Orange County Commission delays decision on controversial Tymber Skan Condos property sale
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - People who live in the Tymber Skan Condos in Orlando may be there on borrowed time.
Orange County Commissioners were set to vote on a resolution Tuesday that would have started the process of trying to force the sale of the property. However, they decided to delay that vote.
Condominium safety concerns
The backstory:
The county said it has invested $3.5 million in efforts to stabilize the community but believes more drastic measures are needed.
County leaders said many of the units are still dilapidated, face code violations, some don’t have running water, and there have been ongoing safety concerns.
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Miya Marcano investigation
Local perspective:
The complex made headlines back in 2021 when the body of 19-year-old college student Miya Marcano was found there after she was reported missing.
Her family told FOX 35 News Tuesday they don’t have a stance on whether the condos stay or go but believe improvements are necessary.
"I sincerely hope that meaningful improvements to that area come, so no other family will have to go through what we went through," said Yma Scarbriel, Marcano’s mom. "As we know, neglected areas can foster crime."
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Miya Marcano, 19, was reported missing after she did not board a scheduled flight from Orlando to Ft. Lauderdale on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021.
Property sale garners mixed opinions
What they're saying:
Opinions from both residents and local leaders seem to be mixed on the property.
"A little bit relieved because we didn’t lose our homes," said 70-year-old resident Cynthia Claytor.
Some commissioners didn’t think neighbors had enough notice about the plans.
"This should not be a surprise," said Commissioner Michael Scott.
Others said they wanted to make sure the county had a good plan to rehouse people living there, and if the property was sold, the current owners would get a fair buy out.
"These individuals living in these circumstances that they are makes me uneasy that they’d be able to afford anything else out there right now," said Commissioner Mayra Uribe.
That’s what has Claytor most concerned. She owns her home in the complex now.
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"They want to move me," she said. "They (had) better buy me a new home. I can’t afford a new home."
Only eight of the original 49 buildings remain.
Claytor lives in one of the 56 occupied units in the complex.
She believes the neighbors left are trying to turn the condo complex around.
"I feel safe walking through my neighborhood," said Claytor.
But, Mayor Jerry Demings told commissioners and the public he strongly believes lives are at risk the longer residents stay there.
"We want to make sure the property is either brought up to the standards where any of us would want to live or relocate them to other places, and we will work to make sure they have access to everything they need," said Demings.
What's next:
The county plans to bring the topic up again for further consideration at the March 11 meeting.
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The Source: This story was written based on information from previous reporting, as well as information gathered at the Orange County Commission meeting on Jan. 28 and thoughts shared by local residents.