We’re watching you.
That’s the message Palm Beach County delivered Wednesday to Ytech International, the Miami-based real estate investment and development company that owns Grand Lake Apartments in Belle Glade.
A multi-agency site inspection earlier this week determined that Grand Lake isn’t so grand – unless you like living in a place with active wasp nests, a rodent infestation, discarded mattresses and tarps, non-existent or unsafe staircases, broken windows, garbage and mold.
As far back as February of 2014, a local television station reported on problems at the 384-unit complex.
But the problems weren’t addressed – at least not to the satisfaction of the residents who complained during a Belle Glade meeting two weeks ago.
A Belle Glade official reached out to a staff member of Commissioner Melissa McKinlay, whose district includes Belle Glade.
McKinlay directed county staff to look into problems at the complex, and, on Wednesday, a large contingent of county officials descended on Grand Lake.
Their verdict? The place needs to be fixed up in a major way.
County Administrator Bob Weisman said a Ytech official told him they’d get the place in order.
McKinlay said she’ll take Ytech at its word. For now.
“But we’ll be watching the progress carefully,” she said.
Melissa McKinlay
