Sucka-paloozah

From the San Diego Union Tribune, we have Plan for second tower irks El Cortez owners.

El Cortez condo owners feel cheated. They bought homes in the historic hotel with luxury in mind, but their sinks back up, their homeowners association is broke and there's no doorman to welcome them at the end of the day.

The fact that developer Peter Janopaul – who along with business partner Anthony Block renovated the 1927 hotel – is now planning to build a new condominium tower where their pool and parking is, well, that's just one more slap in the face.

Janopaul declined to be interviewed for this article, but Michael Zucchet, the vice president of Janopaul's development company, said a handful of homeowners at the El Cortez are making Janopaul a scapegoat for problems he had nothing to do with.

“Didn't read your disclosure documents? Blame the developer,” Zucchet said. “Developer's right to build getting vindicated at every turn? . . . Argue that the developer is actually a mean guy. Condo market heading south two years after you bought your unit? Sue the developer.

Residents concede they signed documents acknowledging that another building could be constructed just 40 feet away, but many say they were told it wouldn't happen for a long time. They say construction could damage their home values, their building's foundation and the historic character of the El Cortez.

Janopaul's company also is suing contractors for plumbing defects that include leaking pipes and backups, and lawsuits have been combined. But residents should not be surprised, said Janopaul attorney Tomas Morales. He noted that buyers signed detailed disclosures.

“Before they gave their money to the developer, they had to sign some very direct documents that said a building is coming (next door) and they were buying a unit built in 1927 and it would be unreasonable to expect it would operate like a building built in 2004,” Morales said.

Oooh, this is like front-row tickets to the "shear the sheep" finals!

Developers are smart cookies, particularly the crooked ones. If you signed a contract, there's absolutely nothing you can do about it!

So long, suckahs!