The City of Rowlett, Texas, has sued the developer of a $1 billion mixed-use project for not adhering to approved plans.
According to city officials, the Bayside development is in default of their development agreement with the city. The developer is accused of changing features that city officials felt were critical to the project’s success after the city met its obligations.
Rowlett had agreed to economic development incentives, created a tax increment reinvesting zone, and sought state tax support for a convention center. The city said the developers changed the original vision by eliminating a planned eight-acre Crystal Lagoon, trolley, and one-acre show fountain, and reduced the amount of restaurant, retail and entertainment space by 55%. The revised plan also would increase the space for residential development from 29 acres to 50 acres.
“Bayside is a public-private partnership, and our development partner is obligated to adhere to the vision for Bayside with which both parties are contractually committed; any changes to the vision require city approval,” Mayor Tammy Dana-Bashian said in city news release. “We are disappointed that it has reached this point and that we are forced to take this action.”
Related Stories
| Apr 5, 2012
New IgCC green building code is a ‘game changer,’ AIA official says
An AIA official calls the new International Green Construction Code (IgCC) a “game changer” for sustainable construction.
| Apr 5, 2012
Model energy codes add thousands to cost of new apartment construction, study says
New energy codes could add thousands of dollars to the construction costs of each individual apartment residence in a multifamily building, according to new research commissioned by the National Multi-Housing Council and the National Apartment Association.
| Apr 5, 2012
LEED 2012 will include new requirements for data centers
The U.S. Green Building Council’s updated LEED 2012 standards will require two systems to be modeled for each project in order to show power utilization effectiveness.
| Mar 30, 2012
CSI webinar: Durable & energy efficient building envelope design, April 24
This seminar will review recent changes in North America energy codes, examples of building enclosure wall assemblies being considered for code compliance, potential moisture management and durability challenges, and design tools that could be used to assess and minimize potential problems.
| Mar 30, 2012
Improved construction that followed seismic codes helped avert loss of life in Mexico temblor
A magnitude-7.4 earthquake that shook Mexico from Mexico City to Acapulco damaged hundreds of homes and sent thousands fleeing from swaying office buildings, yet no one was killed, according to early reports.
| Mar 30, 2012
Chicago may allow people to live in retail spaces
The Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee approved a zoning change that will allow up to 50% of work space in low-intensity business districts to be used for living space.
| Mar 30, 2012
LEED growing fast in the housing rental market
Last year, developers of 23,000 U.S. multifamily housing units applied for LEED certification.
| Mar 30, 2012
Forest Stewardship Council critical of proposed LEED 2012 changes
According to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the third draft of LEED 2012, if approved as written, would represent a step backward from the current Certified Wood Credit.
