Complaint Review: Rodger L. Barton West Town Properties L.L.C. Forrest Management - Novi Michigan

Your life must be pretty simple. I put $106,000 of my own money in the project in the effort to save the project which would have hopefully got the development complete. The problem was there was no other help from any other investors. Look around and open your eyes Michigan is sinking we were no different than many other projects that failed.

Your life must be pretty simple. I put $106,000 of my own money in the project in the effort to save the project which would have hopefully got the development complete. The problem was there was no other help from any other investors. Look around and open your eyes Michigan is sinking we were no different than many other projects that failed.

Your life must be pretty simple. I put $106,000 of my own money in the project in the effort to save the project which would have hopefully got the development complete. The problem was there was no other help from any other investors. Look around and open your eyes Michigan is sinking we were no different than many other projects that failed.

Your life must be pretty simple. I put $106,000 of my own money in the project in the effort to save the project which would have hopefully got the development complete. The problem was there was no other help from any other investors. Look around and open your eyes Michigan is sinking we were no different than many other projects that failed.

So basically you're saying that you did take the OP's money. That doesn't make you look very good. These were not investors who risked their money on your project, they were prospective tenants who paid for something and got nothing. As a real estate developer, you should know the difference. In the future, maybe you should tell prospective tenants that their security deposit is subject to the risk of an investment in your project, but not the rewards. How many takers do you think you would get?

The article about West Town Properties and myself is filled with half truths and some complete lack of knowledge. The project never went forward because of the length of time the township took approving our plans. We had a Bank ready to close on a $2,300,000 loan. The additional time the township took put us into default with the land owners, this caused an additional cost which we just didn't have. Our partners that were from out of state said no to any additional dollars. The project failed. I personally lost $106,000. All the dollars we had went directly into the project in the form of 3 traffic studies, county review fees, engineering fees, archtiual fees, township review fees, land contract payments. We are and always have been extremely sorry that any tenant lost money. The end came quickly as most people that live in Michigan are aware of, nobody saw the real estate mess coming, for sure we didn't. Rodger

Commercial Real Estate Developer Rodger L. Barton refuses to return security deposit of over six thousand dollars. The plaintiff's signed a lease with the developer in 2005 on a property that never transpired. It is now 2008 and the property is currently listed for sale with only preliminary sight plan approvals from Pittsfield Township. The listing is with Thomas Duke. Rodger Barton, managing member and owner of West Town Properties, L.L.C. tells the plaintiffs "It's a shitty deal all around, you want your money back, sue me, I'm out money and I am not giving you back yours." Rodger L. Barton, who also owns many other limited liability corporations, so check with mi.gov, is a predatory builder. (Go to mi.gov click on online services and click business look up.) Rodger Barton lies and also has the people working for him lying for him to get what he wants. Robert Spencer served as his representative during most of the dealings with the plaintiffs. Madison Corners was supposed to be developed in Pittsfield Township. Rodger and Robert connived to gain property, money that did not belong to them and now refuses to give it back even though they are not going to build Madison Corners. They dealt with Pittsfield Township to get preliminary site plan approvals for the development but told potential lessee's that they had final approval and construction was due to start at any time. Time is exactly what happened, by passing. Over two years of time passed with eager entrepreneurs waiting and missing out on other opportunities due to lies. Rodger L. Barton has actually used the signed leases and preliminary sight plan approvals to gain funding from a bank. A bank obviously assuming that the property be developed. So it appears he gained money from this property. He gained financing on future improvements, and now has listed it for sale. He used people to get what he wanted. Oaklandcounty.org has a lot of interesting information on Rodger L. Barton. Wow, the number of past, current and coming soon lawsuits does not seem to faze this man. Ewashtenaw.org also has interesting information on his business transactions. Is it okay that he prays on people? He thinks so. Innocent, eager entrepreneurs hoping for success in a new business have dreams suspended. Don't let this man take advantage of you. He hides behind L.L.C.'s and tells lessees, statements like, "Unfortunately for you, the company does not exist anymore. You wrote your check to that company. I can't give you your money back." Even though it is his name that signs the back of those checks and spends the money in that bank account!