We always here the good warm and fuzzy stories about all the new buildings and especially Avenue Communities but this recent State Press article seems to show a different view we don't always here about.
Left Behind
As their building continues to fall into disarray, these tenants struggle against being
by Jed Dougherty
published on Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Two years ago a clean, white building with five businesses sat on the corner of Terrace Road and Lemon Street, a block east of campus.
Today the same building looks deserted. Six-foot-high graffiti adorns the walls, windows are boarded up, pipes hang at obtuse angles and the once-lush landscaping is now dirt.
Owners of the four remaining businesses in the building, Plaid Eatery, I-Mart, The Copper Kettle and Devil Wash, said Avenue Communities, which bought the property in November 2005, is responsible for the building's neglect.
Raj Sidhu, owner of Plaid Eatery, said the business owners want a fair deal.
"We just want them to take proper care of the building, landscape the building," he said.
Avenue Communities, the development business that owns Centerpoint Condominiums in downtown Tempe as well as the Hayden Flour Mill, is letting the complex fall apart so it will not have to buy out the businesses' leases, Sidhu said.
Sidhu and the owners of the other businesses said they suspect that Avenue Communities wants them out so that it can build a high rise in place of the current building.
Upkeep has come to a standstill since Avenue Communities bought the complex, Sidhu said.
"They said they were going to repaint," he added. "Instead they put holes in our walls."
Avenue Communities also owns the large lot west of the complex.
"My point of view is very simple: the city knows who owns this building and the old trailer park next door," Sidhu said. "Our old owner told us that they have a plan to demolish this building."
City planning maps have the area listed as a high-density residential area.
Sarmin Suldana, owner of I-mart, pointed out where Avenue Communities workers boarded up windows on his shop.
"There was no reason to close the windows," he said. "They didn't even ask."
Suldana has been trying to sell his shop and had a buyer in September 2006, but Avenue Communities prohibited a new person from taking over the lease.
"They told me, 'You cannot sell it,'" Suldana said. "I have a buyer, I go to the landlord. He says I'm planning on blowing down the building in the future."
Avenue Communities then offered to let him break his lease and move, which they would pay for, he said.
"I'm going to sell my business for $250,000, and they try to give me $500," Suldana said.
Sidhu said he thinks the city is aware of the neglect of the complex and is ignoring it.
"Avenue Communities and the city are sitting face-to-face," he said.
On the southeast corner of Lemon Street and Terrace Road, cattycorner from the building, employees of Hungry Howies and Kohi-Noor said they are regularly warned by the city of various violations.
Tim Claiborne, manager at Hungry Howies, said the business recently had to take a large sign out of its window proclaiming "Three large pizzas for $15.99."
"The city said it was graffiti," Claiborne said.
Meanwhile, painted graffiti adorns the walls of Devil Wash and nothing is done about it, Sidhu said.
J. Paul, owner of Kohi-Noor, said he noticed the unfairness.
"Comparing the two properties, that property is messier and the city doesn't bother them," Paul said.
Rodd Miller, the business owners' contact at Avenue Communities, could not be reached for comment.
"When we call, the new owner doesn't respond at all," Sidhu said.
Jeff Tamulevich, the commercial code compliance supervisor for the city of Tempe, said only one complaint have been received about the building, a graffiti complaint that he said was taken care of months ago.
"To be honest with you, I have no idea who owned that property," Tamulevich said. "Our inspectors in that area are very busy."
Commercial Code Compliance doesn't offer special considerations to anyone, he said.
"If they come in and file a complaint, we will look into the violation," Tamulevich added. "You have to maintain your property."
http://www.statepress.com/issues/2007/04/04/news/700588
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