Pending litigation for a halal slaughterhouse in Alexandria just off Duke Street has put plans to open early next year on the chopping block.

Saba Live Poultry overcame a series of hurdles this year, starting with approval from the City Council in March in spite of backlash from neighbors and most recently a lawsuit from nearby businesses, which was dismissed.

But the landlord for the property and Abdul Alyamami, an agent for Saba Live Poultry, said the judge’s ruling in the lawsuit is being disputed and has stalled work on converting the industrial property to a slaughterhouse. The complaint was amended to address the grounds of dismissal, according to WUSA 9.

Opposition from neighbors ranged from concerns about the smell from the slaughterhouse to its impact on property values for other nearby businesses.

Alyamami said the owner of Saba Live Poultry was ready to immediately start work on the property but said that while the appeal is being considered no work would be done. While the project initially had a goal to open in January, Alyamami said when the slaughterhouse will open is entirely up in the air and dependent on when the court returns with a ruling on the appeal.