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Carolina Forest’s Office Complex Faces Legal Hurdles

Construction site of the Carolina Forest office complex

News Summary

Carolina Forest plans a $20 million county office complex to improve community services, but legal disputes over payments have delayed the project. The grand opening, initially set for spring 2024, has now been pushed to fall 2024. Subcontractors allege unpaid dues totaling nearly $1 million, creating uncertainty over the project’s future. Horry County officials are monitoring the situation closely.

Carolina Forest’s Big Office Dream Hits a Bumpy Road

Carolina Forest, a growing hub for business and community services in Horry County, is gearing up for an exciting new addition—a shiny new county office complex worth a whopping $20 million. But, just like a good plot twist in a mystery novel, the journey to completion has met with some unexpected challenges.

Groundbreaking Ceremony in the Anticipation of Progress

The Horry County officials had high hopes when they broke ground on this ambitious project, which was set to house Horry County Police and several county offices. The grand opening was targeted for spring 2024, and everyone was buzzing with excitement. It seemed like the perfect chance to enhance local governance and better serve the community.

Delays Ahead: Payment Problems Surface

However, a cloud of conflict has now cast a shadow over this promising project, as delays have pushed the anticipated moving date back to fall 2024. The reason? A messy web of payment disputes involving several subcontractors linked to Cooper Tacia, the North Carolina-based main contractor responsible for the construction.

Drywall Specialties: A Case of Missing Payments

The first sign of trouble emerged with Drywall Specialties, LLC. This subcontractor alleges they have not received full payment for their hard work, claiming their labor payment was short by $50,000. With only three payments received during a 16-17 week period, they voiced their frustrations and indicated that they won’t be returning to the project anytime soon—seeking legal recourse instead.

Carolina Utilities Takes Legal Action

The turmoil doesn’t stop there. Carolina Utilities has also joined the legal fray, filing a lawsuit against Cooper Tacia over unpaid costs related to extra fill work required for site preparation. The lawsuit, which amounts to $352,115 plus damages, interest, and legal fees, points out that payment issues began in March 2024, despite what Cooper Tacia officials had promised.

Construction Services Group Agrees on Non-Payment

It seems the problems are widespread. The Construction Services Group is also in hot water, claiming unpaid invoices totaling $517,011 for concrete work completed between April and July 2024. With multiple bills submitted, they too find themselves in a standoff with Cooper Tacia.

Money Flow: The Big Picture

Despite these subcontractors’ frustrations, financial records reveal that Cooper Tacia has already received over $3.2 million of payments up until mid-July 2024. This raises questions among the contractors about where the money is going and why they are being left high and dry.

The Oversight and Compliance Factor

In a twist to this tale, a security bond of about $15.6 million has been issued by the Cincinnati Insurance Group for the project, providing some level of protection during these turbulent times. Meanwhile, a stop work order has also been put in place for GNK Developers. This subcontractor has been deemed unregistered as a contractor in South Carolina, adding another layer of complexity to the already chaotic situation.

The County’s Stance

Horry County officials are keeping a watchful eye on the developing situation, confirming that they are monitoring the interactions between Cooper Tacia and its subcontractors but remain uninvolved in the payment disputes. As these issues unfold, heads will be turned toward Cooper Tacia, which has opted not to comment on the ongoing legal matters but has insisted on its commitment to ethical standards and contractual compliance.

The Road Ahead

As this situation develops, many community members are left wondering how these disputes will affect the timeline and overall success of the Carolina Forest office complex. Only time will tell if these payment disputes can be resolved and if this much-anticipated facility will soon become a reality. For now, the wait for progress continues.