July 10, 2009
Dear Del Webb LaCresta Homeowner,
I'm writing to inform you that the discussions between Pulte Homes and JL Land to resolve the disputes between the two organizations have reached an impasse. Pulte believes its only option is to aggressively pursue our claims against JL Land and rely on the legal process to resolve our disputes. We expect the legal process will take a significant amount of time to complete. The Court has set a trial date for March 2010.
In light of this change, as of July 10th, Pulte will cease sales activities and construction of new homes and amenities at LaCresta, close down the LaCresta sales center, remove all signage and cease community operations. The model park, including the Lifestyle House will also be closed down.
Additionally, as a result of actions taken by J.L. Land Development, Inc., board members of the LaCresta at Ridgewood Lakes Homeowners Association appointed by Pulte have resigned. Therefore, you should direct any questions about or requests related to the LaCresta at Ridgewood Lakes Homeowners Association to the management company or JL Land-appointed board members of the LaCresta Association. I have attached contact information for each. As has always been the case, questions concerning the Master Association should be directed to the Master Association management company or board of directors of the Master Association.
Our greatest concern is for you, our homeowners. Pulte is in the process of evaluating alternative solutions for you, our LaCresta homeowners, to address your concerns. As always, Pulte remains committed to honoring any customer service or warranty-related needs under the Pulte Protection Plan. If you have such a request, please schedule an appointment through pultedelight.com, or by calling 866-313-9950 for Customer Relations.
Respectfully,
Scott H. Campbell
President
Pulte Homes– Central Florida Division
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29 comments:
We've been taken off the map! I just visited Del Webb's website and searched for Florida communities. LaCresta is no longer on the list!
Click the link above, or use the URL below to see for yourself.
http://www.pulte.com/delwebb/predefined/FL-aarfsearchpage-0808.aspx
I feel betrayed and am in shock that this has happened.
Sue Melton
As the first resident of LaCresta and who talked two friends into buying here I am embaressed, violated and shocked. I bought into the Pulte/Del Webb dream not knowing it would be a nightmare. All the promises that were made are just signs laying against the dumster in a parking lot. Thank you Del Webb for destroying everything I thought retirement would be.
We sold another property in Davenport Florida to buy into the Del Webb Community because of everything they were offering. We are so disappointed at the way Pulte has left the community. Just the other day, we saw a Pulte Home Commercial that said that the people in the communities are like family to them. Hopefully they don't treat family members like this.
If Pulte had good management skills, the least they could have had was a strategy for a back up plan should discussions with JL Land fail. Obviously no one thought of that and it is now the homeowners that are going to suffer the consequences.
We moved here for the Del Webb life style and I worked for Pulte for 21/2 yrs. I was dedicated to them with all this going on with La Cresta. I remained a Pulte employee first and resident second. I truly believed in them. Now I think they robbed us of our dream for what they promised us.
I can only hope this too will pass and someone will come in and make it even better.
The anonymous person is me, Carolynn Williams. I hit the wrong button.
A sad day has dawned on our beloved La Cresta, when Pulte /Del Webb deserted us without warning after repeatedly telling us how much they care about us. We will not sit by silently. We will let Pulte / Del Webb know that we are one. This is only the beginning and we don't intend on letting up. Know this Pulte /Del Webb, you have done a terrible thing and your credibility has gone along with you.
It is hard to express our feelings at this time. Anger, sadness and betrayal first come to mind as we think about our treatment by Pulte/Del Webb. So far their actions have demonstrated a lack of professionalism and any basic concern for the residents of La Cresta. Our retirement dreams trashed by a company we thought had a great reputation!
We were so impressed with Pulte Homes - Del Webb and all that they offered that we took a big risk and bought a home here before selling our other property. Moving forward, we continued to be positive that an amenity center was soon be constructed although delayed and the land dispute settled. How can a company like Pulte Homes with a distinguised name as Del Webb pull such an unthinkable act and leave us out in the cold the way they did. How can they claim that their #1 priority is their customers. Right now their #1 priority should be their reputation.
I sent the below letter to Richard Dugas:
Pulte Homes Inc.
100 Bloomfield Hills Parkway
Suite 300
Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304
Attention:
Richard Dugas,
President and CEO
Re: LaCresta by Del Webb
Davenport, FL
Dear Mr. Dugas:
“Our greatest concern is for you, our homeowners”. This is a quote from Mr. Scott H. Campbell, President, Pulte Homes – Central Florida Division in a letter sent to the LaCresta Del Webb Homeowners on July 10, 2009. The letter to the 96 homeowners further stated:
“In light of this change, as of July 10th, Pulte will cease sales activities and construction of new homes and amenities at LaCresta, close down the LaCresta sales center, remove all signage and cease community operations. The model park, including the Lifestyle House will also be closed down.”
We can understand the reasoning to close the sales office until you have settled your dispute with JL Land in court on March 10, 2010 BUT we cannot understand why you chose to shutdown our Lifestyle House remove our social director and cancel all future LaCresta activities.
At the Town Hall Meeting held May 19,2009 between the residence of LaCresta and the Pulte team made up of Scott Campbell, Sean Strickler and Bud Bennington, a Partner in the law firm Shutts & Bowen LLP, who is the lead council representing Pulte in the litigation with JL Land Development, Scott Campbell stated the following:
Pulte has considered a number of different options for moving forward. One potential option is that the scope of the LaCresta project may be downsized to a smaller community. Nonetheless, whatever the scope, the commitment is to provide LaCresta residents with a typical Del Webb active adult lifestyle. This means a clubhouse, complete with all standard Del Webb amenities, such as pool(s), fitness, tennis, etc.
Two months later, Pulte pulls the plug and abandons the families that bought into the Del Webb promises --- NO CLUBHOUSE, NO DEL WEBB LIFESTYLE, another promise broken!
The residences of LaCresta are putting Pulte/Del Webb on notice, we are not going to sit back and let you destroy our dream and our community. We WILL NOT GO QUIETLY INTO THE NIGHT. We will use every means possible to get the word out across this great country and let potential buyers of Pulte/Del Webb homes know that Pulte/Del Webb cannot be trusted and that their word and promises mean nothing. A copy of this letter along with a copy of Mr. Campbell’s letter will be sent to all major annalist of the NYSE before your August 4th earnings conference if this situation is not corrected.
Respectfully,
Robert G. Morgan
129 Sedonia Court
Davenport, FL 33837
Tel: (863) 424-4769
Cell: (207) 266-1488
Robert@mbre.net
We love our home,,,,,we love our neighbors. To have this all come apart would be a tragedy. We were not aware from the start that Pulte and JL Land were co-developing the site. To think that all this occured because one man (the owner of JL Land) had a heart attack and died is unfathomable. Surely Pulte is a large enough corporation with some of the best lawyers to keep themselves from getting into such legal troubles. Priscilla and I are just hoping this is a nightmare that we have yet to be woken up from....
I don't think we should wait until August to send this to all the financial analysts around the country. We have been patient long enough. We are done believing them. Bob, send a copy of that letter to all the Edward Jones's, Fidelity, Schwabbs etc you can and maybe we should even send copies to the NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, every big metropolitan city newpaper (especially those where there are Pulte/Del Web developments). It's tragic that it has come down to this, but Del Web/Pulte has brought this upon themselves.
It's unfathomable to think that a HUGE corporation like Pulte/Del Web didn't protect themselves and their customers didn't have the business sense to have an iron clad agreement with JL Land Developers.
I sent the following e-mail to the Pulte execs this AM and I would encourage all of us to do the same. I know that they have read it as I got read receips from all of them but as of this hour I have not gotten a reply.
Pulte Executives:
"Our customers are our most valuable assets. You should always be fair, honest, and
respectful whenever dealing with customers."
These are the words I found on page 12 of the Pulte "Business Practices Policy"
The actions that I observed this past Friday, July 10th, did not live up to the words. That was the day that Scott Campbell had the La Cresta lifestyle director send out "the letter" to us.
He did not respect the Pulte homeowners, the customers, enough to tell us the news in a personal meeting where he could have answered the many questions that I and the other homeowners have.
In the letter Scott writes
"Our greatest concern is for you, our homeowners. Pulte is in the process of evaluating alternative solutions for you, our LaCresta homeowners, to address your concerns"
The action that Scott and Pulte/Del Webb took was to lock us out of the makeshift lifestyle house, He also cancelled our community breakfast for the next day, and a party that we were to have today.
Just because you shut down sales for a period should not mean that the small amenities that we do have should be shut down if indeed you respect us and value us.
If Pulte/Del Webb had respect for us you would not be in the process of evaluating the alternative solutions, but you would have had alternative solutions in place.
On the Del Webb web site it says:
"A Del Webb community center is truly what the name suggests: a central gathering place where the community’s neighbors get to know one another. Whether the community center is 30,000 square feet or 5,000, it’s vital to the life of residents, a springboard to anything you might want to try. Walk in at any given time and you’ll find it’s abuzz with fellowship and activity, an exciting swirl of art classes, card games, workout sessions, friends laughing over coffee. There’s always something to do, someone to meet at a Del Webb community center."
We were told at our meeting with the executives in May of 2008 as well as prior meetings that "Pulte and Del Webb are committed to the La Cresta community." Words mean nothing without the actions to back them up.
I would hope that within the next several days we can have a face to face meeting where you can let the La Cresta homeowners know where they stand.
This certainly has to happen if there is any truth in the words that you had on your 2008 annual report:
"Our ultimate goal remains the creation of “Homeowners for Life."
Hope to hear from you soon,
Bob Hofmann
120 Pzzaro Way
414-315-4000
I sent a letter to the International Association of Fire Fighters , who represent 250,000 active and retired fire fighters in the US and Canada. My letter tells the story of how we at La Cresta were abandoned by Pulte/Del Webb. I have requested the union to put Pulte on their "blacklist"
Many firefighters retire each year and look for communities like Del Webb to move to especially Florida, the Carolinas, and Arizona
Maybe this will get Pulte's attention.
I bought in this community April 7th.We were told of glitch with the recreation center but it would be worked out and construction would be completed. So much for trusting a well known brand name.
I wrote the BBB and will try my best to get the word out through out the UAW.
All of this reaction from the La Cresta community within 72 hours of Scott Campbell's sucker punch. I am sickened by Del Webb's treatment of this community, but heartened by these inital actions by our residents. There is MUCH more we can do to get the word out and procede in a fashion that increases the probability that our interests will be fully represented.
It seems that the word betrayed is not strong enough. Del Webb makes snake oil sales people look respectable. Basically Del Webb took our retirement savings and ran away with them, we moved to Del Webb not for the houses but for the atmosphere, the lifestyle that they promised, the community, and the sense of belonging. I too hope that some developer will see fit to complete the promises that Del Webb did not see. Del Webb not only took away our dreams but a piece of humanity, as now we have to learn to trust less in what we are told, including what we once thought were honorable companies like Pulte.
Seeing that Pulte pulled it's people from all Ridgewood lake committees, it appears that not only have we been abandoned but we were abandoned with malice aforethought. If they did care about LaCresta, Pulte would have left it's people on the board to protect our input, however they did not. It is unnerving when at our stage in life things should be smooth sailing, to realize that someone we trusted, Pulte was just a predator.
I sent a letter and gave this site to several newspapers in the Detroit area to see if we could get some exposure in Pulte's back yard. I referred to us as the old story "David & Goliath".
Below is the text of the email I sent to CNBC and Jim Zeumer at Pulte on Sunday. Jim is Vice President for Investor Relations and Corporate Communications. His phone number is 248-647-2750.
Mr. Zeumer,
I follow carefully the financial reports of Pulte Homes, and comments / discussions about Pulte on CNBC, and was very proud to be a Pulte homeowner, and Del Webb Community resident, until last Friday. About 6 hours before the announcement of the webcast, Pulte surprised the residents of the Del Webb community of La Cresta with a “we’re shutting down operations” email from Scott Campbell. For the complete story: http://www.newschief.com/article/20090711/NEWS/907115017
The webcast announcement mentions that Pulte, and the Del Webb brand, is the nation’s largest builder of active adult communities. I understand Pulte is very proud of this claim. It is this claim that led me to Del Webb and to La Cresta. How can you include this in a press release on the same day Pulte abruptly left 96 families with no amenities center and no Del Webb lifestyle? It’s unfair to continue to claim superiority when Pulte’s actions no longer support it. When I purchased my home, I also purchased an active lifestyle and an amenities center.
The residents of La Cresta are aware of the legal battle between Pulte and JL Land. We’ve been very patient and have waited for the issues to be resolved and the delayed amenities center built. We hold meetings and events in the cramped space in a home in the model park transformed into a temporary amenities center. We have no swimming pool, craft room, gym, indoor track, juice bar or meeting rooms. Despite the legal battles, we work everyday to build relationships with neighbors and support our Del Webb community. We have supported Pulte throughout these difficult times. Friday, Pulte left our community with empty promises.
Calls to Scott Campbell have been unanswered. Emails to Richard Dugas, Scott Campbell, and Sean Strikler have been unanswered.
Can you provide insight regarding Pulte’s plans for the Del Webb brand, and La Cresta specifically? If not, can you point me to someone who will?
Melanie McElvany
300 Del Sol Avenue
Davenport, FL 33837
mmcelvany@comcast.net
Mobile: (410) 804-1456
Hello! Hope you don't mind a note from a non-resident, but we visited La Cresta 2 years ago & KNEW it would fulfill our future retirement dreams. I've tried to stay informed via the internet but was wary that there wasn't as much of a sales 'push' as I imagined there'd be for such a great community so close to WDW. Now, to hear this news is devastating. Mostly, I am so sorry for all of you who we hoped would one day soon be our neighbors. I read somewhere that Del Webb has sufficient funds to still be investing in other properties & Pulte is still building elsewhere, I think? Their abandonment of your community & YOUR DREAMS is unconcionable. We are keeping you all in our thoughts & hope this is resolved quickly & fairly for you all.
Kindest Regards,
~Rose~
I posted this on the old site and thoughht I would put it here as well to try out the new blog
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As mentioned in one of Jerry's e-mails, it is a real bummer being stuck so far away and unable to attend meetings and/or to participate fully in getting the situation resolved. If I can help in any way please don't hestitate to contact me. We are working on an offer now for our home in Wisconsin, so just maybe we will be able to join you all full time by the end of this year.
Perhaps the best case scenario is for the problems to be worked out and to have Del Webb/Pulte finish what was started. While they should be ashamed of how they have treated residents so far, maybe they will once again decide that keeping promises and acting with integrity is the best long term business strategy. Not to mention the right thing to do.
I will follow and support as best I can, actions that residents decide to take. Absent the hope expressed above and/or some other similar development coming in soon, it is hard to say what could be our best option to take. When you stop to think of it though, a full refund of 125% or more to all of the 100 home owners would not be unreasonable. Plus for a company the size of Pulte, it may be a better option then the clearly negative press and reputation that falls upon the once sterling Del Webb name. After all, we did not get what was promised, will lose very significant home value if the development does not take place and in addition to our expense of purchasing the homes, many other costs such as taxes, fees, furnishings, moving etc. are not insignificant.
Am I saying the above is the best option or the only course to pursue? No it is too early to know. We need much more information and understanding of what is going to take place. On the other hand, it is not unreasonable to expect to receive full, fair and just compensation from a fair and honest company (or a bad one for that matter) that doesn't deliver what was promised. Legal mumble jumble aside, we can hope that the company abides from their implied promises.
Anyway, I am still hoping that all of this will work out well and that there will be no need for legal actions or significant delays in a resolution. I really would like that "Del Webb Lifestyle" wouldn't it be nice if they decide that we can still have it?
Once again, good luck to all and keep the faith. We still look forward to a great life at La Cresta.
Tom Guequierre
La Cresta Resident
I live in Del Webb/Jax. At the Pulte meeting this month they informed us they had bought Centex! Have enough money to buy another large builder but not enough to keep your community center open?Unbelievable! My suggestion-do a careful search and find an experienced and highly compatant attorney-well versed in contract law-not real estate. Also post to ccfj- this is a grassroots org. to help HOA residents. Good luck!!
Del Webb is still building in Bakersfield, CA. Send a press release to the Bakersfield Californian all all other newspapers where they are building. This will get their attention I bet.
Good luck.
A concerned Del Webb home owner
The following letter came from Del Webb Mesquite in NV. It should make a good read about how the baby boomers are crying out for homes....By the way I did visit Sun City Mesquite and it is beautiful, hopefully we will say the same about LaCresta some day.
"Dear Friends,
I will keep this month's update short and sweet:
Market Update
Last week brought some much-needed good news on the housing front, adding to the growing sentiment that we may have already hit bottom and are heading for better times. The first bombshell was that, not only were national Home Sales up last month, but that we saw DOUBLE-DIGIT growth of 11% over May: http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/story/10553820/1/home-sales-up-11-raising-sectors-roof-updated.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
The second headline grabber came from the closely watched Case Shiller Home Price Index. For the first time in nearly 3 years, home prices nationwide ROSE month-over-month: http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/finance/home-prices--months-case-shiller/
Sales Update
We have certainly witnessed the change in sentiment first-hand here at Sun City Mesquite. July is typically a very slow month for home sales in Mesquite, as most of the snowbirds have flown north for the season. We sold 16 homes here in Sun City Mesquite in July! Not only is there pent-up demand in the ever-expanding Baby Boomer retiree market, but also a concern from our buyers that they will miss the bottom of the market and/or that the historically low interest rates we've been enjoying will skyrocket again.
August Promotion
Our "50% of Lot Premium" promotion that helped fuel our July sales numbers has been extended through the end of August. Did you know you could get incredible golf course lots for between only $13K - $35K? Or ridge lots for less than $10K? Not all of our homesites have premiums, so if you are not interested in a premium lot we will instead give you 10% off the price of your upgrades. These are the lowest prices, best values, I've seen in the two years since we opened. Do you recall when we first opened two years ago our 1241sf "Daisy" floorplan had a base price of $219,990? (and we thought that was aggressive at the time). Now the Daisy is listed at only $171,490! That is a drop of 22%. And, I can tell you we CANNOT drop prices further unless we start shaving more standard items out of the house. So this is it folks. Hopefully you are fortunate enough to be in a position to take advantage of the most affordable homes we are likely to ever see again. Ugh, why-oh-why did I buy MY house 4 years ago at the peak of the market? Sigh...
Conestoga Golf Course Update
Each passing day brings new beauty to Sun City Mesquite. I cannot over-emphasize how incredible this course is going to be. Please ask me for a tour on your next visit - even if you don't golf you can't help but appreciate how the breath-taking views of mountains, mesas, canyons and water features are maximized from every vantage point. Our homeowners will not pay more than $59 for 18 holes (with cart) during peak-season, and only $25 - $39 during off-season. And, if you get a season pass you will save at least 10% if you normally golf 2.5 times/week, and save up to 25% off your already low rates if you golf everyday. The course remains on track for its November opening, exclusively to our residents, then with much fanfare to the general public in February. Wouldn't it be great to secure a homesite in our Saddle Horn neighborhood, and be just a stone's-throw away from the Conestoga Golf Clubhouse, Rec Center, and easy access to Falcon Ridge Pkwy? We only have about 25 homesites left in this desirable location."
I live in Oxford Greens, a Pulte/delWebb community in Connecticut. In April 2008 I decided to sell my Ct. house and to move to La Cresta, even though I thought I was crazy to buy into another Pulte community. I loved La Cresta and wanted to live there! Luckily, my house didn't sell and I didn't buy at La Cresta. What you have had to swallow from Pulte swindlers, scam artists and liars is deplorable. They have no conscience, but I certainly you find the proper legal channels to make them repay you somehow. I am so sorry! I am surprised I haven't seen anything about this on national news, not to mention Florida news. Keep trying, there has got to be some way to bring them to their knees! Pulte has also stopped building here, also, but we have approx 350 residents and only 150 homes not built. We do have out clubhouse, but there are horror stories to go along with that, too. I still have to sell my house here, so I need to be anonymous for now.
I was watching La Cresta as we hoped to move there in a few years. I just wanted to let you know that as of late Dec 2008, the sales manager was telling prospective buyers that all was fine then with the legal issues. We asked because we knew the amenity center had been stopped. We actually made an offer on one of the finished homes at that time - I suppose I'm glad they didn't accept our offer. Sorry to see this happening.
Riverwood by Del Webb at Nocatee, Ponte Vedra, Fl. just had a huge promotional article in Times Union-Jax. Fl. Jay Thompson, the N.Fl. Div. Pres. for Pulte said "this del webb community will have amenities not always available to other del web communities." I would suggest you send information about your amenities or lack of to our newspaper, Fl. Times Union, so potential buyers will know what can happen.
No postings here for a long time.
LaCresta is no more, but Pulte has returned and will start sales in June or July. They plan to build a smaller amenity center along with about 800-900 homes instead of around 1900.
New Name: Del Webb Orlando
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