Developer, Engineer in Fight Over $7M Hazelwood Project
Date Posted: January 2, 2024
Posted In: News, Projects,
From St. Louis Business Journal: A developer and an engineering firm are suing each other for breach of contract in a dispute about work on two projects that were never completed, including a $7 million senior housing proposal.
Alpha Tulip, a Chesterfield-based developer, filed suit Dec. 1 in St. Louis County court against Chesterfield-based engineering and surveying firm THD Design Group for alleged failure to complete services in 2018 on two of the developer’s projects: a residential house to be built at 14746 Olive Blvd. in Chesterfield and a $7 million senior housing development proposed in Hazelwood.
THD Design is a firm that handles surveying, civil engineering and geotechnical services, according to its website. Alpha Tulip is a limited liability company organized in 2017 by Muhammad Saeed Qureshi and registered to attorney Christopher Swiecicki of the Chesterfield-based Swiecicki & Muskett law firm, according to state records. Alpha Tulip purchased the Olive Boulevard property in Chesterfield for $80,000 in January 2018, according to county records.
Alpha Tulip claimed in its new lawsuit that THD Design Group did not have licensed engineers represent Alpha Tulip for site approvals in both cities; that Chesterfield rejected the house project with 26 objections; that THD proposed a retaining wall at the residential site higher than 8 feet, which was a “known violation of the standards of Chesterfield”; and that THD “abandoned” the house project in 2019 and declined to give any of the drawings to Alpha Tulip, forcing the developer to find another company and start the process over.
Regarding the Hazelwood project, Alpha Tulip also claimed that THD Design lacked the skills and knowledge “to adequately respond” to questions from Hazelwood officials during a public hearing, resulting in the city rejecting the senior housing project, according to the lawsuit.
Alpha Tulip is asking for unspecified damages in the suit.
Alpha Tulip previously sued THD Design Group in October 2020, also for breach of contract on the Chesterfield and Hazelwood properties. In February this year, Alpha Tulip filed to dismiss that suit, but THD, which last year had submitted counterclaims alleging breach of contract and unjust enrichment in the case, asked this month for the court to issue a motion of summary judgment on the counterclaims. That case is still pending.