Mall owner silent about possible lawsuit against city

BOULDER ?The threat of a lawsuit against the city of Boulder has hit the table in the continuing saga of the redevelopment of Crossroads Mall.

Earlier this month, Art Coppola, president and chief executive of The Macerich Co., owner of the mall, threatened the city of Boulder with a lawsuit after city officials voiced opposition to Macerich’s plans to exclude housing in its redevelopment plan for the mall.

Coppola said Macerich, which owns land at the northern end of the mall and leases the land at the southern end from a land trust, will sue the city if it tries to condemn the property on behalf of the trusts or tries to force him to build housing at the site, according to a report in the Boulder Daily Camera.

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On the phone from his Santa Barbara, Calif. office April 12, Art Coppola sounded reserved about the possibility of a lawsuit and wouldn’t discuss it. “Since there could be litigation, my lawyers and I have agreed that there should be a no-comment policy right now,” Coppola said. “I’m obviously hopeful that we don’t get into litigation, but I really can’t say anything right now.”

Coppola threatened the city after its officials cried foul when Coppola said a mixed-use urban village concept that the city favored for the site wasn’t viable. Coppola said there would be no housing in redevelopment plans, much to the dismay of council members, including Mayor Will Toor who has long backed the concept.