Vancouver’s Land Castle Development Corp. has launched legal action against the South Coast British Columbia Transportation Authority aka TransLink after the transit authority allegedly asked the developer to modify and delay a development proposal Land Castle was submitting to the City of Port Moody in order to accommodate a proposed Evergreen Line rapid transit station on and adjacent to the property that never came to pass.

According to B.C. Supreme Court documents filed February 4, TransLink then advised Land Castle in February 2008 it no longer required the property. TransLink had previously acquired the properties to the left and right of Land Castle’s site in May and June 2006, according to the filing.

It is alleged that between March 2006 and April 2008, in reliance on the directions given by TransLink, Land Castle suffered losses and damages including consultants’ fees and design costs, appraisal costs, interest and carrying costs, loss of market value and loss of profit.

It is seeking damages for, but not limited to, injurious affection, and/or damages to be assessed pursuant to the Expropriation Act.

A statement of defence had not been filed by press time. •

Business in Vancouver March 31-April 6, 2009; issue 1014