Orange County updates Timberscan response; residents press for housing help and clarity

Orange County staff presented an update on March 11, 2025, on conditions and possible long-term solutions for Timberscan on the Lake, a 320‑unit condominium complex that county officials say has been declining since the 1990s due to mismanagement, storm damage and foreclosures. The county emphasized it was not taking immediate action to remove residents and said any formal steps would be preceded by a year or more of planning and resident assistance.

Why it matters: Timberscan has repeatedly drawn county attention for fires, structural decay, unpaid utility and association accounts, dumping and public-safety hazards that have affected nearby neighborhoods. The property is already substantially demolished — staff said roughly 84% of buildings have been removed — and Orange County now owns a significant share of condo units. Commissioners, nearby homeowners and many residents testified publicly during the meeting that they want a solution that protects residents while ending blight.

County briefing and staff recommendations Jason Reynolds, neighborhood services manager, summarized the county’s work since the Board first discussed Timberscan in January. He said the county has invested roughly $3.5 million in stabilization and demolition over the last decade and that staff reviewed three broad options: continue the status quo (monitoring and targeted enforcement), pursue foreclosure sales, or pursue equitable relief/receivership and a sale to a redeveloper. Reynolds told the board that staff believes “terminating the condo association [and] the receivership is the only long‑term solution to the unsafe and precarious living conditions there.”

Yvette Reyes, manager of the Citizen Resource and Outreach Division, described the county’s resident assistance plan: case managers are canvassing the site, assessing household needs and offering relocation services. She said staff identified approximately 56 standing condo units, of which two are county‑owned, and that five of the units still carry homestead exemptions. Reyes also told the board that real‑estate appraisals of five currently‑standing units found an initial average value of about $65,000 each — an appraisal figure staff offered as a reference point for potential owner‑occupant acquisitions.

What residents and local leaders said Dozens of residents, property owners and neighborhood leaders spoke in public comment. Some residents said they want the county to buy owner‑occupied units and guarantee relocations without mortgages; others — including owners and investor landlords — asked to be allowed to sell. Speakers described ongoing safety concerns, open dumping, frequent crime and a history of management breakdowns. Several speakers asked the board to preserve public engagement and to keep the process transparent. Commissioner Michael Scott, who represents the district that includes Timberscan, said the board will not make a final decision during the March 11 session and pledged more community meetings and individualized briefings.

County findings and next steps Staff told the board the property is fragmented: some portions retain functioning homeowners’ associations and dues collection attempts; other sections are delinquent and pursuing foreclosure. Staff reported 41 demolitions to date across the property and said one last unsafe building could be demolished after the county offers relocation assistance to any occupants. The county outlined a preferred path that would include: - Continuing resident assessments and case management in the short term; - Purchasing owner‑occupied units when approved by the board to create certainty for those households; and - If needed, initiating equitable relief to dissolve condo governance and using a receiver to manage a sale and redevelopment that could take a year or longer.

Staff emphasized several limits: the county is not attempting to “buy the property” as a single parcel, is not forcibly evicting lawful residents, and said some issues (for example, certain utility rules) depend on third parties. Reynolds said staff will return with a recommended strategy in early summer 2025.

What to watch next Residents told the board they want firm timelines and clear information about relocation assistance, the fate of liens and whether owner‑occupants will be offered buyouts. Commissioners asked staff to continue one‑on‑one meetings, to document options for owner acquisitions, and to involve legal services as residents retain counsel. The board urged patience, but several commissioners said they expect the county to move from assessment to action on a timetable that addresses both immediate public‑safety risks and residents’ housing needs.

Ending note County staff said the process to sell and redevelop the property — if chosen — could take at least a year, creating time for case managers to assist residents. The board’s next formal review and possible direction on this matter is expected in early summer 2025.