Article
Courtesy of The Tampa Bay Times
By Susan
Taylor Martin
Published September 7, 2015
ST. PETERSBURG — The former general contractor for Bliss,
an 18-story condo tower rising in downtown St. Petersburg, claims it was
replaced with another contractor without cause or notice.
In a new lawsuit, Moss & Associates also alleges that developer Taub
Entities refused to pay the full price tag of changes that "materially
affected" the cost and scope of the project.
Brian Taub, who runs Taub Entities
with his wife, Debbie, declined to comment Tuesday, saying
he had not yet spoken with his attorney.
In its suit filed Aug. 20 in Pinellas Circuit Court, Moss
attached a contract showing that Taub Entities hired it in
December for $18 million to build the tower at 176 Fourth
Ave. NE just off Beach Drive. Construction was to be
completed within 660 days of the time Taub issued a notice
to proceed.
Taub, however, never issued a notice and did not terminate
its agreement with Moss, but instead hired another
contractor, the suit says. |
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Bliss, a luxury condo tower in St. Petersburg, will
open in late 2016, its developer says.
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Moreover, when Taub initially contracted with Moss, it
knew that the drawings and specifications for the building were incomplete,
the suit says. New ones were submitted in late February, but Taub said it
would pay only part of the increased cost and wanted Moss to absorb the
difference.
"As a result of Taub's breach (of contract), Moss has been damaged by, among
other things, losing its benefits of the bargain for anticipated profits,"
the suit says.
The Moss lawsuit is the third involving Bliss, which has been the target of
protests from residents of nearby Parkshore Plaza who claim the tower is too
big for its narrow site. One Parkshore condo owner sued the city of St.
Petersburg for approving the plans and was in turn sued by Taub for alleged
"interference" in the project that jeopardized financing.
Both of those suits are pending.
Based in Fort Lauderdale, with 11 offices from Hawaii to Florida, Moss has
been the contractor on numerous projects in Florida including jails, hotels,
schools, condo towers and Publix supermarkets.
The new contractor on Bliss is Palm Harbor-based Voeller Construction, the
Bliss website shows. Taub said the foundation and core have been poured, and
the tower is on schedule for a December 2016 completion date. Of the 29
units, 26 have been sold at prices up to $1.214 million, records show.
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