Landowner forecloses on former Country Crossing land

Dothan, Al.

Just more than three years after the developers of the old Country Crossing complex obtained 375 acres to locate its project, a local company has decided to foreclose on the land.

Southern Farms, Inc., whose principal is listed as Dothan attorney Keith Givens, has begun foreclosure proceedings on the land owned by Resorts Development Group, II. The project formerly known as Country Crossing is now known as Center Stage Alabama.

Jim Parkman, attorney for Resorts Development Group, said Center Stage would remain open while the sides tried to “resolve differences.”

Southern Farms seller-financed the land through a promissory note in 2008 for $19.4 million, plus a 5 percent equity interest in the project. The details of the agreement required the note to be paid back within five years.

It is unclear what happens next. Parkman said his firm plans to try to get the two parties to sit down and find a resolution.

“Keith (Givens) went ahead and did this, I am sure, on the basis that he felt like he needed to,” Parkman said. “We are just trying to resolve all the differences people have and just trying to make everybody happy.”

“We are moving ahead and we are trying to progress into making it a viable business for the people, for the charities. We still have the same goal in mind, just trying to get everybody on the same page,” Parkman said.

Givens did not return a message seeking comment.

Center Stage has operated continuously since its opening this summer despite being sent a cease and desist letter from Attorney General Luther Strange. Center Stage officials contend the electronic bingo machines being used at the development comply with Alabama law. The development also holds paper bingo sessions as well.

The land deal was negotiated through Country Crossing developer Ronnie Gilley, who broke ties with the project after pleading guilty to bribery and money laundering charges in connection with the federal vote-buying investigation in the Alabama Legislature.

A group of investors assumed control of the development, rebranded it and reopened as Center Stage Alabama earlier this year.

Earlier in 2008, Gilley had sought to purchase about 700 acres from several landowners who owned property further north off Highway 231, but a discovery of possible Indian artifacts triggered additional land studies that were expected to delay the project. Gilley said he feared additional delays would scare investors away, so he began negotiations with Givens for the Southern Farms property, a piece of land he originally targeted for the project, but said he and Givens had been unable to come to terms the first time around.

Notice of the foreclosure is the second piece of unsettling news for the development in a month. On Nov. 13, the trustee of two Country Crossing revenue bond offerings totaling $29 million filed notices of default on the bonds after the entities created to pay the bonds failed to provide a required accounting.