After decades of sitting in development limbo, it finally looked like the World Trade Center would become a functioning building once again when the city selected Carpenter and Co. of Cambridge, Massachusetts and New Orleans-based Woodward Interests to redevelop the building into a Four Seasons hotel. But despite the recently released flashy renderings of the project, the development has been mired in legal trouble that still continues.
In May, one of the losing bidders on the project—Two Canal Street Investors—sued the city, arguing that the selection process for the WTC developer was "was secretive and skewed toward the winning Four Seasons developers." Just last week, a judge said she has the authority to require the city "to scrap its lease with a Four Seasons development team and start a new selection process" depending on what happens with the litigation. Oy.
The NOLA.com article has more information on what has become a confusing mess. Is this doomed to become an arrested development?
·World Trade Center building future clouded by legal fight [NOLA.com]
· New Orleans World Trade Center: Developers who lost bid sue the city [NOLA.com]
·All World Trade Center coverage [Curbed NOLA]