Top Menu

Hartford Able to Retrieve Ballpark Equipment After Dispute is Resolved

Hartford Yard Goats

A dispute between the city and former ballpark developer Centerplan Construction Co. could have prevented key equipment from being installed at Dunkin’ Donuts Park. However, the issue has now been resolved, with Centerplan granting access to a building outside of the home of the Hartford Yard Goats (Class AA; Eastern League). 

Centerplan, which had its ballpark construction contract terminated by the City of Hartford last June, had been storing equipment in a data processing center that is located beyond the centerfield wall. The items in storage are all intended to be added to the ballpark, and include supplies such as furniture and kitchenware.

With a lawsuit between Centerplan and the city still ongoing, the city filed an emergency injunction last week that would have forced Centerplan to allow access to the building. The two sides have resolved this issue, allowing the items to be retrieved before Dunkin’ Donuts Park opens. Officials from the city have said, however, that the dispute did not put the ballpark’s scheduled opening in doubt. More from The Hartford Courant:

That move prompted Centerplan, which is suing the city for wrongful termination from the ballpark project, to file an objection a day later saying that its former partner had been given several opportunities to get the team’s property out of the building. Centerplan’s filing says the equipment includes chairs, kitchenware and “miscellaneous stuff.”

Late Wednesday afternoon, Sean Fitzpatrick, director of development for the city, said the two sides had settled the dispute and that the team would be given access to the data center this week.

Centerplan, which has a 99-year lease on the property as part of the second second stage of development around the ballpark, was requesting the two sides agree on mediation dates for the lawsuit between the company and city. In its court filing, Centerplan claimed the city was not responding.

City officials acknowledged Wednesday that if the equipment remained in storage it would not prevent the park from opening on time.

Dunkin’ Donuts Park is still on track to host the Yard Goats’ home opener on April 13. The ballpark will have a soft opening on April 11, when it hosts a college baseball contest between the University of Hartford and Quinnipiac.

RELATED STORIES: Dunkin’ Donuts Park FBI Probe UnderwayHartford, Centerplan File for MediationProgress Made on Dunkin’ Donuts ParkDunkin’ Donuts Park Part of Lawsuit Between Arch, CenterplanConstruction Resumes at Dunkin’ Donuts ParkCenterplan Documents Dunkin’ Donuts Park; Work May Resume;  Centerplan Files Suit to Prevent Dunkin’ Donut Park Construction WorkWork to Resume Next Week on Dunkin’ Donuts ParkDeveloper Sued by Contractor in HartfordArch to Takeover Dunkin’ Donuts Park CompletionAudit Shows Rising Costs in Hartford;  McEachern to Hartford: Finish the Ballpark!Hartford Mayor: No Thanks to Solomon’s Financial OfferYard Goats Release 2017 Sched; Solomon Offers to Pay for Ballpark WorkIFG: Over 180 Issues With Dunkin’ Donuts Park;Contractor: We Could Resume Hartford Ballpark in SeptemberWork Set to Resume on New Hartford BallparkYard Goats Bring up Possibility of Leaving HartfordDunkin’ Donuts Park Will Not Open for 2016 SeasonFinally: Dunkin’ Donuts Park Spat Ends Up in CourtHartford, Team May Finish New Yard Goats BallparkHartford Rejects Settlement OfferHartford Developer Pitches Ballpark Completion PlanFire Watch Unfolding at Dunkin’ Donuts ParkYard Goats Lay Off Four in Wake of Ballpark BreakdownNew Hartford Ballpark Now InsuredHartford Ballpark Uninsurable After Developer BootedCenterplan CEO: City Recklessly Terminated ContractYard Goats to Play Two Home Series in BinghamtonTensions, Schedule Changes in HartfordHartford Stadium Authority Cancels Contract with DeveloperWhen Will Hartford Ballpark Be Done? No One is SayingLegal Issues Could Prevent Hartford Ballpark Opening This SeasonNew Deadline Targeted for Dunkin’ Donuts ParkOfficials: New Hartford Ballpark Could Open Next MonthHartford: We Doubt New Ballpark Will Open on TimeDunkin’ Donuts Park Facing Potential Delay; New Hartford ballpark set for May 31 openingYard Goats to begin 2016 season on the roadSolomon: “Awful, depressing, disconcerting” ballpark situationNew Hartford ballpark opening delayed at least a monthNew Hartford ballpark cost estimate: $10.3 million over budgetCity: New Hartford ballpark may open lateValue engineering underway in Hartford

, , , ,