Holdout family won’t sell Florida condo to timeshare giant

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Julieta Corredor, her two sons and their families have used their two-bedroom townhouse in the heart of Orlando’s tourist district as a place for honeymoons, family gatherings and college housing during the more than 30 years they’ve owned it.

When one of the world’s largest timeshare companies bought up the surrounding condominium units and made entreaties for 81-year-old Corredor to sell hers, the South Florida family refused. Nonetheless, bulldozers for a Westgate Resorts contractor demolished the entire condo development — trees, a tennis court, and a spa — leaving only the Corredors’ 1,125-square-foot townhouse standing.

If the Corredors continue to refuse to sell, they could join real estate “holdouts” like Edith Macefield, who prompted a developer in Seattle to build a five-story commercial development around the home she refused to sell in 2006 and whose house later was used in promotion for the Disney film “Up.”

The Corredors say that their case is a matter of principle on property rights and that they feel bullied by developer Westgate. Westgate officials say the family is being greedy and awaiting a bigger offer. Family attorney Brent Siegel wouldn’t comment on negotiations.

More