The four-story office building at 1245 E. Colfax Ave. is seen on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. (Justin Wingerter/BusinessDen)
A local architecture firm said that it hasn’t been paid for its design of an apartment building off East Colfax and concepts for remodeling a four-story building next door.
Oz Architecture, of Denver, sued companies affiliated with local developer Leon Cisneros on Sept. 21. Oz said it is owed $182,577 for its work at 1245 Colfax Ave. and is asking a Denver judge to let it foreclose on the property in light of Cisneros’ nonpayment.
“It’s unfortunate that it came to this,” Cisneros said by phone one day after his companies were sued. “I thought that we were going to come to some sort of reconciliation.”
Cisneros said that Oz owes him $186,270 “for errors and omissions” it made on another project. He denies owing Oz $182,577 for their work in City Park West.
“That number that is stated — of that amount, approximately 50 percent is work that has been billed (by Oz) but not completed or delivered” by the architects, Cisneros said.
“So, there is quite a discrepancy there. That’s why the issues rose to this level.”
Last year, Cisneros paid $9.3 million for 1245 E. Colfax Ave. — a corner lot that includes a four-story office building and surface parking — with plans to construct a five-story apartment building where that parking lot is now and also improve the office building.
Oz, which said that it was hired for both jobs, filed a $225,000 mechanic’s lien on the projects in June, then reduced its lien to $182,577 this month.
“To date, Oz has not received any objection as to the quality or quantity of the services it provided…as they related to the project,” the firm wrote in last week’s lawsuit.
Oz is represented by attorney Max Stich with Tiemeier & Stich in Denver. He did not answer a request to discuss the case and Cisneros’ claims about his client.
Among Cisneros’ other development work is Art District Flats and Art District Lofts, two apartment buildings along Santa Fe Drive in Lincoln Park. Oz designed the latter complex, according to its website.
The four-story office building at 1245 E. Colfax Ave. is seen on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. (Justin Wingerter/BusinessDen)
A local architecture firm said that it hasn’t been paid for its design of an apartment building off East Colfax and concepts for remodeling a four-story building next door.
Oz Architecture, of Denver, sued companies affiliated with local developer Leon Cisneros on Sept. 21. Oz said it is owed $182,577 for its work at 1245 Colfax Ave. and is asking a Denver judge to let it foreclose on the property in light of Cisneros’ nonpayment.
“It’s unfortunate that it came to this,” Cisneros said by phone one day after his companies were sued. “I thought that we were going to come to some sort of reconciliation.”
Cisneros said that Oz owes him $186,270 “for errors and omissions” it made on another project. He denies owing Oz $182,577 for their work in City Park West.
“That number that is stated — of that amount, approximately 50 percent is work that has been billed (by Oz) but not completed or delivered” by the architects, Cisneros said.
“So, there is quite a discrepancy there. That’s why the issues rose to this level.”
Last year, Cisneros paid $9.3 million for 1245 E. Colfax Ave. — a corner lot that includes a four-story office building and surface parking — with plans to construct a five-story apartment building where that parking lot is now and also improve the office building.
Oz, which said that it was hired for both jobs, filed a $225,000 mechanic’s lien on the projects in June, then reduced its lien to $182,577 this month.
“To date, Oz has not received any objection as to the quality or quantity of the services it provided…as they related to the project,” the firm wrote in last week’s lawsuit.
Oz is represented by attorney Max Stich with Tiemeier & Stich in Denver. He did not answer a request to discuss the case and Cisneros’ claims about his client.
Among Cisneros’ other development work is Art District Flats and Art District Lofts, two apartment buildings along Santa Fe Drive in Lincoln Park. Oz designed the latter complex, according to its website.
