PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – Residents of the Heron Pond condominium complex in Pembroke Pines must vacate their units by the end of Thursday after city officials deemed the buildings unsafe last month.
Thursday’s deadline follows a series of safety concerns about the structural integrity of the complex’s balconies, which were first flagged in January 2023.
Local 10 News was at the complex Thursday morning where the usually busy parking lot was sparsely populated as moving trucks filled the complex and tenants rushed to comply with the city’s evacuation order.
Several residents shared their frustration with Local 10′s Layron Livingston over the sudden move, including a woman who recently relocated to the complex.
The woman, who asked not to be identified, claimed she rented a two-bedroom unit for $2,100 per month in June, only to receive notices to vacate in July.
Now, she’s seeking legal assistance to recover her deposit and find new housing for herself, her 9-year-old daughter and their dog.
The problems at Heron Pond began more than a year ago when cracks in the walls and deteriorating balconies were first reported.
City officials ordered repairs, and temporary steel supports were installed to shore up the failing structures. However, in August 2023, six of the buildings were declared uninhabitable, and by late July, the unsafe designation was extended to all 19 buildings in the complex.
Notices posted on doors throughout Heron Pond warned residents that power and water would be shut off by Thursday. City officials have not specified when utilities will be disconnected, but access to the buildings is expected to be restricted shortly.
Josiah Campbell told Livingston Thursday that he thought his mother had found a stable place to live when she moved into her apartment at Heron Pond just seven months ago. But on Thursday, he and a group of movers are once again packing up her belongings.
“It’s a lot,” Campbell said, as he helped his mother prepare for another move. “They were supposed to have, like, a year in this apartment.”
Residents like Jaz Alfonso are also facing similar challenges.
“Two nights ago, they sent out an email that after the 29th of August, no one will be allowed on the property,” Alfonso said. “Some of the landlords came and took all their appliances and all that in the middle of the night.”
Alfonso, who moved into her apartment just two months ago, said she was initially told by management that the balcony issues would be resolved in a few months, and she was offered a small discount on her rent.
“We’re working on it… just don’t use the balcony for a few months,” she recalled being told.
Despite these assurances, Alfonso and her daughter are now packing up to leave. Fortunately, the city has helped her find a new place to live.
“I had to strong-arm a little bit,” she said. “It’s a city building, but, it is what it is... it’s a place.”
Now, Alfonso is headed to court to get her deposit back.
“I sent the request for the deposit and told them I’d be out on the 29th,” she added. “They said I was offered the deposit when I was offered to break the lease when all this came out. So, because I didn’t take the offer nine months ago, I’m not eligible for my deposit now.”
As residents scramble to find alternative housing, some have received temporary assistance from the city, but many are left navigating the chaotic process of moving on short notice.
“It’s been a mess,” a resident said. “I just hope everyone gets the help they need.”
The city of Pembroke Pines has not yet announced any plans for the future of the Heron Pond complex.