TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — People living in University Village tell 8 On Your Side conditions at the continuing care retirement community continue to deteriorate. Expensive drawn out lawsuits with the state is diverting money that residents say should be used to fix up the place.
There is a patch job on the leaking roof in the east building. A trash dumpster has sat full on the grounds for months. A 27-year-old air conditioning chiller sounds like it’s on its last leg. The aroma of rotting garbage permeates the area because a door won’t close.
Those are just some of the conditions retirees at University Village endure.
“Right now, I think the biggest thing is the lack of air conditioning,” said resident Bob Butz.
“The buffet dining room, no air conditioning. The buffet is hot before you start,” added resident Frances Moon.
“They’re putting Band-Aids on everything. People are worried that the minute their air conditioner goes that they won’t get another one,” explained resident Carol Resnick.
Instead of paying for upgrades, residents claim the new owners of Westport Holdings of Tampa are spending big bucks in their legal fight with the state. The Department of Financial Services accuses the new owners of pulling a fast one, taking ownership without required state approval.
The Office of Insurance Regulation is also trying to suspend the owners’ operating license. Litigation in Miami involves unpaid vendors.
As a result, former residents — like Thomas Allensworth who paid a premium to live at University Village, then moved out– are owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in reimbursements, with no check in sight. The continuing care retirement community offered independent living for retirees, as well as assisted living, and a nursing facility for end of life care.
The cash crunch affects employees too. University Village took money out of Merline Thomas’ paycheck for medical insurance. At a doctor’s office, she was later told she had no insurance.
“The other horror story, paychecks that people have earned that they’ve gone and cashed, that were bounced. I mean it’s horrible and it’s reprehensible,” said state representative Ed Narain (D) Hillsborough County.
Narain was contacted by residents right before Memorial Day. He intends to contact the Florida Attorney General on behalf of residents and employees.
One University Village manager confirms that problems with paychecks and insurance premiums were an issue about a year ago, but believes that’s all behind them now.
For Carol Resnick, it’s over.
“I’m moving, sorry to say, leaving my friends behind, leaving a lot of money behind,” she said.
