Newest moves in the court fight over ‘The Hole’

(Aerial view of The Hole, September 2010)
Court records show two notable moves this week in the ongoing legal fight over “The Hole” at 39th/Fauntleroy/Alaska in West Seattle (map; the project once known as Fauntleroy Place and slated for Whole Foods, Hancock Fabrics, and residential units, excavated before stalling in a financial/legal tangle more than 2 years ago).

In the wake of last month’s decision (WSB coverage here) that construction companies Ledcor and Aero have “lien priority,” there was a motion for a new trial. It came from 3922 SW Alaska LLC, trying to buy the site without paying those liens; it claimed it had uncovered evidence that a key witness from the project’s original developer, BlueStar, had been talking with Aero about “reviving” the project, without disclosing that for the trial.

Here are the two new developments: This week, King County Superior Court Judge Susan Craighead rejected the motion for a new trial. Plus, Aero filed a motion asking her to order the foreclosure sale of the site, to get the money to pay off the liens she ruled have priority. The judge is scheduled to consider that motion next week.

7 Replies to "Newest moves in the court fight over 'The Hole'"

  • clark5080 December 17, 2010 (7:43 pm)

    I can’t imagine the Bowling Alley owners are real happy with their building being right on the edge of “The Hole”

  • CB December 18, 2010 (7:41 am)

    Get used to the hole…it’s going to be there a long time. You can thank the lawyers, who only make money stringing out the process.

  • Rick December 18, 2010 (8:20 am)

    Lawyers,lawyers,lawyers. We need more lawyers. Somebody’s gonna profit!

  • Paul December 18, 2010 (10:02 am)

    could we just fill the hole with these lawyers and bury it?

    • WSB December 18, 2010 (10:22 am)

      Re: lawyer-bashing (my late mom was a lawyer in her later years, though she worked more as a prosecutor – not in this state – than she did in private practice), remember that they only work at the direction of those who employ them. Anyone in any legal fight can certainly stop at any time and say they’re done, and their lawyer(s) certainly wouldn’t be carrying on without them … TR

  • deb December 18, 2010 (11:12 am)

    re-lawyer-bashing,
    my deceased brother was an attorney.
    he said,” people bash lawyers until they need one.”

  • Brian December 20, 2010 (10:49 am)

    When does anyone think some poor soul will drive through the fence and either 1) die from the 4 story fall, or 2) drown in the mud in the hole? I’m almost willing to start a pool, (pun intended)
    I’m also willing to bet some lawyers kid is getting an iPod, a snowboard, and quite possibly a car out of this deal, but I agree that everyone hates lawyers until they need one, and then they love their lawyer, who is all of a sudden different than the rest of the lot.

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