubt
Baltimore Business Journal - 1/25/13 |
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Future of State Center in question after Judge's decision
Baltimore Sun - 1/17/13 |
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Crying wolf in the State Center suit
Baltimore Sun - 3/27/12 |
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State Center: The Other Side
Bisnow by Amanda Metcalf- 1/17/12 |
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Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake seeks to find a compromise in the State Center lawsuit
On the eve of her inauguration this week, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called representatives of both sides of the contentious State Center lawsuit to her City Hall office for a private meeting. The mayor’s spokesman, Ryan O’Doherty, said Rawlings-Blake sought to gather the key players in the bitter dispute and attempt to strike a compromise. “The impasse on this project does not support her goal to grow the city,” O’Doherty said. “And so the meeting was an opportunity to show that she’s willing to sit down and meet with people — she’s not going to allow the differences to prevent progress from happening.” The lawsuit, filed nearly a year ago, seeks to halt the $1.5 billion development north of center city that would offer 1.5 million square feet of office and retail space. Plaintiffs charge that the state failed to follow its own procurement rules in hiring a developer for the project by not opening the process to competitive bidding in 2005, when master developers for the 15-year project were named. O’Doherty said no compromises came out of the meeting, held at 5 p.m. Monday. Caroline Moore, CEO of Ekistics LLC, the master developer of State Center, declined to comment on the meeting, as did plaintiffs’ attorney Alan M. Rifkin of Rifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver LLC, aside from saying the meeting was cordial in tone. Property owners represented by Rifkin say the proposed State Center project would prompt an exodus of state government jobs from center city to the new complex on West Preston Street, rendering the central business district with more vacancies. At present, there is a nearly 25 percent vacancy rate in commercial and office space — about 2 million square feet — blamed on the recession. State government leases about 700,000 square feet in center city for agencies such as the Maryland Attorney General’s Office and the Maryland Transit Administration. Peter G. Angelos, owner of the Baltimore Orioles and a property owner in the central business district, is paying for much of the lawsuit, although he is not a plaintiff. The plaintiffs are some restaurant owners in Little Italy and Stratford Realty Management Co. LLC; St. Paul Plaza Office Tower LLC; Lexington Charles LP; 301 Charles Street LLC; Park Charles Apartments Associates LLC; Park Charles Office Associates LLC; 501 St. Paul Street LLC; St. Paul & Franklin LLC; RoboPark LLC; Charles Plaza LLC; 39 W. Lexington LLC; Baltimore Condo 2-8 LLC; Fayette Garage LLC; Charles Towers LLC; The Marlboro Classic LP; and Redwood Square Apartments LP. O’Doherty said Rawlings-Blake did not specify how a compromise could be made between the two sides in the State Center lawsuit. “We’d like to resolve it, and the mayor didn’t specify how that could be done,” he said. “But she wants to see the project move forward, and at a time when we’re trying to end the population decline and get the city going again, you can’t have major projects tied up in litigation. “The atmosphere is very troubling … we need to move forward.” Moore has said that the State Center development will be a public and private partnership. Plans to start development with construction of a $36.5 million parking garage were halted last year after the lawsuit was filed, and the project has been on hold ever since. Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy ruled in mid-July against two motions to dismiss the lawsuit, one filed by Moore and the other by state agencies. In turn, the developer has filed a countersuit against the plaintiffs seeking $100 million in damages for stalling the project. A hearing on that countersuit is scheduled for Dec. 14 before Judge Handy. The original developers of State Center were Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse and Doracon Contracting Inc. Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse withdrew as the master developer in 2008. Both companies have since halted work in Maryland. Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse has all but shuttered its office because of financial problems. Doracon, owned by Ronald Lipscomb, the former boyfriend of former Mayor Sheila Dixon, is no longer registered as a Maryland business entity. Lipscomb was involved in the corruption scandal that led to Dixon’s resignation from office on Feb. 4, 2010. He has since shut down his Baltimore headquarters of Doracon. Link to Article (subscription required) |
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State Center - no guarantee but worth the risk
The Daily record by Laslo Boyd 8/7/11 |
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Avenue Bakery: It's not just about the rolls
Baltimore Sun | Article on Jim Hamlin, SCNA Vice President 8/7/11 |
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Letter to Comptroller Franchot from Secretaries Collins & Swaim-Staley
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Community groups criticize Franchot's opposition to State Center as a political move
Maryland Reporter 8/3/11 |
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Franchot's State Center stance political, says group
Baltimore Sun | Jay Hancock's blog 8/2/11 |
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State Center neighborhood groups express 'dismay' with Franchot
Baltimore Business Journal 8/1/11 |
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Letter to Comptroller Franchot from John Kyle
Letter from John Kyle to Peter Franchot, State Center Neighborhood Alliance President 8/1/11 |
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Demolition project marks start of transportation improvements at State Center
BMore News 7/26/11 |
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Demo project aimed at spurring west side, State Center development
Baltimore Business Journal 7/26/11 |
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State Center project tests Maryland's will to support Baltimore
Baltimore Sun | Jay Hancock's blog 7/24/11 |
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State Center backers dismiss recent setbacks
Baltimore Sun 7/23/11 |
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Midday with Dan Rodricks | Baltimore State Center Controversy
Midday with Dan Rodricks 7/19/11 |
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Peter Franchot Letter to State
7/15/11 |
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MDOT Letter to the Editor Sent to the Daily Record
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Judge denies state's motion to dismiss State Center suit
Baltimore Sun 7/13/11 |
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Lawsuit over State Center redevelopment to go forward
The Daily Record | 7/13/11 |
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MPPI: Angelos didn't secretly fund State Center study
Baltimore Sun | Jay Hancock's blog 7/13/11 |
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Officials seek withdrawal of critical State Center study
Baltimore Sun | Jay Hancock's Blog 7/11/11 |
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Community Jobs Become Part of Redevelopment Plan
WBAL TV 7/10/11 |
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State Center pledge continues back & forth on city project
Baltimore Sun 7/10/11 |
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Press Release: Landmark Agreement Assures Jobs & Economic Benefits
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MDOT Letter Requesting the Withdrawal of recent report from the Maryland Public Policy Institute
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State Center: A Road to Nowhere?
The Afro-American Newspaper - by Sean Yoes 7/7/11 |
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Sustainability at the Heart of the State Center Project
The Afro-American Newspaper - 3rd Series by Sean Yoe 6/25/11 |
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State Center opponents and their ulterior motives
The Baltimore Sun - Bryan Dunn 6/11/11 |
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State Center promises jobs and tax revenue if it could get started
The Afro-American Newspaper - 2nd Series by Sean Yoes 06/02/11 |
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Angelos and other critics late to weigh in on State Center
The Baltimore Sun - John Kyle, State Center Neighborhood Alliance President 06/01/11 |
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The State Center Controversy
The Afro-American Newspaper - Series 1 by Sean Yoes 05/21/2011 |
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Setting the record straight on State Center
The Baltimore Sun - Michael Gaines and Christopher Patusky, Baltimore - 5/17/2011 |
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C. Fraser Smith: Time to see who runs Baltimore
The Daily record - By C. Fraser Smith - 5/2/2011 |
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What would Schaefer do?
The Baltimore Sun - By Stephanie Rawlings-Blake - 5/1/2011 |
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The legacy of William Donald Schaefer
The Daily Record - By Daily Record Staff - 4/21/2011 |
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Waiting for ruling, State Center developer is optimistic
The Daily Record - By Melody Simmons - 4/17/2011 |
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Mayor Supports State Center
Mayor Supports State Center. In her weekly newsletter, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says, "The simple truth is that a revitalized State Center with millions in new private investment will help generate property tax revenue, create jobs, and provide new amenities for surrounding neighborhoods." |
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Second Opinion-Build State Center
Michael Cross-Barnet |
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Why is Angelos standing in the way of Midtown redevelopment?
The Baltimore Sun - By - Bryan Dunn Peter Angelos has a long history of philanthropy and has amply demonstrated his love for Baltimore over the years. Why, then, is he standing in the way of the desperately needed redevelopment of the State Center project? |
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Controversial State Center Plans Proceeding
WBAL TV by - Jane Miller - 3/9/2011 |
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Angelos lawsuits stop growth
"Angelos lawsuits stop growth" is a compelling look at how lawsuits are impeding development and growth in Baltimore City. |
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Rawlings-Blake calls for 'tough choices,' new projects
The Baltimore Sun - By - Julie Scharper - 2/7/2011 |
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Another State Center press release and the debut of Baltileaks
Baltimore Politics Examiner - By - Adam Meister - 2/6/2011 |
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State Center lawsuit amended to expand claims of no competitive bidding
Maryland Reporter - By - Megan Poinski - 2/2/2011 |
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Eatery owner joins State Center lawsuit
WBAL Radio - By Robert Lang - 2/1/2011 |
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State Center and East Baltimore biotech development news
Baltimore Politics Examiner - Adam Meister - 2/1/2011 |
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City property owners amend State Center Lawsuit
The Baltimore Sun - By Lorraine Mirabella - 2/1/2011 |
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State Center rebuttal
Baltimore Politics Examiner - Adam Meister - 2/1/2011 |
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State Center developers seek lawsuit's dismissal
The Daily Record - By Melody Simmons - 1/14/2011 |
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State Center faces delay because of pending lawsuit
The Baltimore Sun - By - Lorraine Mirabella & Jamie Smith Hopkins - 1/12/2011 |
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State Center project on hold
The Daily Record - By - Melody Simmons - 1/12/2011 |
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State Center redevelopment on hold due to lawsuit
Baltimore Business Journal - By Daniel J. Sernovitz - 1/12/2011 |
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Downtown property owners sue to stop State Center
Maryland Reporter - By - Megan Poinski - 12/20/2010 |
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Lawsuit seeks to halt State Center Development
The Daily Record - By - Melody Simmons - 12/19/2010 |
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Lawsuit claims city's State Center to hurt downtown
WBAL TV - David Collins - 12/17/2010 |
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Downtown Baltimore property owners sue to halt State Center
The Daily Record - By Melody Simmons - 12/17/2010 |
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State Center developer downplays lawsuit allegations
Baltimore Business Journal - By Gary Haber - 12/17/2010 |
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Downtown property owners sue to block State Center development
Baltimore Business Journal - By Gary Haber - 12/17/2010 |
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Franchot protests state taking on $33 million in debt for State Center garage
Maryland Reporter - By Megan Poinski - 12/16/2010 |
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Group wants half of State Center workers to be city residents
Baltimore Business Journal - By Jimmy DeButts - 12/16/2010 |
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State Center development project questioned in an open letter
Baltimore Politics Examiner - Adam Meister - 10/29/2010 |
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Ground contamination could delay State Center project
Baltimore Business Journal - By Daniel J. Sernovitz -10/29/2010 |
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Taxpayers don't get what they pay for
Baltimore Business Journal - Editorial - 10/22/2010 |
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O'Malley's State Center fall guy and a Baltimore politician who works in Philly
Baltimore Politics Examiner - By Adam Meister - 9/29/2010 |
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Groundbreaking of $1.5B State Center project could be delayed
Baltimore Business Journal - By Daniel J. Sernovitz - 9/27/2010 |
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State Center groundbreaking could be delayed
Baltimore Business Journal - By Daniel J. Sernovitz - 9/20/2010 |
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BDC considers financial incentives for State Center redevelopment
Baltimore Business Journal - By Daniel J. Sernovitz - 9/15/2010 |
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State Center lease deal high for Md.
Baltimore Business Journal - Daniel J. Sernovitz - 8/9/2010 |
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More minority participation sought in State Center bid
Baltimore Business Journal - By Scott Dance - 8/9/2010 |
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Minority leaders among State Center development team
Baltimore Business Journal -By Daniel J. Sernovitz - 8/9/2010 |
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Update on the State Center project
Baltimore Politics Examiner - By Adam Meister - 8/1/2010 |
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Public-private $215 million State Center revitalization gets go ahead
MarylandReporter.com - By Megan Poinski - 7/29/2010 |
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Board of Public Works approves first phase of State Center
Baltimore Business Journal - By Ryan Sharrow Staff -7/28/2010 |
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State Center redevelopment wins approval
The Daily Record - By Anna Isaacs - 7/27/2010 |
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State Center redevelopment to start in fall, include grocery store
Baltimore Business Journal - By Ryan Sharrow -7/26/2010 |
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Baltimore State Center Wins New Urbanism Excellence Award
4/3/10 |
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Baltimore State Center development threatened
Baltimore Politics Examiner - By Adam Meister -3/23/2010 |
