City approves $1.6 million settlement with developer in Downtown Temple Terrace

TEMPLE TERRACE — Taking a step designed to get the long-stalled Downtown Temple Terrace project moving again, the City Council voted this week to pay $1.6 million to sever the troubled partnership with its developer, Vlass Temple Terrace.

The council voted unanimously on Tuesday to pay Vlass to settle dueling lawsuits, in which each side accused the other of breach of contract. The settlement also lets Vlass off the hook for $159,000 in property taxes.

“This hopefully is the beginning of the jump-start of getting this back on track,” Mayor Frank Chillura said.

The settlement allows the city to start over with a new developer to build the $150 million office, shopping, residential and cultural community stretching along the east side of 56th Street from Bullard Parkway to the Hillsborough River. Vlass is expected to transfer the property back to the city by Dec. 15.

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