A report investigating cost overruns in Roswell’s troubled Oxbo Road got the description of at least one city land deal wrong, says the attorney for a developer cited for receiving payment for property it did not own.
Attorney Bryan Brunson said his client, Jeffrey Reddick of Southern Pines Construction, did not renege on a contract with the city of Roswell as described in the report released last month. And the city was not misled in its transactions with Southern Pines, he added.
Roswell overpaid for parcels of land needed for the road project to realign Oxbo Road and nearby streets, according to the independent investigation performed by Jarrard & Davis law firm. The city paid more than twice the amount planned for property on Maple Street that officials wanted to acquire through Reddick.
Monetary damages incurred by Roswell are of “its own doing and not Southern Pines’ responsibility,” Brunson said in emails to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “The property located at 64 Maple was a vacant lot with serious topography issues and these financial terms were dictated by Roswell.”
Roswell City Attorney David Davidson said via email to the AJC that the city is not prepared to comment on the investigation report or Brunson’s differing take on the matter.
“The city is taking the report and its findings under consideration ...” Davidson said.
Maple Street is a narrow corridor that parallels Oxbo Road. The city closed Oxbo in January 2020 when the realignment project was slated to last up to 24 months. Most roadwork has been halted for much of 2021 for the relocation of utility poles by Georgia Power.
The Jarrard & Davis investigation report released Sept. 30 states that Reddick broke a 2018 agreement after the city paid him $300,000 for ownership of parcels of land on Maple Street that he owned and access to additional land that Southern Pines intended to buy. The developer never bought the land from owner Leslie Reed, resulting in Roswell paying another $299,000 to purchase the land from her, as well as $135,000 for trespassing damages and demolishing structures.
“Southern Pines did not close on additional property with Leslie Reed ... because Southern Pines could not get assurances from the City of Roswell when the Oxbo Extension would be completed,” Brunson said.
Roswell closed the $300,000 transaction with Reddick in an agreement that he would acquire the property and provide access to Roswell construction crews, according to the investigation report. Jarrard & Davis attorneys said in the report that Southern Pines should repay the city the $299,000 it paid Reed and more for damages.
Brunson said Roswell trespassed on Reed’s land for road construction when officials knew Southern Pines had not acquired the property.
“The City of Roswell has never asked for a refund from Southern Pines in any amount …,” Brunson said.
About the Author
