Condo Conversions Turn Into Lawsuits

Some companies that recently converted local apartment complexes into condominiums are being taken to court by homeowners. The Florida-Times Union published a list of communities that have either filed suit or threatened to sue the developers:

The Boxwood at Baymeadows
Address: 4915 Baymeadows Road
Built: 1971
Unit: 100
Developer: The Boxwood at Baymeadows LLC; Arlington Properties Inc. of Birmingham, AL, managing partner
Complaints: New roofs installed over rotted wood, fire hydrants leaking, failing plumbing, flooding and rodent infestation
Status: Lawsuit filed in May 2006; judgment pending

Captiva
Address: 3401 Townsend Blvd.
Built: 1975
Unit: 64
Developer: SM-Eagles Point LLC, an affiliate of SMG Development in Bradenton
Complaints: Leaking roofs, low water pressure, defective fixtures
Status: Lawsuit filed in October 2006; judgment pending

The Grand Reserve
Address: 13810 Sutton Park Drive N.
Built: 1987
Unit: 388
Developer: Grand Reserve Condominiums LLC, an affiliate of Julian LeCraw & Co. of Atlanta
Complaints: Valley in roofs, crushed attic vents, metal staircases sway, wrong-sized water heaters installed, interior walls not fire rated
Status: Lawsuit filed in August 2006, another filed in August 2007; judgment pending for both

Lakecrest
Address: 10150 Belle Rive Blvd.
Built: 1992
Unit: 284
Developer: Crosswinds at Arbor Lakes LLC, an affiliate of Crosswinds Communities of Novi, Michigan
Complaints: Windows installed improperly, stucco finish on exterior walls defective, and water damage
Status: Lawsuit filed in August; judgment pending

Montreux at Deerwood Lake
Address: 8550 Touchton Road
Built: 2003
Unit: 444
Developer: Montreux at Deerwood Lake LLC; Tarragon South Development Corp. of Ft. Lauderdale, managing member
Complaints: Poor maintenance caused leaking roofs, sinking foundations, rotting siding, damaged fencing and degraded parking area
Status: Homeowners threatened to sue in May if developer's property managers weren't fired; new managers on site, problems being resolved

Sonoma Southside
Address: 7740 Southside Blvd.
Built: 1975
Unit: 264
Developer: New Dawn Southside LLC, an affiliate of Key Real Estate Development Corp. of Coconut Grove
Complaints: Defective septic pump, frequent water outages, crumbing stucco, electric systems improperly wired
Status: Lawyer retained this year, trying to negotiate with developer but lawsuit is expected to be filed in about a month

The Preserve
Address: 1000 Harbour Vista Circle, St. Augustine
Built: 2000
Unit: 328
Developer: The Preserve on Anastasia Island LLLP, an affiliate of Montecito Property Co.
Complaints: Leaking roofs and windows, water damage; developer says former owners deliberately hid defects prior to sale
Status: Developer is suing former owner of the apartment complex, lawsuit filed in February 2006; judgment pending

The Venetian on the Ortega
Address: 5375 Ortega Farms Blvd (formerly 5309 Timuquana Rd.)
Built: 1969
Unit: 137
Developer: The Venetian on the Ortega LLLP, an affiliate of Montecito Property Co., Jacksonville
Complaints: Overflowing tubs and toilets, leaking roofs, malfunctioning irrigation system and failing patios
Status: Individual homeowners filed suit in 2005 and 2006; condo association settled out of court; repairs nearly done

Villas of Timberlin Parc
Address: 7701 Timberlin Park Blvd.
Built: 1997
Unit: 320
Developer: Timberlin Parc Development Co., an affiliate of Florida Crystals Corp. in West Palm Beach
Complaints: Water intrusion from improperly installed windows, walls and roofs
Status: Lawsuit filed in January 2007, judgment pending

Source: The Florida-Times Union