HOA Nut House

By CHRIS CAMIRE | Sun Staff

TYNGSBORO -- The Curtis Hill Condominium owners left homeless more than two years ago by a five-alarm fire still have no idea when they can return home.

According to one unit owner, the delay is being caused by the inability of the condo association's insurance agency and management company to reach a settlement.

"The condominiums want a certain amount. The insurance company is saying no. It keeps going back and forth," said the owner who declined to give his name.

"The insurance company is the one to blame for it," added the owner. "Any time they see people in a desperate situation -- typical insurance company, offer low, hopefully they accept it when they're desperate.

"That's what they're trying to do. They know that everyone is at the point of desperation right now, and they hope that they accept the lowest possible offer they can give, so they can laugh all the way, and say, 'Jeez, we screwed them out of a couple hundred grand.' "

According to Don Baille, one of the displaced residents, the condo association's insurance agency, Travers Insurance, wants the owners to pay $6,000 on top of the $12,500 they have already agreed to pay.

Last month, representatives from Centurion Management, the condo's management company, told the displaced residents that the units would be finished by the end of September. At that point, the move-in date had already been delayed three times since March.

Many of the displaced condo owners left Monday's meeting at the American Legion in Tyngsboro visibly upset. Most would not comment on what transpired at the private meeting, at the request of Centurion Management. When asked when they could move back in, some residents said they didn't know.

Chris Camire's e-mail address is ccamire@lowellsun.com.

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