Villa Del Sol residents in St. Lucie County are returning home after nearly two years of displacement from their condos. Residents were notified last month they could return to their condos after an inspection in August 2024 found structural damage in buildings 3, 4, and 5, which were deemed unsafe.
Katie Johnson was the first to share with WPTV that residents had been told they could come back. She said she almost didn't believe the news at first, describing it as too good to be true. WPTV received emails sent to residents from the Board of Directors telling them they could return. WPTV also obtained a letter from engineers sent to St. Lucie County's Building Department requesting they lift occupancy restrictions following their special inspection. Katie Johnson described the work still underway at the property, noting that workers are still moving dirt back under the buildings. She reflected on the effort required to bring residents home, saying it's hard work.
Robert Segedin took WPTV inside his family's home, excited to return but thinking about those who cannot. He said some residents had their hearts broken because they wanted to spend the rest of their lives there. Katie Johnson said she feels bad that some were hit harder than others with the situation, thinking of neighbors who cannot return.
Eric Johnson is among those not coming back. He was one of the first residents WPTV met at Villa Del Sol and is now living in Georgia. He said it's been a terrible two years and the financial toll has been severe. The couple had to drain all their savings accounts and 401ks just trying to make ends meet while this was going on. Eric Johnson is filing for bankruptcy and filing his condo for foreclosure. He described it as a real struggle, saying he would like to say they are finally starting to climb out of it, but it still feels like they're kind of still falling and waiting to start climbing back up.