Vancouver duplex owner denies abandoning $1.8 million property sale

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The owner of half of a Vancouver duplex sued by the other half of the property has denied claims it abandoned the sale of its $1.8 million property following a “toxic” dispute over shared property. I’m here.

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Late last year, Maria Pappas and Panagiotis Pappas, who own the house at 3257 West Second Avenue, took on neighbors Jordan Mark Bauer and Maureen Culver-Elworthy, who own the other half of the duplex, 3255 West Second Avenue. filed a lawsuit.

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The plaintiff said he had been living with his neighbor for over a year without discussing any legal or financial matters until January 2021.

Controversy arose when Bower and Elworthy proposed what plaintiffs called a “complete” redraw of all common property spaces in the home’s first-floor outdoor area.

Plaintiff believes the proposal is entirely one-sided and beneficial to Defendant.

As a result, plaintiffs say they proposed simply selling their property so that Bower and Elworthy could negotiate changes to the common property with the new owners.

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They say they received a $1.85 million offer on Oct. 8 after putting their home up for sale.

The offer was contingent, in part, on the buyer receiving confirmation from the defendant that the Court of Civil Settlement action brought against the plaintiff was or had been stayed, the plaintiff’s action said. ing.

Plaintiffs allege that Bower and Elworthy displayed a “confrontational” attitude toward the buyer, resulting in the collapse of the sale.

However, in response to the lawsuit, defendants say the proceedings involve what they believe are unauthorized uses of common property in violation of the hierarchical company’s bylaws.

Although the two properties are collectively a strata corporation, the corporation has never complied with the strata law and never held an annual general meeting. There is no budget or congressional meeting, according to the plaintiffs’ lawsuit.

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Bower and Elworthy responded that their first discussion of property matters took place in April 2019 when they attempted to conduct a home inspection.

They say they tried to negotiate with the plaintiffs to find an amicable solution to the problem, but were ultimately unsuccessful, and as a result started proceedings in the Civil Settlement Court.

Bower and Elworthy denied that the plaintiffs sold their home to get away from them, instead selling it for financial reasons.

They deny that they have been unfair or confrontational with prospects, or that they have withdrawn offers or broken contracts.

“Never has the defendant attempted to break the contract. I have only been in contact with

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Defendants say they wanted a contract between the prospective purchaser and the plaintiff to be completed.

“In furtherance of that request, the defendant spent hours in contact with the prospective purchaser to address the bylaw violations and reach a resolution so that the (civil court) claim could be dismissed. I got legal advice to do so.”

kfraser@postmedia.com