Large Special Assessment May Force Residents Out Of Their Homes

A large special assessment may push residents out of their homes at Carriage Hills. The special assessment, according to the condo association, will go toward much-needed maintenance and repairs.

A Condo’s Declining Condition

Residents of Carriage Hills feel concerned and angered after facing a large special assessment. Some of them even plan to sell their homes because of it.

Carriage Hills started out as a beautiful community as one of the residents, Pat Capua, recalls.

“Me and my husband here for 30 years,” Capua told local news. “This place was kept like diamonds.”

For the past decade and a half, though, the community has been trending downward. Residents claim that the association has stopped performing maintenance and repairs. There is suspected damage on the stairwells and walkways.

John Wise, the condo association’s president, released a statement saying that the board arranged for inspections and assessed the scope of the repairs. In the end, these efforts found that it was necessary to levy a special assessment to pay for the repairs.

The association notified homeowners that they will need to pay for a variety of things, including elevator repairs, roof repairs, and a cooling tower.

Last month, the association revealed how much it would cost to pay for these repairs: a whopping $19,000 for some residents and as high as $28,000 for others.

Residents Grapple With Large Special Assessment

According to the residents, the association gave them until the beginning of next month to settle the assessment. It is either that or enter a payment plan spanning 12 months.

Some residents plan to sell their homes, while others are looking for a way to secure a loan. The sudden financial obligation isn’t easy on these homeowners, with some facing battles and most living on retirement benefits.

One resident, Mirela Cedru, can’t afford the assessment due to their mother’s lung cancer diagnosis. Cedru will be selling her home.

The massive special assessment is indeed crippling for many. Residents remain hopeful that the association will find a way to lower the overall cost or come up with a better payment plan.

Condo Association Searching for Assistance

On July 25, Wise sent an email to the offices of the Hollywood mayor and county commission asking for help. He explained that many residents of Carriage Hills are seniors and live on a fixed income. The special assessment, while necessary, could force them out of their homes.

Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy expressed his desire to help and is looking for ways to offer financial assistance.

“Explore the use of those state funds and perhaps opportunities to use local locally generated funds to try to help them,” said Levy.

For their part, residents are also demanding to review the association’s financial records as well the inspection reports of the building. Wise informed local news that unit owners can examine all official records.

However, Wise did not respond when asked if the board thought about providing records of last month’s meeting and documentation concerning how maintenance issues have been addressed over the years.