Sinking backyards in Longwood leave homeowners frustrated
Neighbors are hoping for a resolution that will finally allow the much-needed repairs to begin.
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For homeowners like Clifford Muñiz, a backyard should be a place of relaxation and recreation. But for years, he says his backyard has been a danger zone.
"I can't use the backyard for anything," Muñiz said, pointing to the uneven ground.The sinking yard is part of a broader issue affecting the Villa Maria Homes in Longwood. Muñiz says the problem began decades ago when the homes were built. He believes the city rushed the construction, leaving behind structural issues that are now impacting homeowners.
"Below this, when they were digging, there's actual building walls right here," Muñiz explained.
The core issue? A water drainage problem that needs urgent attention. While the city has allocated $7.4 million to fix the issue, repairs cannot begin until every homeowner agrees to allow access.
"We need all the homeowners to sign a waiver and sign off on the scope of work," said Councilmember Rafael Salamanca, who helped secure the funding through the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).
However, not all homeowners are on board. Some have already invested in upgrading their backyards and are hesitant to sign the waiver, fearing their efforts will be undone. Salamanca warned that these delays put the project - and the funding -at risk.
"As inflation continues, the price of this work is going to go up," Salamanca explained. "If all homeowners don’t agree soon, the cost may exceed $7.4 million, and we could lose the funding entirely."
Neighborhood meetings and door-knocking campaigns are ongoing to persuade the remaining holdouts. Out of 114 homes, about 24 homeowners have yet to agree.
For residents like Muñiz, the wait has been frustrating and worrisome.
"It was really beautiful when I first had it before all the sinking issues," Muñiz shared. "Once it started sinking this bad, it was a concern for me because I don't want to get injured. I don't know how bad that sinkhole can get."
Neighbors are hoping for a resolution that will finally allow the much-needed repairs to begin.
