The San Diego city council has voted in closed session to file suit against developer Doug Manchester. The suit seeks reimbursement for the costs of lawsuits filed against the Navy Broadway Complex on San Diego Bay. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.
Manchester’s planned Navy Headquarters highrise on the downtown Embarcadero faces several legal challenges that its environmental review is inadequate.
One suit, by the citizens group, the Navy Broadway Coalition , names the city as a defendant.
City Councilwoman Donna Frye says the contract with Manchester holds the developer liable for legal costs.
Frye : It’s a basic contract and all the city is doing is enforcing the terms of the contract.
Attorney David Strauss, representing developer Doug Manchester, says the original contract signed in 1992, does have an indemnity clause.
Strauss : But it only relates to acts by third parties that occur on the property after it’s developed.
The Navy Broadway complex includes several massive high rises on the waterfront.
Opponents argue the 1992 agreement doesn’t live up to present day realities.
Alison St John, KPBS News.