Salisbury, Md. — The City of Salisbury has filed a Verified Complaint in the Circuit Court for Wicomico County seeking a temporary restraining order, preliminary and permanent injunctions, and declaratory judgment against Mentis Lot 10, LLC regarding the use of the parking lot at 101–111 Poplar Hill Avenue, known as Lot 10, until construction on the property begins.
The City sold Lot 10 to Mentis Lot 10, LLC in February 2023 under a contract requiring development of the property into multifamily apartment housing, office space, hotels, restaurants, ground-level retail, stormwater management facilities, parking structures, or a combination of these uses. Until demolition or excavation begins, the City retained the right to operate the lot as a municipal parking facility and to collect all parking fees. The legal action follows an announcement from Mentis Lot 10, LLC, managed by Nick Simpson, that it intends to terminate the City’s right to operate Lot 10 as a public parking lot and convert it to a private lot, despite not having applied for or obtained the necessary permits to begin demolition or redevelopment. The City is asking the court to prevent Mentis Lot 10, LLC from closing or obstructing the City’s use of Lot 10, collecting parking fees owed to the City, and ending the Parking Agreement before proper development permits are secured.
Mayor Randolph J. Taylor emphasized the importance of Lot 10, which provides 267 parking spaces used daily by Wicomico County jurors, State’s Attorney staff, and residents visiting downtown Salisbury. He said the City entered the agreement in good faith and is willing to work with the developer to ensure the project succeeds while preserving public access in the meantime. The City’s complaint asserts that Mentis Lot 10, LLC has breached both the Contract of Sale and the Parking Agreement by attempting to privatize the lot without securing the necessary permits. The requested court order seeks to maintain public parking and revenue until legitimate redevelopment begins. The case is pending before the Circuit Court for Wicomico County.
