Oct 31, 2008

Fort Lauderdale Stranahan House loses appeal on condo case

Fort Lauderdale - Stranahan House lawyers fighting a proposed condo next door to the historic house lost in court again. The 4th District Court of Appeal ruled for the developer in the latest legal turn in the long-running property case.

The ruling, dated Oct. 27, dismissed a Stranahan House appeal. Stranahan House lawyers wanted the court to reverse a lower-court ruling that said the city was correct when it granted a "certificate of appropriateness" for the proposed Icon condo to be built on land designated historic.

"I'm disappointed the court ruled the way it did," Stranahan House attorney Tucker Gibbs said Thursday. But Gibbs said he has higher hopes for the last remaining element of the Stranahan House's legal battle, a lawsuit challenging the condo's consistency with city land development rules.

Icon attorney Don Hall said the Stranahan House is wasting time fighting a project that has repeatedly won in court.

"Tucker can't see the forest for the fees," Hall said.

The Related Group filed its site plan some 10 years ago to build a condo at 500 E. Las Olas Blvd. Then, the fighting began.

source: sun sentinal

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