EAST LAKE -- The pictures, the skinned walls, the corner cutouts - they all allege the hidden findings:

Inside the walls of the Nature's Watch townhomes are basic, glaring code violations.

A new round of evidence that emerged last week raises troubling questions about the role played by county building inspectors during the construction of the luxury waterfront homes.

Some of the framing isn't anchored to the foundation in the ways codes require. And important building materials such an hurricane straps and frame fasteners seem to be missing.

Those oversights can't be blamed for the massive water intrusion that has caused millions of dollars in damage to the 182-unit community. Shoddy construction is the root cause, experts say.

But the structural problems that don't meet code, along with the water damage, raise concerns about whether the buildings could stand up to high winds, experts contend.

And, adding to the nightmare for residents, the structural problems are driving up the staggering repair bills. The total cost may soar to $16.7-million - $92,000 per homeowner.

The beleaguered residents have been dealing with government officials, lawyers, engineers and architects for more than a year. Last week, it was Tampa engineer Robert Reinhart's turn. Not only did he deliver the jaw-dropping $92,000 repair estimate, he also echoed the earlier conclusions of Pinellas architect Art Shand: County building inspectors missed too much.

Particularly bothersome, Reinhart said, are missing or improperly installed fasteners used to attach the sole plates to the foundation. It's where wood meets concrete. And it's what holds a building to its foundation.

The fasteners were supposed to be embedded in concrete at intervals of 2 to 3 feet, Reinhart said. They were then supposed to be wrapped around the sole plate and nailed in place.

Reinhart found the fasteners were spaced much too far apart. And more often than not, he said, they were improperly nailed to the outside plywood sheathing. And in many cases, he said, the fasteners weren't nailed to anything. They just dangled uselessly in the air.

"The basic foundation connections are wrong," Reinhart said.

Presented with photos showing an unattached anchor strap, Pinellas building inspector Robert Nagin acknowledged it's a code violation.

"This one, obviously, we missed it," he said. But he said it doesn't mean it's a problem throughout the complex.

Inadequate strapping also was found between the floors, Reinhart said. There are two ways to strap framing, according to code. One way is with a metal strip screwed in to connect floors, at proper intervals. Another option is "lapping" wood to connect the floors.

Reinhart said he found a little bit of each method, but in most instances, neither was installed correctly. Some were nailed only on one end. Others were spaced much too far apart, he said. The floor-to-floor strapping problems were prevalent throughout Nature's Watch, he said.

"Who knows what kind of wind these could take?" Reinhart said.

Nagin acknowledged straps clearly are missing in the photos shot by Reinhart, but it's impossible to tell whether wood lapping was used on the backside.

Another code violation is evident in a St. Petersburg Times photo shot last week. The shot shows a skinned wing wall, which was built to support a second-story deck. Reinhart winced when he noticed chunks had been cut out of the vertical studs so wires could pass through.

"Holy cow!" he said. "I need to stop looking at these. ... I really feel sorry for these people."

Nagin acknowledged the cuts were a major and obvious code violation. Perhaps, Nagin said, the sheathing was up on both sides before the framing inspection.

"It's such a gross violation. An inspector would be hard-pressed to miss something like that," Nagin said.

Other code violations found at Nature's Watch, Reinhart said, include single studs at building corners and inadequately fastened sheathing.

"When you open up a building, you're always going to find some things that were missed," Reinhart said. "But when it's all over the place, just the amount of it, it's kind of suspicious."

The problems at Nature's Watch clearly have the attention of Pinellas County's government leaders. County Administrator Steve Spratt said he lost sleep last week thinking of ways to help the residents.

"I feel an obligation to do what I can to help these people who have suffered a tremendous hardship," he said.

Spratt has the building department poring over every detail of Reinhart's report. Months ago, he commissioned four building officials from around the state to review inspectors' performance at Nature's Watch, which was constructed from 1992 to 1998. All four concluded inspectors did all that was required.

But Shand, the Clearwater architect who was hired by a court-appointed receiver to fix the problems at the complex, calls the four reports "ridiculous." None actually toured Nature's Watch to evaluate the problems. Rather, the reviews were of a paper trail - mostly inspection reports. They show inspectors red-flagged some of the same code violations alleged now. 

The professionals who have been to the site and looked for themselves, Shand said, concluded inspectors failed.

"It's obvious to Rob Reinhart and Tech Management and to me that somebody was looking the other way," Shand said. "You don't miss that many things in all these buildings over a five-year period."

Spratt fears a climate of blame is building. "First, let's remember that most of the damage is attributable to water intrusion," Spratt said. Flashing and other waterproofing details are not a part of any state-mandated inspection, he noted.

"What's important to me is, "Are the building inspectors today conducting thorough inspections?"' Spratt said.

All four consultants hired by the county concluded the county's inspection department is adequately staffed and trained.

More than 100 Nature's Watch residents signed letters supporting the hiring of St. Petersburg attorney Henry Stein to sue the county. Stein said Reinhart's report shows "reckless inspections" by the building department and provides further ammunition should residents follow through with the suit.

Support may be waning, though.

Resident Lara Shane, a community leader, no longer supports it. It would take years to litigate, she said, and residents may have long ago been run over by the expense of the repairs. 

Besides, she said, residents may need the county's help in trying to forge a "more viable" and cheaper repair than the one supported by the court-appointed receiver, Andrew Bolnick.

Residents have sued the developer, Richard Geiger of Holiday, as well as the contractor and engineer.

Spratt last week said he planned to offer a team of consultants to Nature's Watch to see if they could find cheaper ways to fix the buildings. Bolnick said he would welcome them.

Spratt also is trying to assemble a team of bankers to offer residents long-term loans at below-market interest rates.

Emotions are high, as many residents teeter on the edge of losing their homes. Twelve homeowners face foreclosures filed by receiver Bolnick. An additional 66 face liens for not keeping pace with the assessments. Many others have sold at fire sale prices just to get out.