«
»

Developer Burton-Katzman, Dearborn at Odds Again

Developer Burton-Katzman and the City of Dearborn are again at odds. This time over two crumbling concrete foundations slated for demolition, according to an article in the Dearborn Times-Herald

Burton-Katzman is already facing a court order to break ground on 12 condos and two midrise buildings between the city’s two underutilized parking decks. Wayne County Circuit Judge Michael Sapala said the company had to break ground no later than April 3.

Sapala’s order stems from Dearborn’s ongoing lawsuit against Burton-Katzman and several of the company’s executives for failing to complete its agreed-upon project on a city-owned parcel.

Now the City of Dearborn and a subsidiary of Burton-Katzman are in dispute over concrete foundation slabs.

The lawyers representing Burton-Katzman now tell the Times-Herald that if the city moves forward with demolition of the concrete slabs it would be “purposely interfering” with its ability to begin construction on April 3 as part of its court order.

The concrete slabs are to be the foundation for two six-unit condo buildings for the still unfinished West Village Commons project. The concrete pads, according to the Times-Herald, were poured more than two years ago.

Dearborn officials say the concrete foundations have now become a public safety hazard and need to be removed. If Burton-Katzman wants to stop the demolition, they need to provide an engineering report to the city to prove the concrete pads are suitable for holding the two six-unit condo buildings, the paper reports.

Trouble is the subsidiary of Burton-Katzman, on the hook to complete the engineering report and the construction, says it doesn’t have enough money to finance the necessary engineering reports, the Times-Herald says. You can read the full story by clicking HERE

This entry was posted on Monday, March 8th, 2010 at 12:03 am and is filed under Business, City Hall. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

DeepSaidWhat.com welcomes your views and encourages lively -- but civil -- discussions. Comments are unedited, but submissions reported as abusive may be removed.

  • Hakim Fakhoury

    Everyone should know the real reasons we are in this situation with BK. Yes, BK acted badly, but more importantly, the city made a bad deal with them. They did not account for any contingencies like this. A well-thought out contract would have included escrows and damage clauses. Now, because the deal was formulated so badly, the city is spending large amounts of money on legal fees. The city could have negotiated a deal that ensured they did not get into this trouble with the parking decks, even if the event of BK not following through. One of the main reasons BK stopped doing any further work was because the deal the city gave them didn’t really penalize them for such action.

    Now the great O’Reilly makes it look like he is doing something positive. We should remember that he as one of the main proponents of the BK deal, parading BK around town as our downtown saviors.

    Remember the Montgomery Ward deal, when the city overpaid for that property? The great O’Reilly was council president at that time, calling himself the “gatekeeper” against the acts of what he thought to be a corrupt Guido administration. Yet he still allowed the sellers to be indemnified against any environmental damage. God knows what that cost the city.

    Now he is heading up an administration with the same cronies, same corruption, and same impotence.

  • cloe

    Mr. Fakhoury – Really, I don’t think that you should be the one to talk about corruption, cronyism, or any other name calling.

    The city has agreed to tear down your eye sores on the promise that you will pay them back. They have extended your Preferred Developer status.

    The city has given you more than your share of favoritism. If I were you, I would hang back in the shadows and not be vocal about any other dealings with the city.

  • Abe

    Hakim, I couldn’t agree with you more. The big guy is simply trying to be a showman, and instead he is showing everybody what a blow-hard and incompetent person he is, but then again he keeps listening to all his yes people sp what should we expect. This will cost us a ton, but he and his cronies will hide it, watch and see.

  • Ryan

    Wow. Talk about sour grapes, I find it truly laughable that the man responsible for some of the biggest developemental blunders and vacant wastelands along michigan avenue is now trying to point the finger at the current administration. Certainly they are not without some fault but there is literally no single person other than Mr. Fakhoury that this would be more hilarious and ironic coming from.

  • Hakim Fakhoury

    cloe,

    You sound like you’re coming from the administration so I’ll talk to you as such.

    Jack (cloe), why would I agree to have the city demo any of MY buildings when I can have the state reimburse me through the Brownfield credits once the Development Agreement is signed? You idiot… Stop trying to misdirect people.

    Favoritism, Jack (cloe)? Name one instance of “favoritism?” The city has trespassed on my property, tried to move to demo MY buildings, and basically soured almost evert development partner I have brought along the way. Some of them personally don’t like me, and have allowed that, instead of the wellness of the downtown district, to cloud their decision-making. You moron.

  • dearborn 48128

    What is up with “The Dream is Over – For sale” signs on all the vacant buildings? Next to BW’s, old Dearborn Jewelers, etc.

  • Donna Hay

    48128, that IS very interesting. Sure doesn’t sound good does it.

  • cloe

    Hakim – No. I am not a part of the administration. You assume that anyone that questions you is part of City government. Dearborn is made up of good, hard-working, intelligent people who can spot a problem when they see one.

    I will never stoop to your level of thinking or name calling. I have seen you at many meetings and know the level of integrity that you have, or, should I say, don’t have.

    As far as favoritism goes, you must be joking. No other city would allow a developer to have “for lease” signs on condemned eye sores. Those properties have been in foreclosure twice. Residents get citations for leaving their garbage cans out overnight and you have been allowed to let the mess behind Bally’s go on forever even though it was a health hazard and danger to the public.

    It is no puzzle why so many of your buildings are vacant. All one has to do is read the paper or talk to your former tenants.

    Again, not (Jack). Just a concerned, thinking Dearborn resident. Have a wonderful day and enjoy the beautiful weather.

  • happy man

    The wicked witch of the east is dead. I love seeing the for sale signs up that means a real developer will come in and develop. Oh there is a santa claus and he comes in march. I feel like a kid on xmas morning. I think the city should throw a party I will even help pay for it.

  • Hakim Fakhoury

    If that’s the case cloe, and you’re not the administration, then come out and state your name. In order for us to have a real debate or discussion, there should be transparency. I am coming right out and giving my opinions under my full name.

    In fact, if you don’t want to talk on this site, you can even call me, how about that? 313.215.7457

    I am open to discussion on all these issues…

  • cloe

    My name IS Cloe and I am just a normal citizen of Dearborn who goes to work every day like the majority of people in this city.

    I have no interest in a debate with you. There are a lot of people who feel the way that I do. If we all called you, you would never have time to continue developing your property.
    Your issues are with the city.

    I comment on many issues. I was just commenting on your post as did many other people. I am not going to call you, but many others might.

    Again, enjoy the beautiful weather and have a nice day.