At 9:04am on July 10, 2009, homeowners of the Pulte Homes/Del Webb Community of LaCresta, in Davenport, Florida were notified via email that Pulte was ceasing all operations in their community, effective immediately. Within minutes of the news moving trucks arrived in a coordinated fashion and removed all signage from the area, emptied the Sales Center and boarded up its windows, and locked down the lifestyle house being used by the residents as a temporary amenities center.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Retirement Community in Limbo
Here is an article from the Ledger division, "News King", a subsidiary of the New York Times, which services northeastern Polk County:
This action by Del Webb/Pulte has caught the community here completely by surprise. For over a year we have been lead to believe that Del Webb was working to resolve their differences with the developer JL Land and was committed to resumming the amenity center and the community. We were given no prior notice of this action. This is how the trusting and loyal homeowners here at LaCresta have been treated. We will not take this lying down.
Below is a copy of the email I sent to the International Assosciation of FireFighters
"Dear IAFF:
I am a retired Firefighter, of 33 years and a IAFF local president for 20 years, (Local #2369). To enjoy my retirement I bought a home in Davenport, Florida in a Del Webb community of LaCresta. It was advertised as an active adult community with a state of the art $15 million amenity center, and a total build out of 1900 homes, all in all it was to be a very nice community. However, after building 99 homes Pulte, Del Webb, totally pulled out of the development, breaking every promise and implied guarantee given to the few of us who now live there. There is no amenity center, no life style director, just a lot of sand and people who feel betrayed. I am writing to the brothers to let them know that when dealing with Pulte, Del Webb, that their word is not to be trusted, I would recommend to the brothers to steer clear of Del Webb and find a builder with more integrity. Any further questions can be emailed directly to myself. I would suggest that the IAFF put Pulte, Del Webb on the list of business not to patronize.
Please forward this to Mr. Pulte since I do not have access to his email address, thank you….George Vamos
From: George [mailto:gvamos@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:14 PM To: 'william.pulte@pulte.com' Cc: 'richard.dugas@pulte.com' Subject: Help Us...The La Cresta Residents Importance: High
Imagine a place where you are free to be yourself, to recapture the joy of a hobby you once didn’t have time for, or to explore things you’ve always wanted to try. A place with people who share similar interests, amenities and activities above all the rest, and a close-knit sense of belonging. Welcome to La Cresta, Orlando’s first Del Webb active-adult community built with you in mind.
The hub of the community will be Casa Fuente, the 30,800 square foot amenities center offering social, physical, and cultural opportunities. Complete with grand fitness center, walking track, indoor and outdoor pools and spas, multipurpose rooms, library, billiards, full kitchen, and more! Outdoor amenities include tennis, pickleball, and bocce courts, as well as miles of wooded walking trails along serene ponds with quaint bridges. We'll also have a large events lawn, fishing lake with pier, and ampitheater for outdoor concerts and performances allowing you to enjoy the year round sunshine of Florida.
Boasting seven distinct single family floorplans, along with ranch style condominium floorplans, La Cresta provides low maintenance living so you can spend time doing what you enjoy the most. Within minutes you will find state-of-the-art hospitals and medical offices, an abundance of shopping malls and restaurants, access to major highways, world-class golf, and the magic of Disney.
Now is the time to explore life and discover your style. Live your second childhood at La Cresta!
We are a small but great group of people down here in Davenport. I’m sure if you met us and we you, we would probably get along really well. If you read above, doesn’t that sound like a great place to live? Wouldn’t you like to live there? Well, that’s what we all thought when we invested our life savings into our homes here. We all had a dream, as you did when you designed this community. Now our dreams are turning into a nightmare. And I’m starting to see the ugly side of people here. Not because they want to get ugly, but because as anyone, we will do anything to survive. We don’t want to fight as I’m sure you don’t. This isn’t a time for threats because let’s face the facts, you have more money and can fight longer that we can. But from what I see here, no one is going to roll over and take it. It’s not ugly yet, but it’s not going to get any better either until at least, someone from Pulte at least recognizes that we exist. You have basically deleted us and that’s why we are mad. We have supported, trusted, and stood by Scott Campbell and his people for over a year and now he won’t even acknowledge our committee leaders.
I know the business side of this as most of the people here do understand that. What I don’t understand is why there is not more focus put into solving the issue rather than hurting us, the residents, who thought we were part of the Pulte family. I don’t treat family this way as I’m sure you don’t. We aren’t the bad guys here. Focus on hurting the bad guys and protect your family.
I know you are a busy person so I’ll conclude. All we ask is acknowledge that we exist and consider our situation. Some of the older residents don’t have a lot of years left. Don’t make them go down fighting. Let them go out telling everyone “I really enjoyed my last few years here at LaCresta. As all your paperwork states, we’re family. Do us right and lets forgive and forget.
The abondonment by Pulte Homes of La Cresta because of current litigation is one thing, but to take away or life style house and social director is a slap in the face to our community who have been loyal to Pulte Homes through the past year and hoped for a resolution to the current situation. I feel Pulte should re-instate our life style home and social director immediatley!We paid for the Del Webb life style when we purchased our homes. Pulte's action is unacceptable.
There are retirement communities new york that I personally like. I mean, in there are are great facilities that a member could indulged. They take good care of their seniors very well.
6 comments:
This action by Del Webb/Pulte has caught the community here completely by surprise. For over a year we have been lead to believe that Del Webb was working to resolve their differences with the developer JL Land and was committed to resumming the amenity center and the community. We were given no prior notice of this action. This is how the trusting and loyal homeowners here at LaCresta have been treated. We will not take this lying down.
Below is a copy of the email I sent to the International Assosciation of FireFighters
"Dear IAFF:
I am a retired Firefighter, of 33 years and a IAFF local president for 20 years, (Local #2369). To enjoy my retirement I bought a home in Davenport, Florida in a Del Webb community of LaCresta. It was advertised as an active adult community with a state of the art $15 million amenity center, and a total build out of 1900 homes, all in all it was to be a very nice community. However, after building 99 homes Pulte, Del Webb, totally pulled out of the development, breaking every promise and implied guarantee given to the few of us who now live there. There is no amenity center, no life style director, just a lot of sand and people who feel betrayed. I am writing to the brothers to let them know that when dealing with Pulte, Del Webb, that their word is not to be trusted, I would recommend to the brothers to steer clear of Del Webb and find a builder with more integrity. Any further questions can be emailed directly to myself. I would suggest that the IAFF put Pulte, Del Webb on the list of business not to patronize.
Thank You,
Dave Conner
Former President (Local #2369) "
Here is another link to this story- http://activerain.com/blogsview/1152539/del-webb-the-dead-beat-dad-of-builders-
Please forward this to Mr. Pulte since I do not have access to his email address, thank you….George Vamos
From: George [mailto:gvamos@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:14 PM
To: 'william.pulte@pulte.com'
Cc: 'richard.dugas@pulte.com'
Subject: Help Us...The La Cresta Residents
Importance: High
Imagine a place where you are free to be yourself, to recapture the joy of a hobby you once didn’t have time for, or to explore things you’ve always wanted to try. A place with people who share similar interests, amenities and activities above all the rest, and a close-knit sense of belonging. Welcome to La Cresta, Orlando’s first Del Webb active-adult community built with you in mind.
The hub of the community will be Casa Fuente, the 30,800 square foot amenities center offering social, physical, and cultural opportunities. Complete with grand fitness center, walking track, indoor and outdoor pools and spas, multipurpose rooms, library, billiards, full kitchen, and more! Outdoor amenities include tennis, pickleball, and bocce courts, as well as miles of wooded walking trails along serene ponds with quaint bridges. We'll also have a large events lawn, fishing lake with pier, and ampitheater for outdoor concerts and performances allowing you to enjoy the year round sunshine of Florida.
Boasting seven distinct single family floorplans, along with ranch style condominium floorplans, La Cresta provides low maintenance living so you can spend time doing what you enjoy the most. Within minutes you will find state-of-the-art hospitals and medical offices, an abundance of shopping malls and restaurants, access to major highways, world-class golf, and the magic of Disney.
Now is the time to explore life and discover your style. Live your second childhood at La Cresta!
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Mr. Pulte:
We are a small but great group of people down here in Davenport. I’m sure if you met us and we you, we would probably get along really well. If you read above, doesn’t that sound like a great place to live? Wouldn’t you like to live there? Well, that’s what we all thought when we invested our life savings into our homes here. We all had a dream, as you did when you designed this community. Now our dreams are turning into a nightmare. And I’m starting to see the ugly side of people here. Not because they want to get ugly, but because as anyone, we will do anything to survive. We don’t want to fight as I’m sure you don’t. This isn’t a time for threats because let’s face the facts, you have more money and can fight longer that we can. But from what I see here, no one is going to roll over and take it. It’s not ugly yet, but it’s not going to get any better either until at least, someone from Pulte at least recognizes that we exist. You have basically deleted us and that’s why we are mad. We have supported, trusted, and stood by Scott Campbell and his people for over a year and now he won’t even acknowledge our committee leaders.
I know the business side of this as most of the people here do understand that. What I don’t understand is why there is not more focus put into solving the issue rather than hurting us, the residents, who thought we were part of the Pulte family. I don’t treat family this way as I’m sure you don’t. We aren’t the bad guys here. Focus on hurting the bad guys and protect your family.
I know you are a busy person so I’ll conclude. All we ask is acknowledge that we exist and consider our situation. Some of the older residents don’t have a lot of years left. Don’t make them go down fighting. Let them go out telling everyone “I really enjoyed my last few years here at LaCresta. As all your paperwork states, we’re family. Do us right and lets forgive and forget.
A resident of La Cresta:
George Vamos, 500 Grande Drive – 863-353-7420
The abondonment by Pulte Homes of La Cresta because of current litigation is one thing, but to take away or life style house and social director is a slap in the face to our community who have been loyal to Pulte Homes through the past year and hoped for a resolution to the current situation. I feel Pulte should re-instate our life style home and social director immediatley!We paid for the Del Webb life style when we purchased our homes. Pulte's action is unacceptable.
There are retirement communities new york that I personally like. I mean, in there are are great facilities that a member could indulged. They take good care of their seniors very well.
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