Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Nice follow-up on the part of Courtney and fellow WLOSers. Watch the video here. Story snippet below:
The Do-It-Yourself Network billed its “2009 Blog Cabin” as a interactive series where internet users voted on design features for a log cabin to be built in The Preserve at Little Pine in Madison County. Viewers then watched the construction of the home on television this past August and could enter a sweepstakes to win the cabin in October.
As of right now, the cabin will no longer be given away. On its website, the DIY Network says it cut all affiliation with the developer and will be giving out more than $500,000 in cash in lieu of the cabin. Local builders are up in arms because they say they were never paid for their work.
Tim Drennen did the masonry work for the cabin and filed a $5,500 labor lien in late August against the Preserve’s developer Jack Fisher. On September 15th, the primary contractor for the cabin, Greenstone Builders, filed a lien against Fisher and the DIY Network for almost $200,000.
Paperwork filed at the Madison County Courthouse says that Greenstone Builders has not been paid for labor or materials. It also states that Greenstone’s reputation has been damaged by the network’s continued advertising, broadcasting and promotion of the 2009 Blog Cabin.
We spoke with an employee at The Preserve at Little Pine who says the developer can’t comment on the situation. Calls to the DIY Network were not returned. Drennen says it’s a shame that what started as a positive project for the community has turned into one big mess.
I don’t understand why the people love this community and all it’s contest. I noticed that all their area is very cheap
It’s only a shame I haven’t been entering this contest since the first day. I could use a half million dollars better than a yuppie hideaway in the boonies.
I think that it os unfortunatefor those who fell in love with the community during the contest and show as well as to what the area had to offer that this situation has come about. I do hope that all works out in the end and the best to all parties involved.