Fla. highrise has 32 stories, but just 1 tenant

[thelakelander]

CHRISTINE ARMARIO
Associated Press Writer 
FORT MYERS, Fla. â€" The Vangelakos' southwest Florida condominium has marble floors, a large pool overlooking a river and modern furnishings that speak of affluence and luxury. What they don't have in the 32-story building is a single neighbor.

The New Jersey family of five purchased their unit four years ago, when Fort Myers was in the midst of a housing boom and any hints of an impending financial crisis were buried in lofty dreams of expansion and development. They made a $10,000 down payment and eagerly watched as builders transformed an empty lot into an opulent high rise, one that now symbolizes the foreclosure crisis.

"The future was going to be southwest Florida," said Victor Vangelakos, 45, a fire captain who planned to eventually retire and live permanently in the condo.

Most of the other tenants in the 200-unit condo didn't close on their contracts, and the few that did have transferred to an adjacent building owned by the same company because more people live there.

The Vangelakos' mortgage lender will not allow them to do the same.

That leaves them as the sole residents of the Oasis Tower One.

full article: http://wire.jacksonville.com/pstories/us/20090801/473649859.shtml

[David]

Yeah I saw this on MSN's homepage the other day. Imagine having a tower like the Strand or the Peninsula all to yourself!

[Ethylene]

They should sell their story! I'm visualizing what a movie it would make! Suspense, horror and ghost tale all rolled into one, a blockbuster for our times!

[heights unknown]

Wow; only one person in a 300 foot condominium.  Must be lonely.

Heights Unknown

[Keith-N-Jax]

Very lonely and spookey.

[Ocklawaha]

MIAMI - "Under Construction"

I saw the TV interview of this couple, unreal. Wonder if they still have to "reserve" the game room for private party's?

Bet they are not the only ones in this fix. According to Skyscraper City Miami built over 75 high rise towers during the building boom (yeah, I know, we'll NEVER catch them now!) then the bottom fell out. I wonder how many are sitting like Berkman II? How many have 1-10 owners? How fast is that inventory moving?

On a brighter note for Jacksonville -vs- Miami competition, while we might never catch them in skyline size, a crash of this magnitude has got to set Miami's ability to do great things back several years. Maybe we'll have a financial edge over them for a decade or so when the recovery comes. Hopefully the City Council and Mayor of Jacksonville are giving this consideration in our budget and tax talks.

OCKLAWAHA

[reednavy]

Miami required all buildings to be completed, and all are. However, there are a lot of epty, dirt or grass lots around town from what was to be.

[thelakelander]

I believe urban Miami will greatly benefit from the crash.  Empty buildings (especially new move in ready ones) beat surface parking lots any day.  At the height of the boom, Miami was overpriced.  Now, while some on the upper end will lose their shirts, the place is becoming a more affordable living option for a larger percentage of the population.  In the long run, more economic diversity will be a great thing for the livability of downtown Miami.

[Overstreet]

Interesting idea big building with only one unit occupied. Does the "owner" run the HVAC for all the common areas?  Elevators operational and maintained for one unit?

Must be a short condo association meeting. (Condo owners votes 1, developer 200.)

How would you like the be the only one moving through the lobby, elevator, stairs, etc?  Do you suppose they have a doorman? I'd suspect though the muggers, if they have them, would go to where the money is and rob the folks in the occupied building next door. 

[jaxphotocat]

"Fla. highrise has 32 stories, but just 1 tenant"

I read this and continue to be stunned that there is still a vision for more condos in Jax???

[Captain Zissou]

I have had a few experiences with empty buildings.  My friends and I parked in multiple private units' parking spaces in a condo tower in miami for a week while we were on a cruise.  The garage was almost completely empty, and most cars parked in two spaces just because.  The building was 10% occupied and our friend that lived there said it was eerie, but provided for absolute freedom.  
Also, my friend's unit at the peninsula is surrounded by 3 vacant units (left, right, and below) so we never have to worry about our music or parties being too loud.  
These empty high-rises remind me of those post apocalyptic movies where the protagonist wanders through tall buildings and monuments to an era gone by.  It's cool for the time being, but I hope that it only lasts another year or so.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Miami has over built, that has nothing to do with Jax.

[JaxNative68]

Miami required all buildings to be completed, and all are. However, there are a lot of epty, dirt or grass lots around town from what was to be.

maybe miami has caught up to us in downtown vacant lots.  there's finally one thing we are equal in.

[Sportmotor]

That would be SOOOOOOOOOOO creepy I dont think I could do that myself

[thekillingwax]

The scariest part to me is that they aren't alone in there. They said people break into the building all the time and that they hear them in the building at night messing with stuff.

Being alone in a highrise at night is bad. Being alone at night and someone suddenly bangs on your door at 3am is worse.