ST. PETERSBURG — An executive with the company bidding against Archstone-Madison to redevelop Tropicana Field is claiming the city's selection process was unfair.
In an e-mail released by city officials on Tuesday, Hines senior vice president Michael Harrison argued that his company was the lone bidder to submit a firm offer to purchase the 86-acre site in March, the month final proposals were due.
Archstone-Madison initially offered to enter into a long term lease with the city. It later agreed to pay $65-million for the site.
"We spent several hundred thousand dollars and thousands of man hours pursuing this project and are extremely disappointed by a recommendation that is simply not supported by facts or a fair process," Harrison wrote.
The City Council is scheduled to discuss the Tropicana redevelopment on Thursday.
"Of course they're not pleased with the recommendation," city Economic Development Director Dave Goodwin said. "They wanted to win, and they're going to make their case."
News
