CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A legal dispute is unfolding over a planned Hilton Homewood Suites Hotel in downtown Corpus Christi, with Elevate QOF, LLC responding to allegations of fraud and misconduct. The developer is pushing back against claims made by Ajit David of RGB Hospitality Group, who argues that Elevate manipulated information to deceive city officials regarding floodplain assessments related to the project.
In a statement issued Thursday, the law firm representing Elevate, Anderson, Lehrman, Barre & Maraist, called the lawsuit “baseless,” describing it as an attempt by David to hinder the hotel development and protect his own business interests. The firm emphasized that Elevate never intended to mislead the Type B Board, the Corpus Christi City Council, or the residents of the city.
The accusations focus on a screenshot of a FEMA press release that David alleges was altered to misinform city officials about flooding concerns for the site in question. Elevate, however, maintains that the screenshot is a publicly accessible document containing accurate information and timestamps.
The law firm stated that the Type B Board’s unanimous approval of Elevate’s incentive package was not influenced by any floodplain issues but was based on the hotel’s designation as a “Capstone project” vital to the downtown area’s development.
In addition to challenging the lawsuit, Elevate has filed its own petition seeking a declaratory judgment affirming the validity and enforceability of the city ordinance that approved the hotel project. They also aim to recover damages, attorney’s fees, and costs, arguing that David’s lawsuit is intended to cause financial harm.
“This is a calculated effort to distract from and obstruct the progress of a competing hotel,” the firm remarked.
As the legal battle progresses, the Hilton Homewood Suites project remains on schedule for development, pending the outcome of the litigation.
This ongoing dispute highlights the tensions surrounding urban development in Corpus Christi and raises questions about the motivations behind the pushback against new projects in the area.
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