The battle between the city of Annapolis and the company that runs the historic Market House escalated yesterday, with Market House Ventures LLC revising a recent lawsuit to demand that the city pay $6 million in damages, up from $2 million.
The company, a subsidiary of Site Realty Group, which runs Eastern Market in Washington, yesterday also demanded that the city refund all the rent it paid since taking over the property in 2006 and a pass on paying any further rent until an adequate heating and air conditioning system is installed.
A hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. today in Anne Arundel County Circuit Court to respond to the company's revised suit, which also calls for the city to approve and issue certificates of occupancy for three new merchants.
Market House's attorney, Neil S. Hyman, did not respond to a request for comment.
Ray Weaver, a spokesman for the Mayor Ellen O. Moyer, who along with the City Council is named in the suit, said the mayor would not comment on pending litigation.
Site Realty took over the 19th-century building after the city didn't renew vendors' leases and failed in an attempt to bring in high-end grocer Dean & DeLuca.
The building reopened in July 2006.
The original lawsuit, which was filed in December, alleged that the city's failure to install a suitable air conditioning system for the vendors resulted in the loss of revenue. Several vendors went out of business.