The sound of the construction of the Wekiva Parkway extension in Mount Dora, Florida, probably would be bad enough for the residents of a nearby mobile home park.
But now, some have told a local television station that the construction has caused way more than just noise.
Some residents of the mobile home park contend that their homes have sustained damage because of the vibration created by the ongoing construction.
Just by looking at the homes, the damage isn’t obvious. But take a step, residents said, and it’s clear their floors aren’t level anymore. At least four homes are believed to have been damaged in this manner, said the director of the community homeowners association.
“My house was not like this before all this started,” the owner of one mobile home said. “With all the vibrations and shaking, the particle board is basically splitting, lifting, sinking in areas, and the floor is caving in.”
The woman showed the television reporter areas of her home where the floors have sustained soft spots and cracks. She also said the wall is separating from the ceiling.
Her neighbor said his home also has damage: dips in the floor and water leaks that have caused the paneling to come away from the wall.
“It sinks down probably two inches, and I said, ‘We’re gonna fall right through this floor,’” the man told the television station.
Both property owners have filed online claims with the Florida Department of Transportation, asking for the state to repair the damage. The main said he doesn’t want to make money. He just wants his home back the way it was.
The woman said she made her claim more than two months ago and has yet to get an answer. A transportation department representative said they do not discuss individual cases.
If these homeowners are correct and the construction created the damage, they likely have a case for compensation from the state. If the state fails to take timely action, they should discuss their options with a Florida attorney who works on construction-related cases.