Kent tower owner and crane company settle contract dispute out of court

The owner of a half-built residential tower in Kent and one of its contractors have settled their differences and averted a court-ordered sheriff’s sale, lawyers for both parties told The Portager.

General Crane Rental of Macedonia, Ohio, took Hasawis LLC to court last year over nearly $90,000 that the developer refused to pay.

On Dec. 21, Portage County Common Pleas Court Judge Becky Doherty ruled against Hasawis LLC and its sole manager, Badreeyeh Alhasawi, granting the crane operator $89,976 plus daily accruing interest for that company’s services.

She directed the Portage County sheriff to “proceed with the appraisal, advertisement, and sale of the property at 211 Franklin Avenue.”

Attorney John Manos, representing General Crane Rental, declined to specify the terms of the settlement, saying only that the debt has been satisfied. 

Hasawis’ attorney Jason Whitacre said in an email that progress on the building would continue and both he and Manos have filed court documents to vacate the judgment against his client.

“The matter is resolved, and the property owners can continue forward with the project without that potential distraction,” Whitacre said.

The next step, Whitacre said, is for the court to approve the paperwork and release the lien against the property. 

Much of the structure remains wrapped in plastic sheeting, and there has been little evidence of progress in recent weeks. 

Alhasawi is also the owner of Tulips LLC, which owns the fire-gutted Star of the West mill on North Water Street in Kent. The cause of the fire and the future of the property remain uncertain, and the company has not released any statement since the Dec. 2 fire.