Re: Bugs, mold, angry neighbors

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_http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=76168 & src=109_

(http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=76168 & src=109)

_http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=76168 & src=109_

(http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=76168 & src=109)

* Bugs, mold, angry neighbors

Abandoned townhouse causing problems

By Corrinne Hess | Daily Herald Staff

_Contact writerPublished: 11/13/2007

Months-old damage caused by a broken water pipe in an abandoned Lake Villa

townhouse has neighbors wondering who is responsible for repairs.

The house, at 263 Winchester Lane in the Painted Lakes subdivision, has been

vacant since the summer of 2006. In February, a second-floor water pipe

burst and caused major flooding, prompting the ceiling in the attached garage

to

collapse.

" We're worried about a lot of things, " said Kurt Lorch, who owns an

adjoining townhouse. " There is mold build-up, tons of bugs. Not to mention the

structural integrity of the entire building itself. "

Lorch and his wife, Bugayong, realized the pipe had burst when the

vents in their house filled with water.

" I went outside and water was just gushing from the garage door, " Lorch

said.

The Lake Villa public works department broke a window and eventually shut

off the water, but the damage had been done. No repairs have been made to the

property.

" I've talked to the homeowners association (property manager), the health

department, the village, and everyone just says it is someone else's problem, "

said Lorrie Purify, who also owns an adjoining unit. " Nobody even wants to

try to help us. "

It's unclear who owns the unit.

Bugayong said Lily Tsai, believed to be the most recent owner, returned

Sunday for the first time since the summer of 2006.

" She wanted to get into her house, but the locks had been changed, " Bugayong

said. " I told her to call the police. "

Tsai reportedly left and hasn't returned since. She did not return repeated

phone calls Monday.

Lake Villa Mayor Loffredo said he sympathizes with neighbors and hopes

the problem is resolved soon.

But Loffredo added this is not a village issue.

" We've looked into it, sent the health department over there, but the

homeowners association owns the property, " he said. " Right now, our attorney is

talking to their attorney, but they have more jurisdiction than we do. "

nne Fouty, property manager with Property Specialists Inc. in Rolling

Meadows, could not be reached by telephone or e-mail Monday.

Through the home's garage windows, the collapsed ceiling is visible.

There has also been a noticeable increase in bugs since the pipe burst,

neighbors say.

" We've had bugs and roaches that we've never had before, " Purify said. " We

keep a tidy home and keep killing them, but they just come back. "

What bothers Purify even more is that her husband is in the military, and

they will likely have to sell their home within the next year.

" I'm very concerned we aren't going to be able to sell, " she said. " I just

wish we had more cooperation from our association, our village, someone. Even

if they can't do anything, it would be nice if they could guide us in the

direction we should be going. "

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