UPDATE: Ron Clark Changes Mind on Optioned Land

for the old city garage site, City Attorney Corrine Heine received notice that the developer had "changed his mind."

The city entered into an option agreement with Ron Clark, of Ron Clark Construction & Design, just over a year ago for the former garage site on 76th Street and Pleasant Avenue. The option window lapsed Saturday. June 30. Clark could've extended the contract until October of this year had he put another $5,000 down by the expiration date.

According to an e-mail from Assistant City Manager Pam Dmytrenko, Heine drafted a response to the developer's lawyer, Jim Susag, this afternoon stating that the option had expired and the city wasn't obligated to sell.

"The option agreement stated a deadine of June 30, 2012, which Mr. Clark did not meet. The option is a private contract that is not governed by Minnesota Statutes section 645.15," Heine's response said. "Delivery could have been made on Saturday the 30th by deposit with a courier, by facsimile transmission, or by deposit of registered or certified mail. Your client did not make the delivery on the 30th, and the option has now lapsed."

Richfield Patch will update readers as more information becomes available. See more coverage of this development in our Pillsbury Commons topic page.