Elijah Brumback

If the story of Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill at The Collection in Oxnard is itself the plot of tired, old country song, someone is about to lose a good dog and the love of an honest woman.

Shea Properties, developers of The Collection, continues to work with the restaurant owners to find out where $605,000 of their rent money has gone. But subcontractors on the project, which opened in June, are taking legal action against the restaurant owners, a business entity of Scottsdale, Arizona-based Boomtown Entertainment, Shea Properties and general contractor Troon Enterprises for unpaid work.

According to Ventura County Superior Court documents, several subcontractors have filed liens against the property and at least one of the companies that worked on the project is seeking a little over $118,000. According to those familiar with the project, some subcontractors who didn’t file pre-liens prior to completing work on the restaurant could be out thousands of dollars. A representative from Muskrat Plumbing, a Valencia-based company that worked on the project, said that they are in legal negotiations with those named in the suit to settle the debt, but so far are being offered only a percentage of the work that was billed and completed.

In an email, a spokesperson for Shea Properties said he couldn’t comment on the situation, but said it would make more information available on the matter once it has been resolved. Boomtown declined to comment.

Architects’ bond bonanza

The San Luis Coastal Unified School District recently selected three regional architecture firms to lead a variety of facility improvement projects following the successful passage of the Measure D school bond.

Voters passed the $177 million bond measure by nearly 72 percent on Nov. 4. The funds raised will pay for what district officials describe as badly needed upgrades and renovation at Morro Bay High School and San Luis Obispo High School, as well as minor repairs at all other school sites in the district.

The firms selected included PMSM Architects and RRM Design Group, both of San Luis Obispo, and KBZ Architects of Santa Barbara.

“While all the firms interviewed showed great portfolios in public K-12 design, three firms stood out with respect to meeting the specific needs of the Measure D program,” said Superintendent Dr. Eric Prater in a statement.

PMSM Architects was selected based on its broad portfolio of K-12 facility modernizations and expansions, many of which are similar to San Luis Coastal school sites, as well as expertise in planning and phasing of renovation projects on active school sites, according to SLCUSD. RRM Design Group was selected for its extensive experience and knowledge of many district campuses, having worked on prior projects throughout the district.

KBZ Architects got the nod for its expertise in the programming and design of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) facilities. Recent notable projects include the Dos Pueblos High School Engineering Academy and the Santa Barbara High School Multimedia Art and Design Academy.

In January, SLCUSD will begin the process of appointing a Citizens Oversight Committee to monitor how bond funds are spent. The entire project will progress in phases, with Morro Bay and San Luis Obispo High Schools prioritized to be the first facilities to start construction. The district anticipates completing all planned projects over five to seven years.

Deals of the week
• Battaglia Commercial Real Estate recently brokered the sale of a prominent retail building, formerly home to Rabobank, at the corner of Copenhagen Drive and First Street in downtown Solvang. The 6,365 square foot building was built in the late 1950s and was listed for $2.45 million.

The new owner plans to remodel the building, “creating a contemporary piece of Denmark inside the traditional surroundings of Solvang, the Danish capital of America,” according to a press release from Battaglia. The new Copenhagen House will mostly focus on bringing in brands with a strong Danish story and Danish designed products. While retaining the traditional Solvang Danish-style 1950s architecture on the outside, the interior will have a contemporary Danish design look. The old bank vault will house also house a small museum.

Steve Battaglia represented the seller and Bob Jennings of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties represented the buyer in the deal.

• The building at 734 State St. in downtown Santa Barbara recently sold to an undisclosed buyer. The asking price for the property was $2.1 million. According to Lee & Associates, the 2,256-square-foot retail building, which had multiple offers, had been on the market since Nov. 12. Christi Vior of Lee & Associates Central Coast represented the asset investment buyer in the sale.