Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 12:05 a.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 5:49 a.m.
LAKE WALES | Two years ago, Ron Maness of 5305 Nicklaus Drive, bought a new investment home in the gated Lake Ashton golf community in Lake Wales.
Stencil on back of drywall in the attic of Ron Maness 1,300 sq. ft. house at Lake Ashton in Lake Wales, Florida November 20, 2009. Maness says his house in Lake Ashton was built using Chinese drywall.
Ron Maness owned 2 bedroom 2 bathroom house at Lake Ashton in Lake Wales, Florida November 20, 2009. Maness says the house was built using Chinese drywall.
Problems started earlier this year when the vacant home's air conditioner suddenly failed and needed a new coil. Maness' first tenant arrived in September but moved out a few weeks later, complaining of a strange sulfur odor that wouldn't go away.
A home inspector found blackened copper wiring, and a subsequent lab test confirmed the home was built with defective Chinese drywall. Maness, 54, says his $250,000 investment is now a liability.
"The house is uninhabitable. It's unrentable. It's unsellable," the Winter Haven resident said. "It's basically worthless in this condition."
Despite the rash of complaints across Florida from homeowners with imported Chinese drywall, Polk County seemed to be largely unaffected. Of a total 638 cases reported to the Department of Health, just five originated in Polk, according to the most recent available data.
Scott Coulombe, director of the Polk County Builders Association, said none of the group's members has reported issues with defective Chinese drywall.
However, the tenant who complained of odors in Maness' home was living there because her own house had been constructed with defective Chinese drywall. That home, built by Lennar in the Traditions at Lake Ruby development in Winter Haven, is currently being renovated by the developer.
"Lennar is continuing to do the right thing by repairing homes built with defective drywall imported from China," the division president, Mark Metheny, wrote in an e-mail to The Ledger.
Lennar officials would not comment on how many homes are being fixed in Polk. According to an October filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company has about 500 homes statewide with defective drywall.
Maness said he contacted Lake Ashton's developer about the drywall in his home but hasn't received a response in weeks. The developer, Mastercraft Homes (part of the Lakeland-based Century real estate group), did not return calls seeking comment.
Michael Woodard, who inspected Maness' home, said he has inspected three other houses in Lake Ashton with signs of defective drywall.
"Homeowners are being cautious," said Woodard, of AmeriSpec Home Inspection Services in Winter Haven. "They're scared to bring it to people's attention" because of concerns about insurance and resale value.
The U.S. Product Safety Commission has counted more than 2,000 reports from homeowners who think their homes have defective Chinese drywall. Most were built in 2006 and 2007 and are in Florida.
The commission has released a report showing a "strong association" between defective drywall and the corrosion of metals in homes, identifying hydrogen sulfide gas as the cause. Many homeowners with the defective drywall also have complained of respiratory problems and other ailments.
According to a recent report by the St. Petersburg Times, property appraisers in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties are lowering the assessed values of affected homes by as much as 50 percent.
The Polk County property appraiser's Web site has added a form for local homeowners to report Chinese drywall. A spokesman for the office said it has written down the value of two local homes with Chinese drywall - one by 30 percent, the other by 40 percent.
Following the lead of other affected owners, Maness said he has joined a class-action lawsuit against Knauf, the manufacturer of his drywall, but says he is dismayed by the lack of response from Lake Ashton officials.
"If someone is made aware of a problem, how could they not do anything?" he asked.
For information about Chinese drywall, visit www.doh.state.fl.us and click on the "Imported Drywall" link.
The Polk County Property Appraiser's Web site can be accessed at www.polkpa.org.
[ Kyle Kennedy can be reached at kyle.kennedy@theledger.com or 863-802-7584. ]
Friday, December 11, 2009
Attorney Miller
He says at the present time there are no records on file in Lake Wales on the roads being built here at Lake Ashton, therefore we have no recourse to a law suit. We can't go after the city so we would have to go after the developer. To get this information it took six months instead of one month. It would cost between $4,650,000 to $9,000,000 to repair these roads. Yes, this money will be paid by you in higher maintenance fees. We at Lake Ashton pay very high taxes but its not going to repair our roads, its all going to repair the roads in Lake Wales. What a deal. Lake wales would not touch these roads because they were not build by Lake Wales even thought they were build by bonded money. John Chickness, CDD committee member clearly stated that these roads are no good. If we go to court it would cost $200,000 court cost. Attorneys would charge $1,000 an hour to fight this case. This is a no win deal and you can't sue the city and the developer will not talk to you and 98% of the people don't care.
At last count 5 plus homes here at Lake Ashton have Chinese drywall
Sable Loop, Berwick Drive, Nicklaus Dr and Snead Dr have been reported to have Chinese Drywall. The count is still climbing. Please E-mail me any information on this subject, Thanks lakeashtontalk@yahoo.com
Chinese Drywall Causing Home Owner Headaches
Chinese Drywall here at Lake Ashton?.
Tue, December 8, 2009 10:14:57 AM
From: Bill Wright
Mr. Maxwell
As a long time resident of your beautiful development ,7 yrs this past October to be exact and owner of two homes, let me just say I am very disappointed by the article in the Ledger Newspaper today Dec. 8 in the fact that you would let this problem with Chinese drywall get to this level. Its bad enough that we have all taken a hit because of the recession with the devaluation of our properties falling by as much as 50% and now we are faced with another black eye to the community. Mr. Maxwell I think that if you will ask Mr. Mark Schreiber, Joe Hunter or any of your staff out here that my wife and I have always promoted and defended Lake Ashton among many negative comments from some of these folks in the community. I think it is your financial obligation to do what ever is necessary to insure that all of these homes are not in any way affected by this Chinese drywall dilemma. Mr. Maxwell the newspaper makes reference to the homes only built between 2006 and 2007 well I don't know if that is true or not. After moving in our home in 2002 and after being here for about a year and a half my wife and I began to experience short bouts with respiratory infections and really couldn't understand why when both of us exercise every day and try to take care of ourselves. We began to notice black soot looking material around the edges our carpet, coming out of the air vents, black soot halo around the pictures on the walls and this material was covering our cloths. After numerous attempts with the air-conditioning folks out here we were told by their experts that it was a phenomenon and they didn't know what it was. At this point we did not know who to turn to however we were friends with Lonnie Adams who at the time I think was your project engineer. We asked Lonnie to come and inspect our house and by his advise he asked us to find someplace to go for a week while they corrected this problem. At the end of the day my wife and I had been living in a house full of mold which had permeated the air handler and the duct work through out the house and we are very grateful that Lonnie stepped to the plate no questions asked while we were out of the expense of ripping up the carpet, repainting the inside of our house and throwing our clothes away.
Today I can go out side in the garage and look at the ceiling around the air handler and again it is getting black with mold..............................Makes you wonder doesn't?
Respectfully
Bill and Jane Wright
4270 Berwick Drive
Foodliner
Office 863-318-9349
Cell 563-564-9567
E-mail billw@foodliner.com
Tue, December 8, 2009 10:14:57 AM
From: Bill Wright
Mr. Maxwell
As a long time resident of your beautiful development ,7 yrs this past October to be exact and owner of two homes, let me just say I am very disappointed by the article in the Ledger Newspaper today Dec. 8 in the fact that you would let this problem with Chinese drywall get to this level. Its bad enough that we have all taken a hit because of the recession with the devaluation of our properties falling by as much as 50% and now we are faced with another black eye to the community. Mr. Maxwell I think that if you will ask Mr. Mark Schreiber, Joe Hunter or any of your staff out here that my wife and I have always promoted and defended Lake Ashton among many negative comments from some of these folks in the community. I think it is your financial obligation to do what ever is necessary to insure that all of these homes are not in any way affected by this Chinese drywall dilemma. Mr. Maxwell the newspaper makes reference to the homes only built between 2006 and 2007 well I don't know if that is true or not. After moving in our home in 2002 and after being here for about a year and a half my wife and I began to experience short bouts with respiratory infections and really couldn't understand why when both of us exercise every day and try to take care of ourselves. We began to notice black soot looking material around the edges our carpet, coming out of the air vents, black soot halo around the pictures on the walls and this material was covering our cloths. After numerous attempts with the air-conditioning folks out here we were told by their experts that it was a phenomenon and they didn't know what it was. At this point we did not know who to turn to however we were friends with Lonnie Adams who at the time I think was your project engineer. We asked Lonnie to come and inspect our house and by his advise he asked us to find someplace to go for a week while they corrected this problem. At the end of the day my wife and I had been living in a house full of mold which had permeated the air handler and the duct work through out the house and we are very grateful that Lonnie stepped to the plate no questions asked while we were out of the expense of ripping up the carpet, repainting the inside of our house and throwing our clothes away.
Today I can go out side in the garage and look at the ceiling around the air handler and again it is getting black with mold..............................Makes you wonder doesn't?
Respectfully
Bill and Jane Wright
4270 Berwick Drive
Foodliner
Office 863-318-9349
Cell 563-564-9567
E-mail billw@foodliner.com
CDD MEETING THIS FRI @ 10AM
Out of 950 homes or 1900 residents only about 55 was at the meeting or 2%. Judging by the amount of people that was there the other 98% don't give a damn.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Lake Ashton is not the community it use to be, thanks to the CDD and Joe Hunter.
The developer with all his money and 23 communities and more plus a bank wants money to rent the HFC ballroom, somewhere around $250.00, this Joe Hunter does not know, what does he know? Give me the cost,Joe, not I think it is. This ballroom is own by the developer. Every CDD member does not live here at Lake Ashton West. Does he give any money to the need. I have no respect for anyone that is so cheap and on top of this there are four lawyers that are looking into his activities here at Lake Ashton. Yes, most of you believe this is paradise, with homes made of drywall from China. I can rest assure you this is not paradise. With China Drywall in your home makes your home worth 1/2 to 2/3 of its value, yet he says nothing and will do nothing. What are we paying maintenance fees for, repair the bowling alley for $250,000, We pay $1600 for maintenance fees a year, for what. All this makes me sick. And on top of this you believe in do nothing Joe Hunter. We must pay a fee to rent the ballroom to raise money for children who have cancer or a death disease where their life will be cut short, before they reach the age of 21, How cheap can this person be????? Does he have a heart??? He much rather give money to dog shelters than children. If you wish to use this ballroom you must pay $375.00 as a resident. I give up, give me a break. woof woof I guess most of you people don't know what it is to lose your child or have your home fill with drywall from China. When you finely wake up, you will say Ed you are 100% right.
Joe Hunter "Do Nothing" What is going on?
I was going to have a show here at Lake Ashton at the HFC center but Joe Hunter has other plans. Here is his reply has to what I was going to do.
Mr. Doe/King,
March 5 is already booked. The only available date in March on the week-end is March 19. The CDD board asks that you not have Streisand or Diamond since they will be on next year’s Entertainment Series. There will be a small room fee.($250.00 or somewhere in that area)
Thank you,
Joe Hunter
This is how they treat all residents here at Lake Ashton. All the money is going to give Kids the World and the developer and Joe Hunter wants about $250 on or about, why doesn't he just say a few thousand dollars. Please. all residents wake up to this type of treatment. And on top of this they are stealing my show and using it for the entertainment series next year. Joe Hunter please pack your bag and get out of Lake Ashton. And on top of this he is telling me not to have Streisand and Diamond here. They will be notify of this action.
Mr. Doe/King,
March 5 is already booked. The only available date in March on the week-end is March 19. The CDD board asks that you not have Streisand or Diamond since they will be on next year’s Entertainment Series. There will be a small room fee.($250.00 or somewhere in that area)
Thank you,
Joe Hunter
This is how they treat all residents here at Lake Ashton. All the money is going to give Kids the World and the developer and Joe Hunter wants about $250 on or about, why doesn't he just say a few thousand dollars. Please. all residents wake up to this type of treatment. And on top of this they are stealing my show and using it for the entertainment series next year. Joe Hunter please pack your bag and get out of Lake Ashton. And on top of this he is telling me not to have Streisand and Diamond here. They will be notify of this action.
Ronald White our loveable, friendly HOA President
Whoever you are if you can’t sign your name then don’t send me any more emails. Said Mr Ronald White
This is a message from Ronald White, A very unfriendly person whom I send a very important message with my name on the end of every message. Boo Boo to him. I will never waste my time talking or writing to him. He is another Mr Know it All. How in hell could he get elected with his altitude.
This is a message from Ronald White, A very unfriendly person whom I send a very important message with my name on the end of every message. Boo Boo to him. I will never waste my time talking or writing to him. He is another Mr Know it All. How in hell could he get elected with his altitude.
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