Unauthorized construction isn’t the only factor slowing progress at Rishi Kapoor’s Miami Beach co-living project.
This month, six companies, including the project’s architect, filed a lien in Miami-Dade Circuit Court against the Kapoor entity that owns the Urbin Miami Beach development site at 1234 and 1260 Washington Avenue. The six companies claim a total of $1.2 million in unpaid work and services, according to the liens.
Kapoor, CEO of Coral Gables-based Location Ventures, is in the midst of a string of troubles: A group of investors wants to oust him as project manager for another co-living project in Coconut Grove. Investigators are looking into how the company paid Miami Mayor Francis Suarez $10,000 a month. Miami Beach officials recently issued a stop-work order on his co-living project.
The unpaid liens are the latest sign of confusion for Kapoor and Location Ventures.
Still, a company official played down any disputes with project contractors.
Vivian Bonet, chief development officer at Location Ventures, said in an emailed statement that the developer “has been in constant communication with the vendor” about the “challenges encountered with permits and zoning legislation.” .
“All third parties are aware of the payment schedules that will be fulfilled as we move into later stages of the development process,” Burnett said.
Touzet Studio designed Urbin Miami Beach, a six-story building that will contain 69 co-living apartments, 20,000 square feet of co-working space, a marketplace, a rooftop bar and pool, and approximately 5,000 square feet of wellness facilities.
Last week, Touzet Studio filed a lien claiming that the company is owed approximately $44,677 for services provided from 2019 through April 3. Jacqueline Gonzalez Touzet, head of Touzet Studio, declined to comment.
The owners and heads of the other five contractors did not respond to requests for comment. Hialeah-based South Florida Construction Solution brought the largest claim, amounting to $811,704, for unpaid materials and services.
Liens against Miami-based Rene’s Equipment Rental-Master Paving show that the company allegedly has not paid $181,738 in labor and materials, while Fort Lauderdale-based GProulx Building Products claims to owe it $128,956.
Miami-based Adonel Concrete Corp. and Opa-Locka-based Rock & Dirt Construction Equipment Rental filed liens alleging that Location Ventures has not paid $52,414 and $23,878, respectively.
