SYRACUSE, N.Y. — A judge on Monday dismissed the City of Syracuse lawsuit against COR Development Company, LLC, which accused the Fayetteville–based developer of fraud in the development of the Inner Harbor.
Both sides on Monday issued statements following the decision by New York State Supreme Court Justice James Murphy.
“We are grateful to the court for fully dismissing the City of Syracuse’s frivolous and politically motivated action against the Inner Harbor project,” Steve Aiello, president of COR Development, said in the company’s statement.
Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner on Dec. 15 had filed the lawsuit after COR had secured a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) deal with the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency (OCIDA).
COR had sought the tax deal for its ongoing Inner Harbor development project.
The city contends COR “deliberately” sought a tax-relief deal from OCIDA to allow the company to avoid a community-benefits agreement with the city that would have required COR to provide project-related jobs to Syracuse residents.
COR’s statement went on to say, “In addition to dismissing the City’s lawsuit in its entirety, the court found that there is ‘…overwhelming proof that Mr. Aiello never stated that COR would not seek a PILOT agreement in the future…”
The City of Syracuse also released a statement late Monday afternoon.
“This afternoon, the City administration was notified of Judge Murphy’s decision in our lawsuit against COR Development, LLC. We are reviewing the decision with counsel and examining our options going forward. The administration continues its commitment to ensuring public benefits from any project of this scale receiving public dollars,” Miner’s office said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
PHOTO CAPTION: Crews from Fayetteville–based COR Development Company, LLC continue their work on the Starwood Hotels & Resorts Aloft in Syracuse’s Inner Harbor. A judge on Monday dismissed the City of Syracuse’s lawsuit against COR. The City of Syracuse had filed its lawsuit against the developer after the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency approved a tax-deal request on Dec. 15. (Eric Reinhardt / BJNN file photo.)