Jono Developments sues HRM over botched St. Pat’s Alexandra sale
Posted Oct 30, 2013 10:53:05 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
We were warned it could happen and now it has.
Jono Developments Ltd. is suing Halifax Regional Municipality over the botched $3-million sale of St. Patrick’s Alexandra school in north end Halifax.
Council approved the sale of the property to the developer in Dec. 2011, but overturned the decision in Jan. 2012 after protests from community groups.
Jono Developments President Joe Metlege says the company is out a substantial amount of money, but he’s not disclosing what kind of damages they are seeking.
“There are also other development opportunities which we had either been short-listed for or were not able to go after,” said Metlege.
He said he never wanted to get into a conflict with the community or the municipality, but he has to protect himself, hence the legal action.
“I have tried to work with the groups, I have tried to work with the city and the groups together to find an amicable solution where all three parties could walk away with a little bit of something as opposed to a lot of nothing,” said Metlege.
He says his understanding of what’s happening now is that the community groups are being given 90 days to come up with a proposal. That expires Nov. 12 and if none of those proposals are deemed suitable, Metlege hopes his will go back to the top of the list.
“Our bid was evaluated and scored and therefore they would have an obligation to come back to us. We’ll have to wait and see if that’s what they do. If they don’t, obviously that would be line for one of our suits,” said Metlege.
