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.
|