BLOOMINGTON - The developer of a stalled construction project in Normal faces a lawsuit seeking more than $500,000 in back rent for production equipment used in his manufacturing business.

Wildwood Industries Inc. has failed to make rental payments on a production system the firm leased from Relational Technology Systems, according to a complaint filed Nov. 26 in McLean County Circuit Court. The firm is asking for $556,000 plus interest from Wildwood for the lease agreement, and $679,000 from both Gary Wilder and Toni Jo Wilder, identified as the president and secretary of the Bloomington company.

The Wilders agreed to serve as guarantors for the lease agreement, according to the lawsuit.

Gary Wilder did not return calls Wednesday for comment on the Normal project and the pending lawsuit.

In October, Wildwood Industries stopped construction on a 500,000-square-foot building located at the southeast corner of Main Street and Kerrick Road. The $45 million project was expected to bring 190 jobs to the Twin Cities when the logistics center opened.

The halted project is the focus of a lawsuit, also filed Nov. 26, by Wildwood Industries against a Morton Grove investment company. The Wilders contend Wildwood Industries does not owe fees to Wexford Investment Group for work related to financing for the Normal project.

Wexford has threatened to sue Wildwood for violations of a financial broker's agreement, according to court documents.

Wildwood Industries is asking the court to prohibit Wexford from filing lawsuits and enter a judgment that Wildwood does not owe money to the company.

The work site also closed in July after a 33-year-old ironworker was killed in a job-related accident. The family of Joshua Dawe of Topeka is seeking more than $50,000 in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit filed against Johnston Contractors, general contractors for the project.

Wildwood Industries, headquartered at 903 Morrissey Drive, Bloomington, makes vacuum cleaner bags, and carpet and upholstery and steam cleaning machines. The company employs 175 people, according to the firm's Web site.

In 2003, Wildwood started production of Triton brand vacuum cleaners marketed by independent dealers.