The contractor tasked with completing a $7 million renovation of a luxury apartment tower in Edgewater is alleging it was only paid a pittance, and is owed nearly the full amount for unpaid construction work.
Sierra Commercial Construction is suing Properties of Hamilton Inc., the owner of the Hamilton on the Bay at 555 Northeast 34th Street. State records show the Hamilton company is controlled by SunTrust executives, including Steven L. Tinkler, a senior vice president based in Fort Lauderdale, and Maria V. Ginorio, a regional trust adviser based in Miami.
A spokesperson for SunTrust could not immediately be reached for comment.
Sierra Commercial Construction, a Hialeah construction and remodeling firm, is suing to foreclose on a lien the company filed in February for nearly $6.59 million in unpaid work to the waterfront apartment building. Sierra’s attorney was not immediately available.
The lawsuit alleges that Sierra was paid only about $500,000 of the total renovation. It was hired in September and completed the work in November.
Since January, three additional liens have been filed by other contractors against the owner for a combined $177,000 in unpaid work, records show.
The 28-story, 265-unit building was built on a 3.8-acre site in 1984 and was a condo building until 1990. A number of high-rises have been built along the bay since then, including the Related Group’s Paraiso complex of luxury condo towers and townhouses, Biscayne Beach and Icon on the Bay.
Rents at the Hamilton range from about $1,780 a month to $4,220, according to Apartments.com. Amenities include a 7,000-square-foot gym, pool, running track, racquetball, and tennis court. The Bainbridge Companies, based in Wellington, manages the building.