November 30, 2009 --The construction firm contracted to build a hotel near Camp Randall Stadium has taken legal action against its architect and developer, seeking more than $3 million in payment for the stalled project.

Documents filed Nov. 17 in Dane County Circuit Court were an amended claim for lien by Kraemer Brothers seeking about $3.7 million from Sieger LLC, Madison, for construction of the Hotel 1501 project at 1501 Monroe St. Construction stopped in early October when Kraemer Brothers crews left the site, and there has been no activity since then.

"We hope this matter gets resolved quickly so the project can move ahead," said Ryan Kraemer, vice president of Kraemer Brothers in Plain.

In an interview in October, developer Bob Sieger said construction temporarily stopped because of product delays. Further calls to Sieger have not been returned.

Kraemer said the project is nearly complete.

"It's fairly close to being finished," he said. "Not much more than a month or so of work."

Neighborhood residents are eager for the situation with the property to be resolved.

"This is a big deal to people," said Ald. Julia Kerr, whose 13th District includes the hotel site. "Every time I go somewhere in the neighborhood, somebody asks me what the status is. And because Mr. Sieger has not advised the city when he's going to restart construction, I have nothing to tell them."

Construction began on the $6.5 million project on Nov. 17, 2008. The original plan was for the 48-room hotel to open in time for part of the Badgers' 2009 football season.

The original claim for lien came on Oct. 12, for about $1.35 million.

According to both documents, about $2.8 million has been paid to Kraemer Brothers.

Kerr said the status of the hotel is a hot topic in her district.

"It sounds like an extremely serious situation," she said. "The neighborhood and local business owners remain extremely concerned about the project being completed."

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