https://cvillepedia.org/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Evorollem&feedformat=atomCvillepedia - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T16:02:12ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.39.3https://cvillepedia.org/index.php?title=Talk:Dewberry_Hotel&diff=45446Talk:Dewberry Hotel2018-12-28T21:45:23Z<p>Evorollem: /* Opening of Dewberry SC hotel */ new section</p>
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<div>==Spot blight==<br />
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The current text is: "That is expected to be open between December 2015 and February 2016. [22] However, the project may not open until spring 2016."[23] The sentences are anachronistic, but can we replace them with something saying the new hotel is open, and if so, whether there is now a date for construction to resume on the Landmark? [[User:Polonius|Polonius]] ([[User talk:Polonius|talk]]) 12:07, 5 September 2016 (CDT)<br />
:Yes - sometimes I just add new sources quickly without taking a deeper look. Thanks for the catch!--[[User:Seantubbs|Seantubbs]] ([[User talk:Seantubbs|talk]]) 12:08, 5 September 2016 (CDT)<br />
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== Possible confict of interest in editing ==<br />
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Somebody logging in under the sobriquet LDannielson47 has adjusted the text to be kinder to, to the point of fawning over, Lee Danielson. In particular, the text now exonerates Danielson from misrepresenting the costs of building the hotel. It now suggests that an arbitrator blamed an LLC (limited liabilty company) but not Danielson. That is highly unlikely. People misrepresent things even if their companies end up paying the judgment. No way easily to check what the aribtrator actually decided because the cite supplied on that sentence links to no page. I will look it up. If a newspaper article says "Daneilson misrepresented" then that is what the text will say. [[User:Polonius|Polonius]] ([[User talk:Polonius|talk]]) 13:43, 5 October 2016 (CDT)<br />
:Thanks for looking into that - I patrolled the edit, but knew you'd be notified as soon as the change was made. I'll be watching. --[[User:Seantubbs|Seantubbs]] ([[User talk:Seantubbs|talk]]) 14:53, 5 October 2016 (CDT)<br />
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== Opening of Dewberry SC hotel ==<br />
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I am trying to make a note that the SC hotel opened in 2016 (here is a reference that includes that information https://www.historichotels.org/hotels-resorts/the-dewberry-charleston/history.php ) However, every time I try to edit, I get an error. Odd because I am able to edit other parts of the wiki. If anyone has better luck, that paragraph needs to be updated.</div>Evorollemhttps://cvillepedia.org/index.php?title=Dewberry_Hotel&diff=45445Dewberry Hotel2018-12-28T21:41:14Z<p>Evorollem: Added link to news story about rats from the structure.</p>
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<div>[[image:20141025-landmark.jpg|150px|left|Skeleton of the Landmark Hotel]] The [[Landmark Hotel]] is a partially constructed building on the [[Downtown Mall]], proposed as a nine-story, 100-room luxury hotel. Construction was abandoned in January 2009 but [[Dewberry Capital of Atlanta]] has submitted architectural plans for resuming construction and expanding the number of rooms to 112. <ref>{{cite web|title=Dewberry plans for Landmark hotel to go before review panel|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/27370-dewberry-plans-for-landmark-hotel/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=June 3, 2017|accessdate=June 9, 2017}}</ref> Located at [[201 East Water Street]], the reinforced concrete structure remains incomplete - lacking windows, elevators, balcony railings and most basic services.<br />
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The Dewberry firm won the shell of the building at an auction in June 2012 and plans to complete the structure. <ref name="dewberry" /> Planning was expected to continue after a Dewberry hotel was opened in Charleston, South Carolina in the summer of 2016, but as of {{date}} no plans have been filed with the city of Charlottesville to continue.<ref>{{cite-cville|title=Atlanta developer snaps up Landmark for $6.25 million|url=http://www.c-ville.com/atlanta_developer_buys_landmark/#.VsW2OfkrJhE|author=Graelyn Brashear|pageno=|printno=|printdate=|publishdate=|accessdate=February 18, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Charleston’s Dewberry Hotel rolls out more rooms|url=http://www.postandcourier.com/20160904/160909836/charlestons-dewberry-hotel-rolls-out-more-rooms|author=Dave Munday|work=|publisher=Charleston Post and Courier|location=|publishdate=September 4, 2016|accessdate=September 5, 2016}}</ref><br />
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The Charlottesville City Council directed staff in January 2016 to pursue legal action to either force construction or to force public acquisition through eminent domain. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=Council requests action plan on Landmark from city manager|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/council-requests-action-plan-on-landmark-from-city-manager/article_f06af264-bf8d-11e5-b12b-bfc332a cc51a.html|author=Chris Suarez|pageno=|printdate=January 20, 2016|publishdate=January 20, 2016|accessdate=February 18, 2016}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=City Council Passes Resolution Regarding Landmark Hotel Property|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/22831-city-council-passes-resolution-regarding-landmark-/|author=|work=Press Release|publisher=City of Charlottesville|location=|publishdate=|accessdate=December 27, 2016}}</ref> In July of 2016, the Charleston’s Dewberry hotel opened. The eight-story, 155-room property opened in a former federal office building in downtown Charleston, NC.<ref>https://www.postandcourier.com/business/charleston-s-dewberry-hotel-claims-m-losses-over-rooftop-rulings/article_c6202bcc-644b-11e8-a221-533cdc70c152.html</ref><br />
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Dewberry is still seeking to develop the building and is continuing to work with city officials on the design, which includes activating Second Street. <ref name="bar2018">{{cite web|title=Design panel approves additional height for Dewberry Hotel|url=http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/news/article/30240-design-panel-approves-additional-height-for-dewber/|author=Sean Tubbs|work=News Article|publisher=Charlottesville Tomorrow|location=|publishdate=March 23, 2018|accessdate=April 4, 2018}}</ref> The project is dormant {{as of|2018|10|30|lc=on}}. <ref>{{cite-progress|title=City faces limited options as Dewberry project progress stagnant|url=https://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/city-faces-limited-options-as-dewberry-project-progress-stagnant/article_8ccfbc46-cf37-11e8-91b4-d798b86eaf0f.html|author=Nolan Stout|pageno=|printdate=|publishdate=October 13, 2018|accessdate=October 30, 2018}}</ref><br />
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{{clear}}<br />
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==History==<br />
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The Landmark was the creation of entrepreneur [[Lee Danielson]]. <ref name="hookgroundbreaking">[http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/11/danielson-minor-break-ground-on-landmark/ Danielson, Minor break ground on ‘Landmark’] Dave McNair, [[The Hook]], March 11 2008, retrieved 26 Aug 2009.</ref> The idea was to build a $30 million, nine-story luxury boutique hotel. <br />
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===Before Minor===<br />
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The construction site is a former bank building that was owned by Wachovia after it purchased Central Fidelity. {{fact}} Prior owners of the project included [[Lee Danielson]] and [[Oliver Kuttner]], and other names used for the project in the past had been '''The Beacon-Charlottesville''' and '''Hotel Charlottesville'''. <ref name="hookbeacon">[http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2007/03/01/ONARCH-0609-B.rtf.aspx ONARCHITECTURE- Bright idea: Danielson's Beacon's back in town], Dave McNair, [[The Hook]], March 1, 2007, retrieved 26 Aug 2009.</ref><br />
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===Approvals===<br />
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The Charlottesville [[Board of Architectural Review]] approved construction plans on February 20, 2008<ref name="hookbeacon" />. BAR granted conditional permission to tear down the black granite façade in October 2008<ref name="ctfacade">[http://cvilletomorrow.typepad.com/charlottesville_tomorrow_/2008/10/bar_landmark.html Landmark Hotel developer given permission to take down black granite facade], [[Sean Tubbs]], [[Charlottesville Tomorrow]], October 22, 2008, retreived 26 Aug. 2009</ref>. Because of a quirk in Virginia law these original 2008 approvals remain in effect, and stay valid until 2017.<ref>In response to the 2008-09 recession when construction financing suddenly dried up, developers persuaded the Virginia legislature [https://vacode.org/15.2-2209.1/ to extend all existing plat and plan approvals until 2017.]</ref><br />
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===Initial troubles surface soon after groundbreaking===<br />
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Groundbreaking for the Landmark on March 11, 2008 and the opening was scheduled for July 2009. <ref name="nbcgroundbreaking">[http://www.nbc29.com/Global/story.asp?S=7998148 New Details about New Luxury Hotel], Joanna Shrewsbury, NBC 29, March 11 2008, retrieved 26 Aug 2009.</ref><ref name="hookgroundbreaking" /><br />
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However, the project's financing was called into question as early as November 2008. That's when project lender Silverton Bank failed. <ref name="hookfinancing">[http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2009/05/01/landmark-letdown-hotel-projects-lender-folds/ Landmark letdown: Hotel project’s lender folds], Lindsay Barnes, [[The Hook]], May 1 2009, retrieved 26 Aug 2009.</ref> <br />
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Minor fired developer [[Lee Danielson]] in December 2008. <ref name="dpdanielsonsacked">[http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/landmark_hotel_developer_fired/32451/ Landmark Hotel developer fired] Brian McNeill, [[Daily Progress]], December 6, 2008, retrieved 26 Aug 2009.</ref> Construction stopped in January of 2009. The pair went to court. <br />
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The welter of lawsuits that followed the collapse of the project included a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation ("FDIC") suit against Silverton Bank (which the FDIC was forced to take over and later dissolve), and another FDIC lawsuit against Minor for having defaulted on a $10.5 million Silverton loan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.c-ville.com/FDIC_sues_bank_that_financed_Landmark_Hotel/#.Vi1jbrwydKg |title=FDIC sues bank that financed Landmark Hotel - C-VILLE WeeklyC-VILLE Weekly |newspaper=C-ville.com |publishdate=August 24, 2011 |author=Chiara Canzi |accessdate= October 25, 2015}}</ref><br />
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===Court battle===<br />
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Donald H. Kent of Richmond-based arbitration firm The McCammon Group ruled that Danielson misrepresented the construction costs–- including hiding the fact that the restaurant wasn't included in the budget.<ref>{{cite-Hook|author=Spencer, Hawes|title=Danielson trumped: Minor wins in Landmark Hotel arbitration |publishdate= 25 Aug. 2010|accessdate=26 Aug. 2010|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2010/aug/25/judge-confirms-award-heated-landmark-hotel-battle-ar-473414/}}.</ref> The arbitrator awarded $4.2 million in damages, and attorney's fees of $2.24 million. <br />
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On September 1, 2010, Minor filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. <ref><nowiki>{{cite-cville|author=Chianzi, Chiara|title=C-Ville: Development - Landmark Hotel Owner Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|publishdate=10 July 2010|accessdate=October 5, 2016|url=</nowiki>http://www.readthehook.com/67187/danielson-trumped-minor-wins-landmark-hotel-arbitration}</ref> The filing stayed all pending lawsuits which by then included the suit between Danielson and Minor, the FDIC lawsuit against Minor, and lawsuits against Minor filed by Merrill Lynch, Sotheby's, and Christies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.readthehook.com/72269/landmark-showdown-minor-danielson-begin-court-fight |title=Landmark showdown: Minor, Danielson begin court fight |newspaper=The Hook |publishdate=March 13, 21009 |author=Lindsay Barnes III |accessdate= October 25, 2015}}</ref> <br />
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The Charlottesville government refused to provide financial assistance to complete the hotel, unlike the development assistance provided to the [[Omni Hotel]] in the 1970s. <ref name="cityhelp">{{cite web|author=Henry Graff|work=NBC29.com|Publisher=[[WVIR]]|title=Minor Asks City for Help with Landmark Hotel|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/15258800/minor-asks-city-for-help-with-landmark-hotel|publishdate=Aug 12, 2011}}</ref><br />
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===Project taken from Minor===<br />
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In January 2011, a Georgia court awarded the project to [[Specialty Finance Group]] following a long legal dispute. <ref name="20110121-progress">{{cite-progress|title=Minor: 'Travesty of justice' on Landmark ruling|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/news/2011/jan/21/minor-travesty-justice-landmark-ruling-ar-789742/|author=|pageno=|printdate=January 21, 2011|publishdate=January 21, 2011|accessdate=January 24, 2011|cturl=}}</ref><br />
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On December 5, 2011, a Charlottesville Circuit Court judge ruled that the first debt that Minor must repay is more than $128,000 in back taxes to the city of Charlottesville. Next, Minor must pay Clancy & Theys Construction, other construction firms and then Specialty Finance Group. <ref name="koon">{{cite-progress|title=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/business/2011/dec/07/judge-prioritizes-minors-landmark-debts-ar-1527954/|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/business/2011/dec/07/judge-prioritizes-minors-landmark-debts-ar-1527954/|author=Samantha Koon|pageno=|printdate=December 7, 2011|publishdate=December 7, 2011|accessdate=December 8, 2011|cturl=}}</ref><br />
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===Auction===<br />
On June 18, 2012, three companies bid on the property. They were Deerfield Square Associates, J.B. McKimmon and TRT Holdings, Inc. <ref name="auction">{{cite-progress|title=Three bidders for Landmark Hotel emerge|url=http://www2.dailyprogress.com/business/2012/jun/14/three-bidders-landmark-hotel-emerge-ar-1988780/|author=Samantha Koon|pageno=|printdate=June 14, 2012|publishdate=June 14, 2012|accessdate=June 15, 2012|cturl=}}</ref> Each submitted an opening bid of at least $3 million and a $200,000 cash deposit. <br />
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Danielson submitted a bid but he was rejected because of an inability to guarantee to pay. <br />
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[[Dewberry Capital]], associated with Deerfield Square Associates, won the auction with a $6.25 million bid. <ref name="dewberry">{{cite web|title=Dewberry Capital Wins Landmark Hotel for $6.25 M|url=http://www.nbc29.com/story/18815432/dewberry-capital-wins-landmark-hotel-for-625-m|author=Matt Telhelm|work=|publisher= NBC29 News|location=|publishdate=June 18, 2012|accessdate=June 18, 2012}}</ref><br />
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===Spot blight===<br />
After nearly four years of being abandoned, Charlottesville officials served Dewberry in the fall of 2013 with a letter requesting he secure the property against vandalism and grafitti. Dewberry responded by saying he had done enough.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.c-ville.com/developer-dewberry-fires-back-over-citys-demands-to-secure-former-landmark-site/#.ViwEcbwydKg |title=Developer Dewberry fires back over city's demands to secure former Landmark siteC-VILLE Weekly |newspaper=C-ville.com |publishdate=Ocotber 30, 2013 |author=Graelyn Brashear |accessdate= October 24, 2015}}</ref> <br />
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Dewberry has stated he will complete the project after another hotel is completed in Charleston, South Carolina. <ref name="jan14" /> That project is redevelopment of the former L. Mendel Rivers Federal Building into a 155-room hotel. That is expected to be open between December 2015 and February 2016. <ref>{{cite web|title=The Fat Radish's Ben Towill will develop new hotel restaurant|url=http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/Eat/archives/2015/04/13/the-fat-radishs-ben-towill-will-develop-new-hotel-restaurant|author=Kinsey Gidick|work=|publisher=Charleston City Paper|location=|publishdate=April 13, 2015|accessdate=April 14, 2015}}</ref> However, the project may not open until spring 2016. <ref name="eater">{{cite web|title=Ryan Casey Joins The Dewberry and Other New Details on the Upcoming Hotel [Updated]|url=http://charleston.eater.com/2015/11/13/9728168/the-dewberry-citrus-club-bar-henriettas-restaurant|author=Erin Perkins|work=|publisher=|location=|publishdate=November 13, 2015|accessdate=November 16, 2015}}</ref><br />
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On January 14, 2014, the Charlottesville Planning Commission voted 7-0 to require Dewberry to secure the property and to require a structural integrity report to be completed within ninety days.<ref name="jan14">{{cite-progress|title=Charlottesville officials set Planning Commission date on Landmark|url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/charlottesville-officials-set-planning-commission-date-on-landmark/article_f82fc794-5e1f-11e3-ae25-001a4bcf6878.html|author=Staff reports|pageno=|printdate=December 5, 2013|publishdate=December 5, 2013|accessdate=December 6, 2013|cturl=}}</ref><ref name="c-ville-update">{{cite-cville|title=Landmark’s last stand? More security, structural reports called for|url=http://www.c-ville.com/landmarks-last-stand-more-security-structural-reports-called-for/#.Ut_8zdIo7IU|author=Graelyn Brashear|pageno=|printno=|printdate=January 22, 2014|publishdate=January 22, 2014|accessdate=January 22, 2013}}</ref> In response, Dewberry secured the building with plywood barriers, installed a taller fence and blocked open stairwells-- but no progress on new construction is expected until at least 2016 or even later. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/construction-on-landmark-hotel-might-not-resume-till/article_ceeaa776-e633-11e4-b41e-73bd4205a9aa.html |title=Construction on Landmark Hotel might not resume till 2016 - The Daily Progress: Local |newspaper=Dailyprogress.com |publishdate=April 18, 2105 |author=Chris Suarez |accessdate= October 24, 2015}}</ref><br />
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In 2018, it was reported that the site has become a major source of rats on the Downtown Mall <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.c-ville.com/mall-rats-does-the-downtown-mall-have-a-rodent-problem/|title=Mall rats: Does the Downtown Mall have a rodent problem?|last=|first=|publishdate=|website=CVille|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|accessdate=}}</ref><br />
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==Map==<br />
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==Timeline==<br />
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*November 15, 2007: Minor Family Hotels LLC and Hotel Charlottesville LLC enter into a development agreement<br />
*April 19-23, 2010: Parties hold arbitration meetings at which 8 witnesses testify and thousands of documents are introduced into the record<ref>Shumener, Betty M., Henry H. Oh, and John D. Spurling. "Re: Minor Family Hotels, LLC vs Hotel Charlottesville." Letter to C. Connor Crook, Esquire, Boyle, Bain, Reback & Slayton. 28 June 2010. Charlottesville Tomorrow's Document Archive. Web. 2 July 2010. <http://www.cvilletomorrow.org/docs/ftp://cvilletomorrow@www.cvilletomorrow.org/httpdocs/docs/20100628-Landmark-Arbitration-Letter.pdf></ref><br />
*August 25, 2010: Judge Hogshire signs the arbitration award<br />
*January 19, 2011: Fulton County State Court in Georgia awards assets of project to Specialty Finance Group <ref name="20110121-progress" /><br />
*June 18, 2012: Auction in U.S. District Court won by Dewberry Capital<br />
*January 14, 2014: Planning Commission votes 7-0 to require building to be secured, structural report<br />
*January 19, 2016: Council directs staff to prepare for legal action <br />
*June 20, 2017: Dewberry's plans go before the [[Board of Architectural Review]]<br />
*March 20, 2018: BAR grants approval of new massing and height <ref name="bar2018" /><br />
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==Images==<br />
<gallery><br />
Image: 20181203 Landmark FRAMEWORX.jpg|2018 digital exhibit by [[Frameworx]] <br />
</gallery><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
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*[http://thelandmarkhotel.blogspot.com/ Landmark Hotel construction blog]<br />
*[http://www.cvillepedia.org/mediawiki/index.php/File:20140114-CPC-Landmark-Materials.pdf Materials for the Charlottesville Planning Commission's hearing on Landmark Hotel spot blight at the January 14, 2014 meeting]<br />
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[[Category:Charlottesville developments]]<br />
[[Category: Downtown Mall businesses]]<br />
[[Category:Lodging]]<br />
<references /></div>Evorollem