Well, if you don’t know yet, the condo which is called Tower 155 is found at 155 East Boca Raton Road, which is right at the center of the downtown area of Boca Raton, Florida, and it is classified as a luxury. The completion of the 127-unit high-rise construction was finished in the year 2020 and it quickly attracted fun-seekers who want a luxury urban lifestyle. But, the thing is, shortly after residents moved in, the building became the center of a lawsuit due to serious construction issues, and this has now become the famous Tower 155 Boca Lawsuit. So, let’s get to know about it a bit more, shall we?
Background of the Lawsuit
Towards the end of October 2023, the Tower 155 Condominium Association initiated a lawsuit on behalf of its condo owners against a group of influential persons connected with the development of the structure such as Compson Associates (the developer), Kaufman Lynn Construction (the contractor) and Vander Ploeg and Associates (the architectural firm). Also, the lawsuit includes 21 other companies that were involved in the project.
All in all, the main issue concerns that the construction quality was poor so there are substantial repair costs that homeowners incurred that in fact should not exist in a new building, you know?
Construction Issues and Allegations
And sure, this Tower 155 Boca Lawsuit also provides a detailed report of the various difficulties in the building. Like what though? Well, the most serious issues have been leaks due to materials being unable to install correctly. This has resulted in the destruction of other unsafe and dangerous situations.
Not just that though, community members have mentioned garage floor cracks, leaks from ceilings, and pool difficulties. And sure, the disappointment with e-floor noise and accidental fire alarms has been consistent. Problems encountered in the area of the spa, an initial selling point, have included decaying wood and drain problems.
It just doesn’t end there too, you see, problems such as wiring not being properly set up on patios and the fact that the keyless entry systems which were to be part of the promise were not installed were also contributing factors to the dissatisfaction among residents.
Building Code Violations
According to the lawsuit, Tower 155 is a non-compliance item as it has not been built in accordance with the state building codes. Like, an engineering report dated December 2022 confirmed a number of violations in the said building, covering a total of 166 pages. All in all, it pointed out that many components of the building were incorrectly assembled and were declared unsafe. However, the developer and the architect assert that the building was constructed in full compliance with the code in place at the time of construction, though the building codes have been updated since then.
Advertising and Sales Misrepresentations
The lawsuit also includes the misleading items between the pledges made to buyers and what was actually offered. As an example, when the developer marketed the swimming pool as ‘Olympic-sized,’ it was really a tiny pool. Just like that, some features like the keyless entry systems and the specific wiring for outdoor lights that were promised were never installed. This resulted in residents being under the impression that they were cheated on.
Residents’ Reactions and Frustrations
Tower 155 initially got plenty of attention because of its prime location and luxury promises, but many buyers soon became clear of whatever shady thing was going on. Some tried to cancel their contracts and retrieve their deposits, which in turn resulted in more lawsuits. The problem with the performance of the units is that even if some residents can handle their issues they are not able to solve the ones common to the whole building.