Construction halted on giant project

Construction has been halted on a 14-screen Cinemark movie theater complex and a 1,059-space parking garage at the massive Colorado Crossing development on the city's north side because a general contractor no longer wants to be associated with the project.

The Pikes Peak Regional Building Department ordered that work be stopped Tuesday because of the dispute. That means developer Jannie Richardson of Sunshine Development Co. must find another general contractor with the proper builder's license before she can resume the theater complex and garage, southeast of Colorado Highway 83 and InterQuest Parkway.

Richardson said she's stopped work on the theater and garage as ordered, and late Tuesday added she's found another contractor who's agreed to take on those two portions of Colorado Crossing. Before that happens, however, the previous contractor must agree to hand off the project.

Richardson is dealing with several mechanic's liens that have been attached to the property - legal claims from contractors and subcontractors who said last week they're owed at least $10 million for work they've done on three office and retail buildings separate from the theater and garage. G.E. Johnson Construction Inc., the general contractor on those buildings, has stopped work because of the unpaid bills.

Richardson said Tuesday that she's close to obtaining additional financing to pay those bills, although she disputes a $1.3 million bill from a Denver-area concrete company.

The proposed 153-acre Colorado Crossing would be one of the Springs' largest mixed-use projects in one of its fastest growing areas. As proposed, it would have 1.6 million square feet of shopping, entertainment and residential uses when completed in a few years.

The latest issue involving Colorado Crossing is a dispute with Derek Mans of Mans Construction in Colorado Springs, whom Richardson hired as general contractor for the theater and garage. Mans said Tuesday that he wants off Colorado Crossing because Richardson had assumed oversight and left him with no authority to manage the project; she disagreed, saying Mans acted more as her employee and consultant than a contractor.

Mans met with Regional Building officials Monday, seeking to withdraw as general contractor and to void building permits he took out on the project. Because the permits are in his name, Mans bears responsibility for construction, and agency officials first must sort out who takes over before he can walk away, said Regional Building attorney Todd Welch.

Mans also must agree to assign the building permits to his successor, Welch said. Mans said he'll do so, but added Richardson first must assume responsibility for work that's been done. Richardson said she's agreeable to such a deal.

Also, issues related to construction of the theater's ceilings and the parking garage must be resolved before Regional Building will allow transfer of the building permits, said Jim Pepper, the agency's chief building inspector.

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