December 19, 2008 – (HOSTSEARCH.COM) – Web hosting provider
IAS.net was evicted from its premises in Northern Brewery Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA recently, bringing down its customers’ websites, a number of reports suggested.
The building’s owner, Mr. Doug Smith, was reported as saying the eviction was due to "chronic late-payment of rent." However, other reports cited IAS.net co-owner Arthur Talbot as suggesting the company withheld rent in a response to mold appearing in the office building and a generally low standard of building maintenance. Some reports suggested IAS had intended to leave the building, but were preempted by the landlord who removed IAS’ office contents.
"We're just really disappointed about the whole outcome," Ann Arbor News reported Arthur Talbot as saying. "We had to pay pretty significant legal costs to get the building taken care of and make it healthy for our staff. This has been the single largest disruption in our services."
A number of providers, including local company’s HDL and Online Technologies, offered to assist IAS’ customers (who include the Eastern Michigan University Foundation, the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, Zingerman's and Michigan Radio and nonprofit organizations) in getting their websites back online. Some offered discounts. At the time of going to press, IAS.net is online and has apparently relocated to the Michigan Information Technology Center.
