Lien Claims, Lawsuit Shed Light on the Situation at the Stalled Saline Hotel Project

Lien claims with the Washtenaw Register of Deeds office and a new lawsuit  haveshed light on the stalled Saline hotel project.

The claims show more than $646,000 owed to contractors and suppliers who’ve worked on the unfinished project. Now, there is a lawsuit.

Acoustic Ceiling & Partition Company is suing Peters Building Company, Jim Haeussler and the Saline Lodging Group, LLC, alleging Peters Building has not paid the company $156,624.93 for work performed on the hotel.

Saline Lodging Group hoped to open the $9 million, 63-room Best Western Premier in the spring or summer of 2018. There has been very little visible progress over the last six months.

The Saline Lodging Group is backed by a group of local investors. Peters Building Company, owned by Jim Haeussler, is the general contractor.

The lawsuit was filed in Washtenaw County Trial Court May 28. Judge Archie Brown presides. A scheduling conference has been set for Sept. 10.

In the lawsuit, Acoustic Ceiling & Partition Company’s lawyer argues Peters Building agreed to pay $854,904 for its work. So far, the company claims, it has invoiced for $237,675.25 in labor and material. Peters Building has paid $81,050, 32 - leaving $156,624.93 outstanding.

The company has made several attempts to collect the outstanding balance since October of 2019.

The lawsuit also lists several other parties, including contractors who worked on the hotel. They are First State Bank, Chelsea Lumber Company, Quality Roofing, AAA Portable Toilets, Tri County Electric and Hoffman Plastering. According to the lawsuit, these firms all “have, or claim to have, interests” in the property. According to the lawsuit, all parties in the lawsuit have ownership or a lien claim interest in the property. A search of county records confirmed the liens.

On Feb. 26, 2020, Acoustic Ceiling & Partition recorded a construction lien with the Washtenaw County Register of Deeds. The company seeks to foreclose on the property and recover attorney fees, according to the lawsuit.

Acoustic Ceiling and Partition is represented by Dickinson Wright attorney’s Mark V. Heusel and Brandon L. Debus.

Here’s a listing of liens against the property:

• Acoustic Ceiling & Partition $156,624
• AAA Portable Toilets $1,599.
• Hoffman Plastering $115,040.
• Tri County Electric $462,048
• Chelsea Lumber  $67,999

Saline Lodging Group faces a $49,000 summer tax bill from the City of Saline. The group paid nearly $54,000 in property taxes in 2019.

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