CHELSEA, MI — A dispute over whether construction at JD’s Stage Bistro, a newly opened music venue and restaurant in Chelsea backed by actor Jeff Daniels, structurally damaged a pub next door has landed in court.
Cleary’s Pub and building owner Frances Edward Real Estate filed a lawsuit against Tannin Property Group of Chelsea, which owns the bistro’s building, along with the engineering studio and construction contractor in late July in Washtenaw County Circuit Court. Daniels and JD’s are not parties in the lawsuit.
Pub owner Pat Cleary points to a crack that runs the length of the pub’s basement floor and up the wall as evidence that excavation work to lower the basement under JD’s and create a sub-basement damaged his pub. According to the lawsuit, construction at JD’s increased the depth from about 7.5 feet to 24 feet below street level…