College Park developer refutes claims by fired city manager

A new wave of controversies has emerged in College Park following the firing of City Manager Lindell Miller. The developer renovating the former Chelsea Gardens apartments is refuting her allegations.

Miller issued a written statement and has spoken to media outlets about her firing, which occurred during Monday’s city council meeting. A resident shared her statement with SaportaReport. In it, Miller said she was instructed by council members Joe Carn and Tracie Arnold to waive permit fees so developer Contour Companies could continue work at the complex. According to Miller, waiving those fees would have lifted a stop-work order.

After Contour purchased the apartments last February, the city issued an order of condemnation in April, displacing residents. Contour is redeveloping the property, spending $6.5 million on the first phase of renovation, the company says. The complex has been renamed The Ivy at College Park.

Miller said in her statement that code enforcement and the fire department were at one point concerned that the developer was violating rules by not obtaining proper permits — and that the city allowed the remodeling work to continue. Miller did not return a call or text from SaportaReport.

Contour Companies, in a statement to SaportaReport, said, “At no point has Contour sought, requested or engaged in activity to circumvent or avoid the city’s established permitting, code enforcement or construction approval processes.”

The statement continued: “These claims are completely false, without merit and do not reflect the facts, the timeline or the professional standards that guide every aspect of our work. From the moment Contour acquired this long-neglected and distressed property in February 2025, Contour and our construction partners have adhered to every required process, protocol and ordinance at each stage of work.”

The developer added that it is proud of the work being done “and will continue to align with city guidance and expectations, as we have done since day one.”

When Chelsea Gardens was condemned, displaced residents described conditions as plagued by excessive mold, water shutoffs, rodent infestations, and collapsing infrastructure. Miller said in her statement that she believes residents were displaced illegally and that the city is at risk of potential lawsuits.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Ivy at College Park was held Monday at the site. Mayor Bianca Motley Broom, council members Carn, Arnold and Jamelle McKenzie as well as other officials were in attendance. Miller said Arnold called several times urging her to attend, but she refused.

“I could not in good faith use the office of the city manager to persuade or give the appearance as if there was no wrongdoing. Therefore, I did not attend the ceremony,” Miller said in the statement.

Arnold and Carn did not return phone calls or emails from SaportaReport.

Arnold praised the new Ivy apartment community at the ribbon cutting and again during Monday’s council meeting, but did not inform the public that it is the former Chelsea Gardens complex, which is located in her Ward 3 district. Council voted to fire Miller moments before Arnold’s comments. Motley Broom said she was unaware that council intended to terminate Miller.

“It’s a beautiful redeveloped apartment complex…” Arnold said during the meeting. “This project brings much-needed affordable housing to our city…”

College Park resident Mose James is among numerous critics of the city’s weak-mayor system and the council’s management of municipal affairs.

“Why is all of this happening?” James said, responding to the idea that council members would circumvent a process on behalf of the owners of the former Chelsea Gardens. “What’s the reason? Nothing has been made safer. Are we even checking to see if it’s been made safer?”

James said he believes the council attempted to embarrass Miller by firing her publicly.

“I believe they were trying to embarrass her. And I believe that we will see why they were trying to embarrass her as more about Chelsea Gardens comes out,” he said.