Author Topic: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close  (Read 23171 times)

thelakelander

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They don't build them like they used too:

Two years later the hotel needs $4 million in renovations, nearly half of the original construction costs.

Quote
Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry Park has closed for repairs two years after the hotel opened. The $4 million in repairs are almost half the $9.2 million it cost to build the hotel in the first place.

Scott Wellington, general manager, said he arrived at the 137-room hotel in June 2011, just five months after it opened at the corner of Southside Boulevard and Gate Parkway. And he started spotting trouble right away.

full article: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-01-09/story/aloft-hotel-south-jacksonville-forced-close-repairs#ixzz2HZf7AHRs

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spuwho

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2013, 07:42:16 AM »
It could have been worse. They could have just shut the hotel down until the legal proceedings had finished.

I am not sure if this is their own money or insurance that is covering the bill.




mbwright

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2013, 08:35:04 AM »
shoddy work and bankruptcy, funny how these two go together.

fsujax

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2013, 08:39:22 AM »
you got that Lake. They do not build like they use to.

John P

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2013, 09:34:52 AM »
why does this not surprise me

urbanlibertarian

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2013, 09:49:37 AM »
I wonder if there are any other Cox Schepp constructed buildings in this area?
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fsquid

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #6 on: January 10, 2013, 10:28:43 AM »
I wonder if there are any other Cox Schepp constructed buildings in this area?

probably.  I did some business with them while I lived in Charlotte.  They always took the lowball bidder on their subs (talking 15%+ less than any other bid) and it showed.  I think they've built a good number of the Alofts in the Southeast (built all of the ones in Charlotte for sure).

duvaldude08

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #7 on: January 10, 2013, 10:37:57 AM »
I read about this last night. That should really be ashamed. Two years after construction and the damn thing is falling apart. SMH
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reednavy

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2013, 10:49:48 AM »
Glad I stayed at the Hotel Indigo just a stones throw away 2 weeks ago.
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Ocklawaha

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2013, 11:01:56 AM »
Well maybe now we'll get a leg up on Charlotte. While we have one defective hotel, theirs are probably all falling down.  ;)

If_I_Loved_you

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2013, 11:10:11 AM »
This Aloft in the past has been very business it fits the class of people that for the most part stay at it. I'm glad they decided to close it down while repairs are made. When it reopens I will return! :)

fsquid

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2013, 11:11:17 AM »
I stay at Alofts when I travel to mid sized cities, I like the concept.

Riverrat

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2013, 11:24:09 AM »
I can't stand Aloft...it's like staying in a college dorm room. Not sure what the fuss is about. I'd take Hotel Indigo any day.

If_I_Loved_you

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2013, 11:31:36 AM »
I can't stand Aloft...it's like staying in a college dorm room. Not sure what the fuss is about. I'd take Hotel Indigo any day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloft_Hotels

TheCat

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Re: Shoddy Construction: Aloft hotel in South Jacksonville forced to close
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2013, 01:57:19 PM »
We were sent this message via facebook. He/she wanted to remain anonymous.

Back when Aloft was being built, I was partially involved with one of the local Jax Subs in charge of structural concrete work. I knew by the time it was done that corners were cut and things were done cheap.

I partly blame the GC for screwing the subs and being cheap; however, the truth is, the owner/developer is to blame for creating a bid war where GC's under valued things just to get the job then had to deal with the headache after.

So it all trickled down from the owner/developer. They are to blame for being cheap. This is a boutique hotel done for $9mill! That is CHEAP! Some mansions people live in cost that much. It should have been a $12-$14mill project.
CoxSchepp, the GC, was forced to really work with what they had. I believe the owner deserves this for being cheap in the first place causing so many liens and unpaid vendors, laborers, etc..