By Eric Curl
April 10, 2025 Update: On Thursday, the judge granted the developers’ motions for a 90-day stay and to abandon the rezoning, variances and map amendments related to the office buildings, according to the court order.
April 8, 2025 original story – Despite a recent court filing that may suggest otherwise, a developer involved in a proposed Forsyth Park-area office complex says the controversial plan is still moving forward.
On Monday, Seacrest Seven, LLC, 1015 Whitaker, LLC, and Portfolio Holdings, LLC submitted a court filing notifying the court they are abandoning their previous rezoning applications and associated permits related to the proposed development along Whitaker Street and Park Avenue.
In an interview on Tuesday with Savannah Agenda, David Paddison, a minority partner and registered agent for the development, said that the development team has not abandoned the project, however. The move comes in response to legal challenges filed earlier this year by residents Clara Greig and Tana Fileccia-Flagg, who alleged procedural flaws and violations of Georgia’s Zoning Procedures Law.
“This is about the process, not the project,” Paddison said.
The legal challenge alleges that the city’s rezoning approvals were invalid due to a failure to disclose certain political contributions, in violation of zoning procedures law. Rather than litigate the issue, the developers chose to withdraw the application and request a 90-day stay to determine whether to refile, according to Paddison.
Paddison characterized the issue as a possible “technical deficiency” related to the campaign disclosure paperwork.
“We’re not admitting or denying that there was one, but we want 90 days to figure out do we need to go and reapply to the city with a new application for the zoning,” he said.
In the court filing, the developers said they reserved the right to proceed with other work related to the project, including the demolition of the buildings at the site and work related to the construction of an underground parking garage in partnership with the city.
Paddison said there is probably about six more months of general prep work, such as utility line relocation, that they don’t want to be held up during a protracted legal battle.
A motion to pause the court proceedings for 90 days is being considered this morning. This is a developing story and will be updated when new information is obtained.
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Eric..what were the amounts of contributions that was undisclosed and to whom (?). I think the lawsuit the ladies’ attorney filed addressed but unable to find. Thanks bunches.
Debra