There just wasn’t enough money at University Village in Hillsborough County to keep the place from deteriorating and the retirees living there safe.
University Village is a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). Retirees pay a large entry fee to move in and receive assisted living and nursing care as they need it.
The Office of Insurance Regulation continually fought with the new owners, claiming they took over University Village and did not have the finances to run it properly.
During the past four years, 8 On Your Side documented ongoing financial concerns which translated to garbage piling up, leaking pipes flooding hallways, air conditioning repair delays and a lack of heat in the cold of winter.
For five years, conditions continued to go down hill as the owners spent big bucks on legal fees fighting the state in court to hold onto the facility.
Concerned with the conditions he saw, State Senator Tom Lee decided it was time to do something about it to protect the residents of University Village and 30,000 retirees like them living in CCRCs around the state.
8 On Your Side’s Steve Andrews will have much more on this story tonight at 6 p.m. on News Channel 8.
