Hartford’s total investment in its minor league ballpark and related developments is over $102 million, according to a new report by city auditors.
Of that, $71 million was for Dunkin’ Donuts Park -- far more than originally contemplated. Nearly $16 million was for related roadwork and infrastructure, and almost $15 million was for the nascent mixed-use development surrounding the park.
Meanwhile, the legal fights surrounding the project are getting uglier. On Thursday, roofing contractor Greenwood Industries sued developer Centerplan Construction Company for not paying it nearly $700,000.
“As a direct result of Centerplan’s material breaches of the Subcontract, Greenwood has incurred financial harm for which Centerplan is liable,” the lawsuit said.
These are just the latest developments in week of conflict and consternation surrounding the stalled stadium project. Construction stopped in June when the city kicked Centerplan off the job for being late and over budget.
Meanwhile, the Hartford Yard Goats missed their entire first season at home. Now, Minor League Baseball is losing patience. On Thursday, its leadership made it clear -- either finish the stadium for 2017, or the team will leave.
Earlier this week, Mayor Luke Bronin tried to get ahead of the impending report -- saying that the the numbers weren’t new, but that the administration of former Mayor Pedro Segarra simply kept them under wraps.
“This is a project that the prior administration began and, all told, the costs already outlaid are going to be approaching $100 million,” Bronin told WNPR. “Obviously, the developers went over budget and far behind schedule as far back as January. But the bulk of the costs that bring the stadium so high above what was told to the public are the fact that the prior administration simply agreed to pay, on the quiet, for all of these roadwork improvements that cost tens of millions of dollars.”
It’s no secret that the stadium has cost taxpayers far more than originally intended. And the cost to finish it will no doubt grow even further. The question now is who will pay for it. The city maintains that the responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the insurance company backing the developers.
Immediate efforts to reach Bronin and attorneys for Greenwood, were unsuccessful.
But Centerplan lawyer Ray Garcia said what he has said all along: kicking his client off the job was counterproductive. He also said the roofing job was badly performed and caused interior damage.
"If he just stood still, this would have been worked out in the effort to restart the project and pay subs for work performed to date," Garcia said. "No idea why this can be a good thing for anyone, least of all the roofer."
