Hooters sues American Grill and Jacksonville Landing for water and sewer damage

[thelakelander]

All hell breaking loose at the Landing....Don't run off Hooters! It's about the best thing down there these days.

The restaurant seeks damages from its upstairs neighbor, American Grill, as well as Jacksonville Landing Investments and Sleiman Enterprises for pipes, grease and sewer lines that Hooters says burst or leaked. That caused "water, debris and other particulates" to enter Hooters, which is downstairs.

Hooters contends the three defendants were negligent by not inspecting or maintaining the premises. The restaurant also said the three businesses trespassed because of the water intrusion and caused a nuisance.

Hooters in its complaint said it was forced to make repairs and replace damaged items, which cost close to $52,000. That's not counting the additional loss of business income.

The total loss along with examples of what was replaced and a time period for the incident were not in the complaint.

In addition, Hooters is seeking attorneys' fees and the cost of litigation.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547992

[Todd_Parker]

Friday fun:

"other particulates" = _______________ (fill in the blank)

[jaxjaguar]

Is it bad that I hope Sleiman, solely, gets completely wrung out from this? I mean to the point the other businesses sue him into a new city for negligence and he sells the landing to someone who cares.

[urbaknight]

Is it bad that I hope Sleiman, solely, gets completely wrung out from this? I mean to the point the other businesses sue him into a new city for negligence and he sells the landing to someone who cares.

I don't think so. In fact I agree with you 110%, we need him out of the landing! Let him go back to his babies (the suburban strip malls) That's all he really cares about anyway. I'd simply love to see him so bogged down that he looses millions and has to sell the landing dirt cheap; Man I'd celebrate so hard!

[coredumped]

And then what would happen to the landing? There's always this promise of a remodel and funding from the city, the next owner would just sit on it.

[jaxjaguar]

Sue the crap out of Sleiman > city buys the landing from him using eminent domain > auction off the building AND the land for whatever you can get > encourage innovation and sweeten the deal by offering tax incentives depending on amount spent/quality of improvements to the site (more improvements get a better incentive)> written contract stating improvements  must be made within reasonable time frame to retain incentives or else fines will be imposed (obviously if the new owner can show progress but faces delays negotiations can be made)

[coredumped]

> city buys the landing from him using eminent domain
Do we really want to start that in this city? Wait until the Walmart wants to build in Springfield...

[Steve]

I've seen this (or a similar) scenario work exactly once in Jacksonville: The Bostwick Building. The circumstances were a little different, but essentially the City got the place and was able to sell it.

My question is how would American Grill be responsible, unless they were just grossly neglectful. Isn't plumbing the responsibility of the landlord?

[CoastalJax]

The Landing very clearly does need to be sold. It just doesn't seem like that's going to happen, and it DOES seem like the gridlock between Sleiman and the city in regards to redevelopment will continue for a while.

[jaxjaguar]

> city buys the landing from him using eminent domain
Do we really want to start that in this city? Wait until the Walmart wants to build in Springfield...

I think at this point he's done more harm than good. He's been given ample time to improve the landing and has done nothing but run it into the ground. He's also not held up his side of the bargain after purchasing it. It's a prime location that I'm certain someone with the money and half a brain would invest in.

[thelakelander]

^What was Sleiman's side of the bargain in purchasing the Landing? Rouse wanted out of this city so bad, they sold it for $5 million. That's pennies on a dollar for what it was constructed for. For all the talk about Sleiman being a bad owner, no one else stepped up to the plate when it was offered up on a silver platter. Even COJ, who owns the land underneath it didn't cough up the cash, at a number that's pretty insignificant to some of the other things it throws money into.

[vicupstate]

^What was Sleiman's side of the bargain in purchasing the Landing? Rouse wanted out of this city so bad, they sold it for $5 million. That's pennies on a dollar for what it was constructed for. For all the talk about Sleiman being a bad owner, no one else stepped up to the plate when it was offered up on a silver platter. Even COJ, who owns the land underneath it didn't cough up the cash, at a number that's pretty insignificant to some of the other things it throws money into.

How 'public' was it's availability?  I don't remember anything about it until on day Sleiman was the new owner.  If indeed the city could have gotten it for $5mm they should have done so. The outstanding parking requirement cost more than that.   

[spuwho]

American Grille hasnt exactly been beautiful tenants lately.

Several administrative and food safety violations in the place. Reports of roach sightings, using the mop sink improperly, gads, last time I was there back in January, the place wasnt looking very good at all. Tables sat unbussed the whole time we were there. I couldnt write it off as a bad night.

[carpnter]

If Hooters is the best thing going at the Landing then stick a fork in that place.  Big Pete's over on Pearl St. has better wings.

[tufsu1]

I assume this is related to a closure about a year ago.  From what I remember the restaurant was shut down for nearly a week and much of the kitchen equipment had to be replaced.