Morning Headlines: Blumenfeld in Hot Water Over Dealings at The Met

Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center claims to be misled by the developer.


It seems like not a week goes by without some news pertaining to Eric Blumenfeld’s march to redevelop North Broad Street. However this time, it’s not about beignets, the Divine Lorraine or even a new apartment building with a fancy water feature. According to the Daily News, a lawsuit has been filed against the developer by Holy Ghost Headquarters Revival Center over control of The Met, a hulking and formerly spectacular opera house Broad and Poplar Streets.

The suit claims that “Blumenfeld misled the Church into relinquishing title to and giving him [Blumenfeld] a controlling interest in the Met.”

The church purchased the property in 1997 for $250,000–saving it from the wrecking ball. It later partnered with Blumenfeld, giving him controlling interest in the property, to help restore the historic building. Only it claims the opposite occurred and the developer wasn’t up front about financial and legal issues, gutted the church and then didn’t restore the property. It seeks to dissolve the “partnership between Blumenfeld and the church, return of the title to the church and damages in excess of $50,000,” according to the Daily News.

Back in July, EB Realty Management said they were kicking around the idea of having a large catering facility (upwards of 20,000 square-feet) in the basement of the building with a separate space for Rev. Hatcher’s Holy Ghost Revival Center. EB Realty Management could not be reached for comment.

Church sues developer over Metropolitan Opera House on N. Broad St. [Daily News]

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