Glendale Sues Builder Over Garage Delays
The city of Glendale this week filed suit seeking more than $1.43 million from the builder of a city parking garage that was completed more than a year after scheduled.
The suit, filed Tuesday in Glendale Superior Court, accuses Taylor Woodrow Construction Corp. of Irvine of fraud and breach of contract in construction of the $7.1-million structure at 115 N. Maryland Ave., completed in November.
The contractor earlier this year filed claims against the city seeking unspecified damages for delays in the project due to changes allegedly ordered by the city. The city did not respond to the claims, and both the city and the contractor had ceased negotiations to settle the dispute out of court.
The 741-space, multilevel garage was built with city redevelopment funds as a key to renovation and development of a two-block, low-rise shopping district, called the Exchange, bounded by Brand Boulevard, Broadway, Louise Street and Wilson Avenue. The garage was designed to serve customers of new upscale shops and restaurants, offices and a multiscreen movie theater under construction.
The city spent more than $1.3 million on landscaping and brick paving along Maryland between Broadway and Wilson in front of the garage. City Atty. Scott H. Howard said the street work, as well as construction and renovation of buildings adjoining the garage, were delayed because of the overdue project.
The city’s contract provided for fines of $1,000 a day for delays in completion of the garage, which officials said ran 400 days behind schedule. The city’s suit also seeks a minimum of $30,000 for delays in the reconstruction of Maryland and at least $1 million for delays in adjoining projects, which the suit says were held up because of the garage. In addition, the city is seeking an unspecified amount in punitive damages.
The dispute has pitted the city against one of the world’s largest developers. Taylor Woodrow, which does an annual business of $1.3 billion, has its parent headquarters in London and U. S. headquarters in New York. Among its projects is a $310-million expansion of John Wayne Airport in Orange County, where the company is also embroiled in a controversy over construction delays.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles attorney Irwin E. Sandler, a veteran in construction litigation, was hired to represent the city.
Officials of Taylor Woodrow in New York and Irvine could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
