Long Island town sued in attempt to block US Open parking
A real estate company is looking for a mulligan on its deal with a Long Island town, saying their agreement for a leased 16-acre parcel was to park planes, not the cars of golf fans for the US Open.
Delaware-based 400 David Court LLC is suing Riverhead over the land it leased the town in 2001, arguing in court papers that the agreement was for the property be used to for aircraft, and not parking for more than 18,000 cars and shuttles for the upcoming golf tournament at Shinnecock Hills.

“Defendants are presently and unabashedly violating the narrow and specific scope and terms of an easement agreement affecting the property, dated October 16, 2001,” the 12-page complaint said.
“The plain and unambiguous language of the easement agreement explicitly and unequivocally limits the scope of the easement granted to [the Riverhead Community Development Agency] thereunder to the ‘use [of] the easement area as an aircraft parking area and taxiway,” the suit said.
However, Riverhead Town Attorney Eric Howard said Wednesday he’s confident the dispute won’t affect parking for the US Open after the two sides met in in Suffolk County Supreme Court earlier in the day.
“At this time, there appears to be agreement resolving the immediate disputes relative to the parking of vehicles at the Town’s Calverton property,” Howard said. ” I do not anticipate that parking for the US Open at Calverton Enterprise Park will be negatively impacted.”
The legal spat arose after the town cut a deal with the United States Golf Association in January to let it use the land for golf tournament parking for a $150,000 fee, according to court filings.
The USGA wanted to use the property to park 18,900 vehicles and shuttles to transport more than 43,000 people from Southampton to the historic golf course when the Open kicks off next week.

The suit claims the USGA has already trespassed and damaged the property while prepping for the tournament, claiming the company has already been subject “irreparable damage.”
The complaint, filed with the Suffolk County Clerk on Saturday, is asking the court to enforce the 2001 agreement, kick the “trespassers” off the land, and compensate for the damage..
The USGA cold not be reached for a response on Wednesday.
Howard did not reveal details of discussions between the town and 400 David Court on Wednesday.
Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, founded in 1891, is one of the oldest incorporated golfing clubs and one of the five that founded the USGA, according to the club’s website.
It is scheduled to host the US Open from June 18 to June 21.