Westside Bottling Construction Halted Amid Lawsuit
Developer Ardent has sued Dominion Realty Partners in Durham County after a multifamily housing purchase agreement was terminated.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Construction on the Westside Bottling development on Hillsborough Road in Durham has been halted. Ardent, listed as TAC Westside Bottling LLC, filed a Durham County lawsuit in August alleging Dominion Realty Partners defaulted by failing to close on the multifamily housing portion of the project.
Why it matters
The dispute stalls a mixed-use project that includes more than 70,000 square feet of planned retail space and 370 multifamily residences. Developers had hoped to deliver the first set of retailers by the end of 2026, a timeline now in question.
The project spans more than 70,000 square feet of retail space, 370 multifamily residences and 35 for-sale townhomes, with nearly 50,000 square feet leased last year. The lawsuit's outcome and a resumption date for construction remain unresolved.
The players
Ardent
Ardent is the developer listed as TAC Westside Bottling LLC, which is suing Dominion Realty Partners over the terminated housing agreement.
Dominion Realty Partners
Dominion Realty Partners is the company accused in the lawsuit of defaulting by failing to close on the multifamily housing portion of the Westside Bottling project.
The details
Ardent alleges Dominion defaulted by failing to close on the multifamily housing part of the project, leading to termination of a purchase agreement in June. Sprouts Farmers Market, Shake Shack, Ulta Beauty, Club Pilates, First Watch and Vernis Nail Salon have leased space at the site.
Timeline
August 2025: Groundbreaking ceremony held for the development.
June 2026: Purchase agreement terminated after Dominion defaulted.
August 2026: Ardent filed its Durham County lawsuit against Dominion.
Openings & Closings Context
The halt at the Westside Bottling site on Hillsborough Road delays the planned 2026 opening of the first retail tenants there. The dispute over the multifamily component leaves the project's timeline and tenant openings uncertain.
Shoppers hoping for the first retailers at the Westside Bottling site, including Sprouts Farmers Market and Shake Shack, will likely have to wait longer than the developers had planned. Residents who expected the 370 planned apartments should watch for updates on the lawsuit and construction schedule.
The takeaway
Delays in mixed-use projects often ripple through the tenants who have already signed leases, so watching court filings and developer updates is the clearest way to track when the site will open.
Further reading
For more on retail projects opening or shuttering around town, see Openings & Closings in Durham.
Source note: This article includes information reported by CBS17.
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