officials rap Lennar over homeowner gripes

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officials rap Lennar over homeowner gripes

By Schultz

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2006/06/2

2/m1b_mclennar_0622.html?cxtype=rss & cxsvc=7 & cxcat=17

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, June 22, 2006

STUART — After weeks of hearing homeowners complain about mold,

leaky roofing tiles and shoddy workmanship, County officials

have had enough.

The county has told a national home builder to prove its homes meet

county standards, fix the problems, or get out and don't come back.

" These horror stories just keep getting worse, " said County

Commission Chairman Valliere after residents complained

Tuesday of problems with homes built by the Miami-based Lennar

Corp. " This is really getting upsetting. "

Mike , a Stuart real estate agent, has been complaining to the

commission for weeks about faulty electrical wiring, stucco wall and

roof problems caused by shoddy building on Lennar's homes in the

's Crossing subdivision on Kanner Highway. On Tuesday,

brought the five homeowners to the commission meeting and said he

plans to bring 20 to the next meeting to voice their complaints.

" It's been a nightmare, " said Rick Scimeca, who said his house has

had problems with leaking roof tiles. Scimeca also said his neighbor

had a plumbing leak that caused mildew inside her walls. " It's a

brand-new house. These things shouldn't happen. "

County Building Official Larry Massing met with Lennar officials on

Tuesday about the homeowners allegations. Massing said he is

requiring the company to inspect the homes with him present and to

send him all its reports on roofing tiles, stucco and electrical

wiring used in the homes. The county will require Lennar to do more

inspections later.

" If I feel Lennar is not doing everything necessary, you'll be the

first to know, " Massing told the commissioners.

Mark Sustana, general counsel for Lennar, said the company has

agreed to have Massing, an inspector hired by Lennar and a private

inspector check the electrical wiring on several randomly selected

homes at the same time on Friday.

Sustana said the company has also sent Massing all of its inspection

reports of the homes where owners have made complaints.

County Administrator Duncan Ballantyne said he is requesting money

in next year's budget to hire more building inspectors so he can

form a special unit dedicated to inspecting new roofs.

" This will be an ongoing program until we see the level of demand

for roof inspections drop, " he said.

But commissioners were so upset by the homeowner complaints that

they suggested going further, such as banning Lennar from building

new homes in the county.

" If their workmanship is shoddy, maybe we shouldn't allow them to

work here, " said Commissioner DiTerlizzi.

Commissioner Heard also suggested shutting down Lennar's

County projects.

" I've heard enough, " Heard said. " I think we should suspend

operations out there and have them solely focus on bringing houses

up to code. "

Commissioner Lee Weberman said that if it turns out Lennar's

workmanship is poor, he would support revoking its license to do

business in the county.

Ballantyne cautioned that the county has to stick to its inspection

process to make sure any fines or enforcement actions are legal.

Sustana has denied the allegations made by and the homeowners.

Ballantyne said he would give the commission weekly updates on the

progress of the investigations into the homeowners' complaints.