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Developer says project delivered as promised, cites tariffs and labor shortfalls in force majeure notice
Summary
Rob Swofford told the EDC his company delivered the renovated building largely as shown in earlier visuals, provided a certificate of completion and has filed a notice of force majeure citing tariffs, decreased crew sizes and ICE deployment as causes of delay. He asked the board to honor the agreement and allow reasonable flexibility.
Rob Swofford, introduced by the board, described the developer's site search and said the firm ultimately chose Dickinson, completed work that matches their original visuals and holds a certificate of completion for the project.
"We have submitted a notice of, force majeure due to those tariffs and due to the slowdowns and, availability of material," Swofford said, adding that labor shortages tied to immigration‑enforcement activity and international tariffs reduced crew sizes and delayed deliveries. He said the company believes the contract terms and a force‑majeure notice address those delays and asked the board to honor the agreement rather than penalize the developer for circumstances beyond its control.
Swofford said the team invested more money than originally planned and that finishes and interior work reflect the images previously shown to the board. He noted a missed fire inspection occurred because the fire chief was out of town and said his firm would welcome any questions from the board about the timeline or the submitted notice.
