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Article Courtesy of The
Palm Beach Post
By Mike Diamond
Published May 18, 2021
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County officials expect to demolish another seven unfinished homes at the
Estates of Boynton Waters, where residents have complained for more than a
decade about conditions at the development west of Boynton Beach.
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In December 2019, the county tore down
five homes that had no roofs after the builder’s own report
questioned whether they could survive a high-wind event.
Another seven homes have deteriorated to the point where
county officials have the same concerns, resulting in the
county awarding a contract to a demolition company that is
in the process of obtaining permits.
The Post began reporting on the plight of residents at the
gated community three years ago. Residents called on the
county to enforce its building codes after complaining that
the unfinished homes at the development were detracting from
their quality of life. Estates of Boynton Waters is located
less than a mile north of Boynton Beach Boulevard on the
west side of Jog Road.
The builder, the late John Kennelly,
experienced financial problems that resulted in him leaving
homes in various stages of completion. For more than 10
years, residents have complained about the condition of the
development and the lack of amenities that they were
promised. |
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The HOA is now controlled by Kennelly’s son, John Jr., a lawyer. Kennelly owns a
number of homes that he rents. He also owns a number of empty lots. Kennelly
Jr.'s control of the HOA is a sore point with residents who expected the
turnover to occur years ago. Normally, that takes place when a developer has
sold 90% of the lots in the development. Estates at Boynton Waters consists of
140 lots; 34 of which are owned by the Kennelly affiliate, Estates at Boynton
Waters West Corp.
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Alan Hess, a longtime
resident who has been pressing the county to act, said the
latest homes scheduled for demolition, three on Cobia Drive
and four on Pearch Lane, have significantly deteriorated to
the degree that he fears they will not withstand a high-wind
event.
Hess said he was
pleased that more unfinished homes will soon be demolished
but noted that the process takes way too long. “We are
heading into another hurricane season,” he noted. “These
homes needed to come down yesterday.”
Residents had expected the initial demolitions to occur in
2016, but Kennelly Sr., over their objections, was given an
extra two years to either finish the homes or tear them down
himself. When that did not happen, the county moved to tear
down five of the homes it deemed to be in the most dangerous
condition. |
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While code enforcement has cited the builder for violations involving another
dozen unfinished homes, Hess said the county should also be looking to tear down
others as well.
“They have not had air or heat for several years,” Hess noted. “Imagine the
amount of mold in those homes. And many of them have no interiors so there is no
flooring or walls to anchor the home if we get hit with a hurricane.”
The county is expected to eventually recover the cost of the demolitions. It
will place liens on the lots where the demolished homes once stood. That means
that when the property is sold, the buyer will have to pay off the county lien
to obtain clear title to the property.
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