More Money Savings

Wow, Isn't this wonderful. The city will have to go to court and loose yet another lawsuit against the city. With the possibility of even more dollars in damages and court costs. I think the Don has gotten too used to this being a GM town. The only other organization I know of, that will spend a million to save a hundred thousand is GM.

Former Sugar Maple Farms still stalledFlint's mayor wants money owed by former developer
By Taryn Asher
FLINT (WJRT) - (04/24/06)--The developer who rescued a Flint subdivision claims the mayor won't let him move forward. Sugar Maple Farms was at a standstill for years, tangled in a political war over water.

Marvin Riley has since bought the property and turned it into Kearsley Golf View Estates. But now it seems he's in his own political war. This time he's up against Flint Mayor Don Williamson.

The mayor says he won't sign over the building permits until Riley pays the city $187,000 -- a debt created by the former developers.

Riley says he showed Williamson the agreement that shows Riley bought this property free and clear.

After following the Sugar Maple Farms saga for years, Davison developer Riley decided to step up and buy the subdivision.

Since September, he's put $1 million into the infrastructure and plans to invest $22 million more to complete Kearsley Golf View Estates.

But Riley says as soon as he was ready to break ground, Williamson decided not to sign the building permits or the tax abatement resolution.

"He says, I'm not signing nothing until I get my money,'" Riley said of Williamson.

Riley says Williamson is referring to the money the former bankrupt developers owed the city. But an order signed by the bankruptcy judge shows Riley bought this property clear of any debt.

"I showed him the agreement," Riley said.

"His answer to me was, 'Marv, I don't give a ****.' He says, 'I will be foreclosing on this property and even if I have to go to the Supreme Court I will do that to get my money,'" Riley said.

So Riley says he had no choice. He's filed a lawsuit against the city. But his business and his pocketbook are taking a hit.

"I'm losing buyers," he said. "I'm losing builders because of this. I can't get building permits."

Trying to push this project forward has already forced two developers into bankruptcy. Riley is worried he could be next.

Williamson refuses to acknowledge the judge's order and plans to foreclose on that property. Legally the city has 15 days to respond to Riley's lawsuit.