City of Salisbury facing $40 Million Lawsuit

SALISBURY, Md. – A developer has filed a $40 million lawsuit against the City of Salisbury and Mayor Randy Taylor for allegedly backing out of the Marina Landing Project.

The lawsuit was filed in federal court on Friday, and it claims that Mayor Taylor and the city illegally revoked authorization for the project.

The Marina Landing Project aimed to bring two five-story residential towers with ground-floor retail and restaurant spaces, a renovated public marina facility, a boathouse building, and a total of 76 residential units, including 20 units in the former boathouse building.

According to court documents obtained by WMDT, the lawsuit alleges that the developer claimed that the city failed to uphold the terms of the amended and restated land disposition agreement, which included land transfers and long-term lease arrangements essential for the progression of the project.

The lawsuit also alleges project delays and asserts that the city’s actions have caused significant delays hindering the development of the Marina Landing project.

The city and the developer originally entered into a land disposition agreement in 2016, but in early 2022, the developer and the city entered an amended and restated land disposition agreement.

The original agreement stated that the city agreed to sell specific parcels to the developer for a nominal fee to facilitate the development. It also gave the developer a 50-year lease to the Salisbury Marina with options for renewal.

The agreement also stated that commitments were to be made to reserve public parking spaces and to ensure public access to the waterfront.

Mayor Taylor released a statement Friday saying, in part, “We have not been served. We will try the case in court and not in the press, and we look forward to vindicating ourselves in that forum.”

WMDT reached out to 1 Fizwater Street, LLC, and has not heard back.