Shoaff says criticism "personal attack"

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Fort Wayne councilman John Shoaff (D) calls recent criticism of his views on the Harrison Square condos a "personal attack."

The project has been stalled for more than 450 days with no completion date in sight.

Shoaff recently urged city leaders to get tough on project developer Hardball Capital, by acting on a provision in its contract. He says the City is allowed to fine Hardball $5,000 for each day past the original completion deadline. Shoaff says the City could collect nearly $2 million.

"We have a right to liquidated damages," said Shoaff. "Its an attempt to give a fair compensation to the City for the losses its suffering by not having the performance that it was promised.

Not long after, Fort Wayne's redevelopment commission director Christopher Guerin wrote an editorial in a local paper saying Shaoff didn't have his facts right.

"The contract has a limit," said Guerin, explaining the contract has a 90-day cap for collecting losses. "So the most the City could realize if it wanted to take such a punitive action is $450,000."

Shoaff fired back Wednesday telling NewsChannel 15, Guerin framed the editorial "pretty much as a personal encounter," and that he doesn't "think that's the best way of dealing with issues of this kind."

He also said he wants Guerin to leave legal matters to the city attorney and not make them personal. "Mr. Guerin is not an attorney and neither am I."

Guerin also worried "punishing" Hardball would turn away other developers from the City. But Shoaff worries more about the city having its "act together."