Final Score: U. L. Coleman 25,000,000 - City of Bossier 0

This is the press release from the City of Bossier on the Walker Place settlement. It appears that the City totally folded. 
How could it get to this point over a simple curb cut? My theory is that it was nothing but pride and power. The City Council took a stand and instead of wisely coming to a mutual agreement, they hung on and spent millions fighting the lawsuit – out of pride and stubbornness. I could be wrong, but it sure as heck appears that way.
I especially love the spin in the last paragraph, “The City of Bossier City is excited about the opportunity to facilitate and support this exciting new development in South Bossier and looks forward to the added quality of life it will bring to residents and visitors.”
May be, but I bet it tastes more like crow than chicken.
Elliott Stonecipher estimates that the total cost to the city will come to $25,000,000.

As part of a comprehensive settlement resolving pending litigation, the City of Bossier City will be entering into a Consent Decree and Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with U.L. Coleman Company, Sequoia venture No. 2, Ltd., A. Teague Parkway, L.L.C., and Walker Place, L.L.C. to facilitate and fund infrastructure in a 90 plus acre commercial and residential development in South Bossier.

The settlement was approved this afternoon by the Bossier City Council during a special meeting called to address the issue.

The litigation filed in 2008 centered around the establishment of a curb cut on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway for access to the proposed development to be located north of Walker Place. As part of the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement the city will grant a curb cut and a median cut on Teague Parkway among other items including:

· $10.4 million for infrastructure in the mixed use development.

· $1 million to develop a city park on city property north of the CenturyLink Center. U.L. Coleman Company will provide funds for the park's design.

· Construction of an elevated pedestrian/bicycle walkway over the Teague Parkway in the vicinity of the proposed park.

· $6.7 million in damages and costs.

· A transfer of 39.4 acres of city property for use in expanding the mixed use development to more than 90 acres. The property to be transferred is bordered by Walker Place, Barksdale Boulevard, Angelle Drive and CenturyLink Drive.

As a community partner, U.L. Coleman Company has also agreed to fund $100,000 to implement regulations to provide standards for future residential and commercial development in the Barksdale Boulevard corridor in South Bossier.

The City of Bossier City is excited about the opportunity to facilitate and support this exciting new development in South Bossier and looks forward to the added quality of life it will bring to residents and visitors.

U. S. District Judge: Walker Place lawsuit will proceed

U. S. District Judge Maurice Hicks has denied Bossier City’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by the U. L. Coleman Company. The motion to dismiss by the city was denied except for liability of the Permit Office. They are not liable because they are not a policy making body.
Of course, this doesn’t mean that U. L. Coleman has won the lawsuit – it just means that the judge believes that on its face, there is cause to continue.
The next step will be a scheduling conference.
You can see the ruling at the Shreveport-Bossier Tea Party website or read more about it at Vote the Record.

Walker Place Yes, Curb Cut No?

Marty Carlson had an article in Fax Net Update this week about the Walker Place Development. For those who are not familiar with the proposed development, here are the basics.
In 2005 the City sold a 24.8 acre tract in south Bossier to U. L. Coleman Company for development. The original plan for the development of the property did not include a curb-cut to Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, and the only access was Walker Place.
After Coleman purchased an adjacent tract of land, they acquired access to Barksdale Boulevard.
At that point Coleman decided to expand the scope of the development to include not only townhouses and apartments, but a commercial development as well.  In 2006 they asked for a curb cut on the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway, so that they could have 3-way access into the development.
The City Council said no, and voted that there would be no new curb cuts on the parkway as it was designed to facilitate traffic and not be used for ingress/egress.
After a couple of years of negotiation, Coleman filed suit against the city in U. S. District court on December 26, 2008.
The case is still ongoing.
Appearing at a meeting at Friendship Methodist Church last week that attracted about a dozen people, developer Linc Coleman said “The city is playing Russian roulette. If the city wins, they kill a billion-dollar economic development and they will spend well over a million dollars doing it,” said Coleman. “If they lose, they spend well over a million dollars doing it.”  Coleman says that between 1,400 & 1,950 jobs will be created in the development.
City Council President David Jones says “The people are only hearing one side because we cannot speak until this is out of litigation,” said Jones. “All I can say is they might be careful on how much they can believe until they hear the other side.”
It seems pretty obvious that the case will be settled in court. If 3 years of negotiations between Coleman and the city didn’t produce any results, it’s doubtful that a solution will pop up while the case is being litigated.
Marty summed up her article with this: “Walker Place Development is an excellent addition to south Bossier.
A curb cut for the development is a supremely poor idea.”

Meeting to address Walker Place Development in South Bossier

Linc Coleman, developer of the prospective Walker Place mixed-use development, will update the South Bossier Community at Fellowship United Methodist Church, located at 4750 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City, near Bodacious Bar-B-Q on Thursday, Aug. 19th @ 6:30 pm. All are invited to attend.
David Melville, pastor of Fellowship United Methodist Church stated, "There are problems to be resolved in any great effort. I urge all involved to resolve any access issues preventing development of Walker Place so that we in South Bossier can reap the benefits of jobs, housing, shopping, dining and more. Let the visionaries do what they do best, for we have seen time and time again that our world would be less alive without them."
Walker Place is estimated to provide: $150 Million in investment, $500 Million economic impact, and 1,400  - 1,950 employees to be housed on the development.
Walker Place would provide much needed activities such as parks and retail and restaurants.
LSUS Economic Impact Study - Walker Place Development