West Broad Village Hotel Files Complaint Against Project Developer

There are new issues in the development of the huge West Broad Village mixed use complex in Short Pump. Attorneys for the upscale Aloft hotel under construction at the 115-acre development filed a formal complaint seeking to force developer Unicorp National Developments of Orlando, Florida to complete outstanding construction work before the hotel’s August 6 […]

July 26, 2009; 12:17 PM • by Trevor Dickerson

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that U.S. District Judge Richard L. Williams asked both parties to “work towards a solution,” putting the ruling off until he had more time to examine the case.

“It seems that there are some areas where the parties, as sophisticated business entities, are better situated than the court to determine how best to proceed,” Williams wrote in a statement.

Aloft is seeking to have the developer complete work near their building, including the hotel’s parking deck and interior roads.

One such example of long-uncompleted work includes the main road through the development, which runs parallel with West Broad Street from Whole Foods Market to Dave & Buster’s. Separated by a large median reserved for future kiosk-style shops, one side of the road has been open since Spring, yet the opposite side remains unpaved and consequently closed to traffic.

The suit also claims Unicorp has failed to buy or lease space on the first floor of the hotel’s building, which is reserved for retail and was part of an agreement the two parties had.

Williams will listen to both sides at a hearing Monday afternoon.