Newsmakers Jan. 31-Feb. 13: Mall redevelopment clears hurdle

Several months of legal wrangling between city of Longmont officials and clothing retailer Dillard’s Inc. came to a halt in January, finally clearing the way for redevelopment of the Twin Peaks Mall.

That’s when Longmont’s city council, acting as the Longmont Urban Renewal Authority, settled its eminent-domain case against Dillard’s, agreeing to pay $5 million for the 94,000-square-foot store and 7.1 acres around it at the mall. The city also agreed to pay Dillard’s $500,000 to cover legal fees.

Fort Collins-based NewMark Merrill Mountain States, developer of the…