The last three retail tenants left in the problem-plagued Beauvallon condo complex have been served eviction notices in a lease dispute, one of the tenants said Friday.
Doug Naiman, owner of Aviano Coffee, said the receiver for the Beauvallon’s commercial section issued the eviction notices after the tenants threatened to withhold rent because of access problems during construction at the property.
Naiman said his coffee shop’s sales have dropped by half since work began last month in an effort to repair damage from defects in the original construction of the 15-story building at East Ninth Avenue and Lincoln Street.
Condo owners in the building sued and eventually settled with developer Craig Nassi and Beauvallon contractors. The first- and second-floor commercial sections of the building have changed ownership and gone into default and are now controlled by a court-appointed receiver.
The receiver, Eric Grothe of K&E Inc., would not comment on the lease dispute except to say that “we’re still in the middle of things over there.”
Naiman said he and owners of a hair salon and jewelry shop notified Grothe that they intended to withhold rent or demand credits under a lease provision if access to their stores is limited.
Grothe responded earlier this week with eviction notices, Naiman said. As of Friday, the businesses were still operating.
Steve Raabe: 303-954-1948 or sraabe@denverpost.com
CLARIFICATION 10/20/2009: The lease dispute involving retail tenants in Denver’s Beauvallon
condo tower involves only the remaining tenants on the ground
floor. Matrix Fitness and Spa, located on the second floor, is not
involved in the dispute.
