In April of I moved into a condo in Shelby Woods North which is located on the North side 22 mile rd just West of the of the Van Dyke expressway in Shelby Township, MI 48317. I was told I was moving into a quite private rd condo community.in the short 6 months I have been there it has been a nightmare to say the least. I purchased the condo in April at $140,000, six months later they are for sale for as low as $78,000. The remainder of the condos that are going up along the highway where rezoned to apartments without notice to the current condo owners. The board of Shelby Township and the contractor had a behind closed door meeting to do a consent to judgment to the deed. The condo owners found out through a newspaper article. A new road is also being added to connect to the new development off of 23 mile rd to our condos on 22 mile rd. This will allow traffic from 23 mile rd to get to 22 mile rd through the once private road condos. Right after I bought the condo the bank that was financing the builder was seized by FDIC and shut down. The builder Joe Caradonna himself filed bankruptcy. Since I moved into the condo 6 short months ago, I have a master bathroom out of service and half torn apart due to major water damage from the shower. The contractors screwed through the shower pan. The water rotted out the wood to the seat in the shower, caused mold to grow along the entire molding in the adjacent closet. The carpet in the adjacent closet was ruined from water damage. The drywall in the shower rotted out. The builder has now just begun to have contractors work on the shower after being notified more than 2 months ago. I have e-mail after e-mail asking them to do something before the shower got worse. They did not and it got worse. My attached garage floods on rainy days due to a bad slop from the driveway. I cannot exit my side door to the outside or the spare bathroom door without yanking very hard on the doors to open them. The security lights on the outside of the building my condo unit is in were turned off over a month ago leaving it pitch black outside at night. This is a major security risk to my family, the condo and our vehicles. As such, our cars and building were shot up with paintballs. A police report was made. The management company Casa Bella is stating the builder is taking care of it and the builder is stating the management company is taking care of it. It's been over 4 weeks. I have filed a complete against the builder against the builder Joe Caradonna to the State of Michigan and to Shelby Township. I have complete support from the Shelby Township building director who has been out to the condo on 4 occasions now. I would advise anyone looking at these condos to do their research. You can read exerts from the Shelby township meetings from 8-17-10 and 9-7-10 at shelbytwp.org. I have spent a lot of money in attorney fees fighting these issues. I also have lost a lot of money having to be at the condo dealing with these headaches instead of being with my clients. The first set of condos was built 3 years ago. A majority of the owners have had major repair problems. Some owners are still waiting for repairs 3 years later. The up keep on the outside of the condos including landscaping has been terrible. The wetlands have over grown onto the condos landscape. The grass gets cut once every 3 to 4 weeks. Weeds are everywhere. The entire project is and has been a complete mess. Below are some of the e-mails.
From: Michael
Sent: Wednesday, August 18 3:06 PM
To: amie
Cc: Michael
Subject: N Woods Dr
Amy,
Good Afternoon.
Per our conversation yesterday, I have yet to receive a call on fixing the rotting drywall that is located outside the main shower. I am very concerned about that turning into a mold situation as the drywell is now like a sponge and turning colors. I also have bubbles forming in the drywall. There are plenty of other things that need to be fixed that I have yet to bother with because I was asked by you to wait until the 11 month of me living there so everything can settle. I understand and appreciate that but this can't wait especially with the chance of it causing mold to grow. Can you have someone call me ASAP.
Thank you for all your help in getting this matter resolved.
Thanks,
Michael
From: Michael
Sent: Thursday, October 07 12:58 PM
To: Joe
Cc:
Subject: RE: Shelby Woods North
Mr. Caradonna,
Thank you for your response.
The major bathroom issue was made aware to you and your office, according to my emails, 2 months ago. I have been patient.
Again, the change of ownership, the change of management, the issues with the board of Shelby and all the other issues are not my problem. I invested $140,000 6 months ago when I purchased this condo. With the unit to the east of me having condos for sale for $80,000ish, show me a comp that will justify my purchase price of $140,000.
I do not care about the politics of the city. My Attorney is not involved with that. He is involved with getting my condo to the shape a brand new condo should be in. The politics of Shelby also is not my problem.
What I do care about is my family. At both meetings that you and I attended that has been my only issue. Safety for my family. The repairs, I have been very patient on up until know.
Also, why can't that trailer that is next to the flipped over trailer be pulled into the road at the end of my unit to prevent kids and problems from going back into the end of the road by the woods? And if that is not your trailer then why can't something be put across the road?
You state you want this to be a positive experience and that it is one of the nicest communities around. Name one positive I can take away from this. Also, if it is one of the nicest communities around than explain the high grass, the weeds in the empty lots, a tore up playground thanks to 2 people and their dogs, a flipped over trailer that has been there for months that way and a broken up u haul in front of the end of our unit.
I am stuck in the home for now and will make the best of my situation. I will also make sure my family is living in a safe
environment.
As for who lives in the condos, I understand there is no controlling that. But to have the security lights out for over 2 weeks no matter who is sick or not is no excuse.
Please give me a reason to be excited to live in this community. So far for the residents that have been here for 3 years all say they have had nothing to be excited about so that leaves me little hope. I hope I am wrong. If not at least I will learn from my mistake.
Thanks,
Michael
From: Joe Caradonna
Sent: Thursday, October 07 11:49 AM
To: Michael
Cc:
Subject: RE: Shelby Woods North
Michael
As per your email we have been coming out but we need to address your repairs in order there is no reason to fix the cosmetic issues until we have your shower repaired. Everyone was out yesterday and we now know what the problem is and have a plan to repair. You have an appointment scheduled for the repairs starting next week. After that all of your warranty items will be repaired. We have been out several times to address your issues and if needed we have been in constant contact in regards to this. I understand your frustration but we are doing all the repairs as quickly as possible.
Mr. Scalabrino is in a meeting with the association as I type this, he was hospitalized for two weeks and unable to finalize the association issues, but they are being handled as I type this.
The electrician has been contracted to repair the lights, I hope the problem will be taken care of today!
As for who lives in the community, I am sorry but we cannot help who buys the units, and it is illegal to discriminate against any buyer.
“In terms of the exterior electrical disconnects, they are capable of being locked in the open position. The electrical code does not require the lock, but they are lockable. Exterior disconnects are provided, in part, to provide emergency personnel the ability to shut-off power in the event of fire or other reasons. Obviously, emergency personnel have the tools necessary to dismantle any locking device so there is no problems on are part of locking them in the open position.
Regards, Tim ”
As you can see per the quote from Mr. The electrical is installed per code and done for safety purposes. Each tenant may lock there unit and have their own key. We have advised the association to lock the security and house panels on each building.
The association is here and claims that they never said that the builders lack of funds was stopping the electrical repairs, In fact two sensors have already been replaced and the other issue is contracted for immediate repair.
Kids will be kids and if you have some mischief in the community, it happens in every community and I am sure that th
police department handled this appropriately.
I am very sorry that you have had such a poor experience, but we are taking care of the issues. We do not want to inconvenience you or your family and are trying very hard to service you quickly. We want this to be a positive experience for you and this is one of the nicest units and communities in the county.
As for your attorney, Mr. Scalabrino feels that this has become a political platform for some people and some people in the community are misguided by people who are using this for political gain. A successful project and more people living in the community will solve the majority of your issues. The Board was very wise in what they did and in the end the community will be better for this. Mr. Scallabrino has stated that if at any time he feels that he or the community is the victim of slander, he will pursue any remedy under the law as well.
We want this community to be successful and want every homeowner to be excited to live in it.
Best regards,
Joe Caradonna
Shelby Woods North, LLC
From: Michael
Sent: Thursday, October 07 10:17 AM
To: amie
Cc: Joe Caradonna;
Subject: RE:
Ms.,
Dante, another gentleman and the plumber came out yesterday to assess the damage. We have an appointment scheduled for next Thursday, October 14th. Not sure on times yet.
No repairs to any of my problems in the condo have been fixed yet.
I have contacted the association/management company on the security lights and they say it could be multiple problems. They also sight a lack of funds from the builder and from some residents not paying their association dues for some of the issues. Neither of which is my problem. We have a sex offender living in the first unit at, Shelby Twp MI 48317. Not having the security lights on is a major safety issue. I have contacted my attorney on this. The condo unit and Tammy's car has already been shot up with paintballs 2 weeks ago. I had the Shelby Police out there for this issue. Also, someone flipped off our circuit breaker to our unit last week causing the inside of our condo to go pitch black. My other question is how come our circuit breakers for each unit are open to anyone and everyone. What's to stop someone from flipping that off and breaking in to a home?
It makes it really difficult not to tell and warn potential buyers of all of these issues. I have only been in the condos since April and I do not have one positive thing about these condos to tell anyone. Every time I get hopeful about these units, something else destroys that hope. This situation is a complete mess and I do have my attorney involved. If this situation was happening to anyone of you, I truly believe you would do the same. I have a business to run and a family to grow and support. Each day that I have to meet someone at the condo for repairs or each time I have to meet the cops there is time that is being taken away from my clients to make money and time away from my family.
Now there is another petition to recall five of the Shelby Township board of directors and it is linked to the condo debacle. How can I tell people to buy in here. I just can't….
Thanks,
Michael
From: Michael
Sent: Monday, October 25 1:30 PM
To: amie
Cc: Joe Caradonna;
Subject: RE:
Ms.,
According to the e-mail I sent you last week with a copy of the work order, Ron from the management company said the builder is in contact with the bank. Below is the insert stating this.
Again, I am fed up with this entire situation. How can the management company be taking care of this if they say the builder is? Sounds like the owner of the condo is getting screwed again.
I am taking all the steps necessary to protect myself and my family through this headache of an ordeal. If this project and the people living in it was so important to the builder then why haven't I heard from him?
Ron
Mike,
Uptown Electric was out at the building. The electric has been turned off by the bank to all units except those that have been purchased, as the bank now owns the property. The Builder has been in contact with the bank to try and resolve this situation. I am hoping that this gets resolved very soon.
I understand your frustration with this issue as we are also frustrated. I will keep you informed as the information becomes available to me.
Regards,
Ron
From: amie
Sent: Monday, October 25 1:19 PM
To: Michael
Cc: Joe Caradonna; Andy Casa Bella Mngnt
Subject: RE:
Jeff,
Can you please schedule this accordingly so that it works out for Mr. Pikora.
As for the security lights, the management company is handling this.
Amie
Subject: RE:
Date: Mon, 25 Oct 10:56: 17 -0500
From: michael
To: amie
CC:
Thursday will not work. I will be available on Friday after 4:30 or Saturday after 1:00 or anytime Sunday before 7pm.
Where are we with the security or lack of security lights?
Thanks
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