Developer sues over Columbia, Ill., project
By Nicholas J.C. Pistor
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/06/2007

COLUMBIA, ILL. - A St. Louis development firm has sued this city for breach
of contact involving the massive Columbia Crossing retail project.

In the lawsuit filed on Wednesday, developer G.J. Grewe alleges that the
newly elected Columbia City Council failed to live up to a three-year-old
development contract.

"This council has said, 'We don't care,'" Gerard Carmody, a lawyer
representing the developer, said Wednesday.

Carmody said that the city had exposed itself to significant risk and that
the damages could number in the millions of dollars from the loss of profits
the project was expected to generate. 

In 2004, Columbia entered into an agreement with Grewe to develop almost
2,000 acres of farmland near the Jefferson Barracks Bridge off Interstate
255. The project, called Columbia Crossing, was said to be similar to the
company's Gravois Bluffs retail development in Fenton, which includes a
Wal-Mart, Target and several other large retail outlets. It was later
revealed that a Legoland amusement park was being considered for the
development area.

Kevin Hutchinson, the city's mayor, who has passionately supported the
project, could not immediately be reached for comment.

In April, voters changed the makeup of the City Council and elected three
new aldermen opposed to using public financing for big development. Voters
also rejected an advisory referendum on the development by a vote of
1,160-1,150.

The council has since haggled with Grewe over the development and has
refused to pass several items contained in the original development
agreement.

Jay Unnerstall, an alderman opposed to the development, said the council had
done what was best for the community.

"The kind of city we pass to future generations is at stake here,"
Unnerstall said.

npistor@post-dispatch.com | 618-624-2577