OUC starts shutting down water, power in Veranda Park

Article Courtesy of The Orlando Sentinel

By Rich McKay

Published July 9, 2009 

 

At noon today, the Orlando Utilities Commission turned off the water and power for the large fountain at the entrance to the Veranda Park town center in MetroWest Orlando as well as for the outdoor irrigation systems for the 30-acre property off of South Hiawassee Road.

This is the first step in a staggered shutdown of water and power in Veranda Park due to months of unpaid bills for seven Veranda accounts owned or controlled by developer Kevin Azzouz.

The unpaid accounts total more than $378,000 for the struggling project that was to become a second downtown Orlando.

Neither Azzouz nor his representatives returned phone calls seeking comment.

Azzouz is currently fighting bankruptcies, foreclosures and a flurry of lawsuits and liens concerning his half-built $700 million project.

Five of the planned 11 structures have been built, including a 157-unit residential condo building.

Water and power for all the common areas and many of the unsold condos are scheduled to be cut off on July 21.

Even if renters or condo owners have their own individual accounts with OUC, city officials said that they will close the building because the elevators, fire alarms and sprinklers won't be operational.

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