A developer's plan to build a supermarket in lower Charles Village has unraveled after a commitment by the city to sell nearby land for use in a competing project.
Developers who offered in 1993 to build a Super Value store at Maryland Avenue between 20th and 21st streets told area residents last week that their tenant backed out after learning of Safeway Inc.'s plan for a market at Charles and 24th streets.
The Safeway project would use city-owned property for parking.
Robert Dunn, a partner of the V-3 Group developers, asked area residents to back a revised plan for a $3 million strip shopping center with three smaller stores: a Save-A-Lot discount grocery, a Rite Aid drug store and a branch of First National Bank of Maryland.
Residents agreed. But Michael Klein, another developer, complained to the city that it was unfair to accept a plan for a project and then allow the plan to be changed.
Mr. Klein said he had proposed a project similar to V-3's shopping center and lost out to the supermarket in 1993.
He also said he could submit a proposal that would help the area even more by offering a different mix of commercial tenants.
Late last week, Housing Commissioner Daniel P. Henson III decided to seek a new round of bids for the property.
A request for proposals will be issued soon.