GREENSBORO, N.C. — A Greensboro building was condemned Tuesday, the business owner operating within the space claims these are grounds for lease termination. Despite building issues and repairs the property owner says he still wants to work with the business owner.
Kam Hardy Culler owns The Borough Market & Bar off of Battleground Ave. in Greensboro. She loved the space, until she found out the depths of its water troubles.
"This is like my livelihood. Also, my children have to watch this and my employees but knowing that they could have easily fixed this and I could have continued to have a beautiful business just makes this that much harder," Hardy Culler reacted.
She has operated in the space for nearly three years. Throughout her lease, she said water entered her store several times, most recently in August.
"That side flooded. His people came out the day of and didn't even tarp the roof. They tarped the side of the building which held water, which pushed water towards the buildings so more water came in. And we have water coming in through the walls, the windows, the ceiling, the receptacle to the point where I couldn't even use half the real estate in my store," recalled Hardy Culler.
Marc Ashley owns the property. Hardy Culler said she reached out about these issues from the start. Crews came out, but she claims they only did band aid fixes which lead to expensive damages.
"To our displays, to our computer that got shocked, I mean to anything, but its $50,000 and they have that in written documentation with 60 videos all going back to November of 2021," said Hardy Culler.
A Greensboro building inspector deemed the property unsafe Tuesday. This came after the building's fire alarm went off. Hardy Culler said it was the same alarm water was found in.
"Through their investigation, walking around, we have water and mildew in these fire alarm sensors which would make them faulty at that point and unsafe basically," said Hardy Culler.
Ashley is out of town on business. WFMY News 2 was able to speak with him and his attorney over the phone. Ashley said he sent an electrician out to the building on Wednesday to fix the moisture found in some outlets, which he said were minor electrical problems.
Ashley said the city has been called. They are now waiting on the inspector to come out again. He expects the condemnation will be lifted in the coming days.
As for building repairs, Ashley recalled spending $50,000 getting the building ready before Hardy Culler moved in and spending nearly $20,000 responding to repairs that occurred while her business has been there.
WFMY News 2 also asked Ashley about Hardy Culler's want to break the lease. Ashley said he has been focused on getting the issues fixed and has not had a chance to look into it. However, Ashley hopes to work with Hardy Culler to find a resolution.