A demolition crew hired by Westgate Resorts severely damaged a family’s vacation home in Orlando — a home the owners had refused to sell to the timeshare empire. Now, Orange County says the home is no longer safe to inhabit.

  • Corredor family refused to sell town home to Westgate Resorts
  • Contractor demolishing other town homes severely damaged Corredor's
  • Westgate said contractor was told not to demolish home

The Corredor family enjoyed the townhome for more than 30 years.

Now, posted signs say they aren’t allowed inside. Orange County code enforcement is now deciding whether the town home should be condemned.

The family said they feel bullied and are taking their legal battle to Orange County commissioners.

“I brought some pictures of what the property looked some years ago,” William Corredor told Orange County commissioners.

It’s a different picture from what the home looks like today.

“It’s like a disaster area,” he said. “It’s just a house in the middle of nowhere.”

The roof is collapsing at the edges, stairs lead to nowhere and the exterior walls are exposed and covered by a blue tarp.

All of this damage was caused by excavators with orders to partially demolish the row of attached town homes on both sides.

“Westgate sent us — my mother got a letter saying that they had just made a mistake and destroyed the property and to call their insurance company,” Corredor said.

Westgate Resorts acquired the town home community off Turkey Lake Road when the Sand Lake Village property filed for bankruptcy.

One by one, the resort company bought up the units — except for one.

The Corredor family said they were approached several times beginning 2012 to sell their $160,000 town home to Westgate. The first offer was for $25,000, and the family declined.

Without striking a deal, the family said they never knew demolition would begin.

According to Orange County officials, the permits filed by Westgate Resorts' contractor didn't mention there was a residence in the middle of their demolition plans and that the building with the Corredors' town home should not have been torn down.

“That is something that is being looked into now, because the county was not aware of the issue of ownership on this piece of property,” Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said.

Westgate Resorts said, “Under the contract, the general contractor was not to demolish Unit B53 (the Corredor unit) and was to handle job permitting.”

“It doesn’t seem like this could happen in America,” Corredor said.

While the county continues to investigate, construction on the expanded Westgate Lakes Resort continues around the Corredor’s crumbling vacation home.

Westgate Resorts said any damage done during the demolition is the contractor’s responsibility.

We also reached out to the contractor but have not heard back.

The Corredor family said that they have heard from the contractor’s insurance company but so far have not been offered any restitution for their claim.