An attorney for a Villages couple contends his clients can’t afford to keep up a vacant property in The Villages.
Overgrown weeds and grass at 1520 Impala Place in the Village of Santo Domingo were the subject of a public hearing Friday morning before the Community Development District 2 Board of Supervisors.
A complaint was received Jan. 9 about the unkempt property. It was verified the following day by Community Standards.
“It looks like the property will eventually go into foreclosure,” Candice Dennis, of Community Standards, told the board.
The owners, Charles and Alice Ignarski, are living in New Port Richey. Their attorney, Eugene Beil, of Hudson, sent a letter on behalf of his clients to Community Standards.
“My clients have been placed in an untenable situation as a result of neglect by the lender on the property. The clients have written to the lender in lieu of foreclosure,” Beil wrote.
He said the couple’s letters have been ignored.
“My clients are in this situation of being the legal owner of record, but not being able or willing to extend any further sums on upkeep or maintenance,” the attorney’s letter said.
The couple purchased the designer home in 2000 for $164,200.
He recommended deeding the property over to The Villages.
“That would entitle ‘The Villages’ to take possession, do whatever maintenance and upkeep that they desire, and even rent the property until the lender finally decides to take action,” he wrote.
It was an offer not considered by the board.
Instead, the board found the homeowners in violation of deed compliance and gave them five days to come into compliance. If not, the couple will face a $250 fine and each time the District is forced to maintain the property, another $250 fine will be imposed.
