Article
and Video Courtesy of Channel 8 -- On Your Side
By Shannon Behnken
Published
February 27, 2016
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Watch
VIDEO
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TAMPA -- On the heels of a multimillion-dollar shoddy
construction settlement, announced by the Florida Attorney General’s
Office, another neighborhood is dealing with major problems.
This time, problems have emerged at
the Schooner Cove condominiums in South Tampa, built by
Texas-based D.R. Horton. From the outside, it was a
gorgeous community – until the engineers popped the
stucco off 10 buildings last week, revealing a moldy
mess.
Engineers examined the condos. They found wood so
rotten, it crumbled like butter.
8 On Your Side was there as workers went building to
building checking for trouble. This exploratory work
came after the neighborhood condo association hired an
attorney and pushed for answers. |
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Association President Louis Ayoub said the condos was recently turned
over to the neighborhood from the builder. Because of water intrusion
complaints in some units, the association wanted an engineer’s opinion.
Engineers first deconstructed one building. They found mold and what
Ayoub called building code violations.
That unit now has a plastic containment wall to keep
the mold away from the rest of the home.
“Water was pouring in around these
windows,” Ayoub said.
That prompted the association to demand more testing. Ayoub
said he is still waiting for the results from the engineers,
but based on what he saw, and 8 On You Side observed, there
are problems.
The exploratory work looked strikingly similar to KB Home’s
Willowbrook complex in Bradenton. In 2012 8 On Your Side
began a more than three-year investigation that led to
millions in repairs and an attorney general settlement for
millions more. Now, KB Home must have a third-party
inspector evaluate any new homes during and after
construction. |
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Darren Saltzberg, Tampa division president for DR
Horton, said the company will fix any problems that are determined to be
caused by faulty construction. However, he said he was not ready to take
fault and cited homeowner maintenance issues as a possible cause of
water intrusion.
“We want them to fix all of the problems, acknowledge that there is a
problem and take care of it,” said Carolyn Coram, vice president of the
condo association. |