Herb Miller, who developed Georgetown Park Mall with then partnerRichard Kramer in the early 80s and sold it in 1985 to a pension fund, has exercised his right of first refusal to buy it back. Bisnow on Businesssources say the deal was closed yesterday.
What makes this news surprising is that Anthony Lanier, developer of theGeorgetown Ritz and Lowe's Cineplex, is currently in court claiming Miller agreed not to buy the mall, but instead to help him buy it. Miller won round one when Superior Court ruled the statute of limitations made the arrangement unenforceable.
We reached Anthony in Lisbon, Portugal moments ago; he returns to DC tomorrow. He told me, "That's what I've heard, though I don't know for sure. But it's a good development for me. I would rather be arguing with Herb when he's in possession, than if the mall were owned by Vornado or someone else."
Why? "I don't want monetary damages. I want the mall."
Lanier, in this picture above that I took of him a year ago in Georgetown'sKady's Alley, which he also developed, is one of the most colorful figures in the city and virtually the "mayor of Georgetown." Hmm, come to think of it, the same description could apply to Herb Miller. We have not heard the last of this story.
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