Article and Video Courtesy of
FOX 35 NEWS -- ORLANDO
By CHERLY GETUIZA
Published June 18, 2009
KISSIMMEE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A Condominium Association in Kissimmee has run out of money. Residents of the Cascades Condominiums can't use the pool, the lawn is overgrown and now, the water is expected to be turned off.
"Everybody's fed up, I'm fed up, I'm ready to leave," says homeowner Angel Bermudez.
FOX 35 visited the complex four months ago. Bermudez says things have gone from bad to worse.
"They closed the office, there's no office, if you have a problem, you can't go to the office, the laundry room is closed. Everyday it's just getting worse."
To make matters worse, on Thursday, people living there drove up to a sign warning them that the Toho Water Authority is expected to turn off their water in a few days.
"I have spoken to some people. That's what they're gonna do, they're gonna go to hotels or just leaving. Me,myself? Hotel.A board member told FOX 35, "they're basically bankrupt. They haven't been able to pay their bills."
For about a year, many homeowners stopped paying their HOA fees. Now many places have foreclosed. Out of 300 units, only 90 are still there.
"It's really like a ghost town," said Bermudez.
A lawyer told FOX 35, this is a really tough situation.
"There's basically only one thing homeowners can do. They can hire a lawyer, and ask for a receivership to have someone else come in and take care of their facility.
But even then, the remaining residents would probably have to fork over even more cash to get things back in working order.
"I'm very angry with some of these homeowners. They're the main reason it's like this. It sucks. Sucks is an understatement," Bermudez adds.
Board members say they are in negotiations with Toho Water Authority to keep the water on. We'll keep you posted on this story.
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