Subcontractor on Alta Dadeland sues Coastal Construction and developer

A year after completing the Alta Dadeland mixed-use apartment complex in south Miami-Dade, the developer and its general contractor haven’t paid nearly $630,000 in construction work to one of the subcontractors, according to a recently filed lawsuit.

Miami-based Edgewater Construction Group sued Coastal Construction of South Florida and Alta Dadeland Investors, an entity owned by Atlanta’s Wood Partners that developed the site at 8050 Southwest 72nd Avenue. According to the suit, filed in Miami-Dade Circuit Court in late April, Coastal and Alta failed to pay $629,312.54 for stucco, exterior metal framing and other construction work performed by Edgewater.

“After Coastal and the owner failed to pay Edgewater for all work performed and failed to respond to our firm’s demand for payment, Edgewater was forced to file suit to recover its damages,” Francisco Touron, the plaintiff’s lawyer, told The Real Deal.

Dan Whiteman

Dan Whiteman, vice chairman, Coastal Construction Group, said in an emailed statement that the company just learned about the lawsuit and has not had a chance to review it in detail. “However, we understand there is a dispute regarding the value of change orders on the apartment building project subcontracted with Edgewater Construction,” Whiteman said. “It is not unusual for a subcontractor to file a legal action to protect their statutory lien rights on a construction project. We are working together to find a resolution.”

Representatives for Wood Partners could not be reached for comment.

According to the complaint, as well as a $1.8 million contract from Coastal attached to the lawsuit, Edgewater was hired to work on Alta Dadeland in 2014. In April of last year, after the work was completed, Edgewater filed a construction lien on the property for nonpayment. Coastal and Alta have not made any efforts to settle the claim, the lawsuit alleges.

The $128 million Alta Dadeland features 431 residential units, 2,000 square feet of retail space and a six-story parking garage with 663 spaces. The project is near Dadeland Mall and Dadeland Station and within two miles of the University of Miami and Baptist Health South Florida. The project consists of two low-rise towers and a resort-style pool deck. Leasing for the apartments began in the second quarter of last year.