There’s a buzz in Boca Raton, but not the kind you’d expect for a luxury development. The highly anticipated Mandarin Oriental Hotel and Residences is facing some serious backlash as frustrated buyers are now taking legal action, demanding their money back after years of waiting.
It all started when Frank and Nancy Scala decided they’d had enough. Back in June 2021, they made a hefty $1.28 million deposit on what was supposed to be their dream condo, a $4.1 million unit in the posh Mandarin Oriental. Fast forward to August 3rd, 2023, and they filed a lawsuit against the developer, Penn-Florida Cos., because the unit is still nowhere near ready. The Scalas want their deposit back, plus interest and legal fees, arguing that the developer missed the promised deadline of June 30, 2024.
They’re not alone in their frustration. Just a couple of weeks later, Robert and Brenda Needleman joined the legal fray. Their story echoes the Scalas’: in 2019, they placed a $1.76 million deposit on a $5.8 million condo, expecting to move in by the same June 30 deadline. With no sign of completion in sight, they too want their money returned.