A series of emails released by the city of South Tucson has finally put a number on its legal fight with the Pasadera Behavioral Health Network — $2.8 million.
Attorneys representing the network used the figure last August, explaining how the decision by South Tucson officials to deny them the permits they needed to reopen the former Arizona’s Children Association home has hurt their organization.
While the nonprofit has been able to use some of the buildings for office work, it is currently unable to offer inpatient services to adults with substance abuse problems as it had planned.
The proposed drug treatment center would be directly across the street from Mission View Elementary School.
The letter, sent to the city’s Board of Adjustment, estimates roughly $800,000 in damages in addition to the roughly $2 million Pasadera paid for the property a year ago.
Emails requested by the Arizona Daily Star suggest that the city was initially willing to give Pasadera the necessary permits to reopen the Arizona’s Children Association home, but there is some dispute whether the city was aware the nonprofit was going to treat adults rather than children.
Historically, the facility has treated children.
“The City’s reversal had direct and severe financial and operational impacts on Pasadera. Specifically, Pasadera had to cancel the sale of several properties and reconfigure its operations so that it could maintain its Residential Facility at existing properties,” wrote attorney Rory Juneman, who represented Pasadera in an August 2015 email.
“This, along with the inability to consolidate operations, resulted in unforeseen costs to Pasadera. It also incurred numerous costs associated with its move and renovation to the property, all of which would have been avoided if it knew it could not fully operate at the property.”
Both the city of South Tucson and Pasadera officials have repeatedly declined to comment on the issue, citing ongoing litigation, and have been unwilling to cite a figure.
In a recent filing with the courts, the nonprofit has asked a judge to consider awarding damages to it, in addition to forcing the city to issue the necessary permits.
