SALISBURY, Md. - A development battle has landed in federal court as 1 Fitzwater Street, LLC filed a lawsuit against Salisbury Mayor Randolph J. Taylor and the City of Salisbury, alleging breach of contract and constitutional violations that threaten the Marina Landing Project.
According to the complaint filed on April 25 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, the developer accuses Mayor Taylor of blocking progress on the mixed-use waterfront development, which includes apartment towers and a boathouse building, despite prior approvals.
Background
The Marina Landing Project began with a Land Disposition Agreement between the developer and the City in 2022, said developers. That agreement was approved by the Salisbury City Council and was intended to facilitate construction of two five-story apartment towers and a separate boathouse building.
In June 2023, plaintiffs say the property was purchased and received site grading and plan approvals. The city and developer also entered into a parking agreement.
That agreement was approved by the Salisbury City Council and was intended to facilitate construction of two five-story apartment towers and a separate boathouse building. (Fisher Architecture)
Allegations
The complaint states that problems began after Mayor Taylor assumed office in November 2023. The developer claims that since taking office, Taylor has attempted to renegotiate the LDA and ordered city employees not to cooperate with the developer.
The complaint outlines that the city refused to disclose the amount of the building permit fee, the final step before issuing the permit, and also rejected a routine extension of a grading permit.
According to the complaint the, "Developer subsequently confronted Mayor Taylor concerning the city’s refusal to cooperate with these basic requests and specifically asked Mayor Tayor 'are you holding my Project?' Mayor Taylor unabashedly answered 'yes.' "
Further complications arose in February 2025 when Mayor Taylor raised a previously undisclosed conflict over parking rights with a neighboring restaurant owner, Frank Hanna Sr. He proposed downsizing the development rather than honoring the previously agreed-upon parking commitments, according to letters included in the filing.
Legal Claims and Damages
The lawsuit contains two counts:
- A federal claim against Mayor Taylor for depriving the developer of constitutionally protected property rights, and a state-law breach of contract claim against the city for failing to honor the LDA
- The developer seeks more than $40 million in damages, alleging financial losses and project delays directly resulting from the city’s and Mayor Taylor’s actions
The City of Salisbury has not issued a comment on the lawsuit as of noon Friday.