A judge has tossed two lawsuits standing in the way of an $18 million marina and restaurant project on Coconut Grove’s waterfront.
The Grove Bay Investment Group had planned to redevelop the Grove Key Marina and the Chart House and Scotty’s Landing restaurants. But the development has been stuck in limbo while the developer and city have fought Grove businessman Steve Kneapler in court.
Kneapler wanted the project scrapped because the city had “failed to properly notice a referendum last year”, and “didn’t secure enough votes for a waterfront development to be authorized,” according to the Miami Herald. Kneapler also contends that the city broke its own laws by failing to ensure it received “fair market value” for the land.
Grove Bay and the city denied those charges. And on Wednesday, Miami-Dade judge Marc Shumacher, agreed, siding with the city and Grove Bay.
“Basically, what the judge has ruled is that the city commission is allowed to go forward and violate the city charter with impunity,” Alejandro Vilarello, Kneapler’s attorney said. [Miami Herald] – Christopher Cameron