Plagued Corte Madera Apartment Complex nearly ready for tenants

CORTE MADERA, Calif. (KGO) -- Corte Madera's Town Council will hear a report updating the reconstruction of a brand new and controversial apartment complex, Tam Ridge Residences.

Its 180 units should have opened a year and a half ago, but that was before inspections revealed water leaks and wood rot that forced MacFarlane Partners LLC to tear much of it apart, and build it again.

MacFarlane's legal case against the original contractor has led to a multi-million dollar lawsuit. A company spokesperson shared little regarding the cost of this project, but said it is moving along and expects to begin renting in June. Analysts expect rents in the $3,000 to $5,000 per month range.

Corte Madera approved the project after the Association of Bay Area Governments told the city it needed more high density housing. It was controversial from the start, sparking protests about the architecture and additional traffic.

Project Manager Phil Roy showed how some 240 workmen have ripped much of the complex apart and rebuilt from the outside in.

They have replaced rotted wood, 1,600 windows, and some 16,000 square feet of bricks, essentially redoing some 180 apartments.