PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Timeshare owners in Pinellas County are facing a frustrating lack of communication regarding their properties. Seeking answers, they have reached out to 8 On Your Side for assistance.

The Nautical Watch sustained damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and despite a year passing, residents say repairs have been slow to materialize.

This is Lily Esposito’s slice of paradise along Belleair Beach.
 
“See this, Captain Martin is the only one that survived the hurricane,” she said.

It’s where she’s celebrated anniversaries and her children’s birthdays.
 
“It’s so many great memories I have here with my kids, and I was really looking forward to someday my kids having kids and sharing memories, and I get a little choked up,” Esposito said.
 

The timeshare community was deemed “substantially damaged.”
            
“You can see it’s been completely gutted; nothing has been done,” she said.

Esposito is questioning why.
 
“It’s unfortunate to see our home away from home, our little paradise, still in the condition it is a year later with absolutely no progress,” Esposito said. “As a matter of fact, it seems like it’s even deteriorating by the day.”

Between Esposito and her mom’s four weeks, they continue to pay about $4,000 annually.
 
“We are paying into something that we don’t know what or if ever will be able to be rebuild,” Esposito said.      

Kyle Riefler, the City Manager of Belleair Beach, told 8 On Your Side that “the plan is to repair the existing property,” but said “no permit has been issued.” Esposito claimed the board is telling its over 400 owners a different story.
 
“We were told by our elected board of directors that, yes, in fact they have had roof permits,” said Esposito. “So, a lot of information that is conflicting, and we just want answers.”

The fractional owners elected board members under the management of Vacatia.

In a statement to 8 On Your Side, Torey Marcus, Vice President of Marketing at Vacatia wrote:

The board and Vacatia have been working closely together to maximize insurance proceeds over the past year. Throughout this lengthy process, we have partnered with the board to keep all Nautical Watch owners updated on progress. We have also been working with the city of Belleair Beach since the immediate aftermath of the two hurricanes. We solicited a third-party appraisal; after some discussion, all parties agreed on the valuation. Now that we have an approved appraisal, we are on our way toward reconciling the reconstruction costs, the appraisal, and the FEMA 50% substantial damage hurdles. On October 7, after we received the proper permitting for a roof repair, the city lifted a temporary stop-work order.

“They are our voices, which is so disappointing because we don’t feel our voices have been heard,” Esposito said.
 
Esposito said the board and Vacatia haven’t provided communication, transparency, or a timeline.

“Unfortunately, while we have attempted to obtain grants, our efforts have proved unsuccessful,” Marcus continued to write. “The board is working to secure other financing in order to move forward with restoration; once we have done so, construction is expected to take approximately four months. While the resort remains closed, owners are required to pay their annual maintenance fees, per FL statute 721.15 (2B) b).”

“I’m just hoping that we can get some answers,” Esposito said.