ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County commissioners voted Tuesday to begin a legal process that could ultimately lead to the sale and redevelopment of Tymber Skan on the Lake, the troubled condominium community where years of deteriorating conditions have left only eight of its original 49 buildings standing.
The Aug. 25 vote does not immediately authorize Orange County to sell or demolish the remaining Tymber Skan property. Instead, commissioners authorized the County Attorney’s Office to pursue judicial proceedings seeking the equitable termination of the condominium associations and related relief.
If the process moves forward, the county intends to seek a termination trustee to manage the eventual sale of the property.
The distinction is important for residents who still call Tymber Skan home and face uncertainty about what comes next.
Decades of deteriorating conditions
Built in 1974, Tymber Skan was originally a 63-acre complex containing 49 buildings and 321 condominium units near South Texas Avenue and South Rio Grande Avenue.
Orange County officials say the property has suffered from deteriorating structures and public safety problems for approximately two decades. Extensive demolition has reduced the development to eight remaining buildings.
County records say one of the few occupied buildings lacks water and wastewater service. Widespread illegal dumping also remains a problem.
Orange County owns approximately 38% of the condominium units and says it has invested more than $3.5 million in efforts to stabilize the property.
“The property is unsafe and presents a danger to those who live there,” Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings said following Tuesday’s vote. “We are committed to assisting the existing residents with resources for a smooth transition.”
What happens to Tymber Skan residents?
The future of the remaining residents has been one of the most consequential issues surrounding plans for Tymber Skan.
Orange County says its Citizen Resource and Outreach Division will work individually with affected households. Each household is expected to receive a dedicated case manager who will serve as a primary point of contact and connect residents with available assistance based on their circumstances.
The county has said the legal process could take years, potentially providing time to implement its resident assistance plan.
Residents have previously expressed concern about losing their homes and whether assistance would be enough to secure comparable housing.
Earlier in the process, some residents opposed plans that could eventually force them to leave. At a January 2025 commission meeting, resident Cynthia Claytor argued that if the county wanted her to move, assistance needed to go beyond referrals for services.
By July 2026, however, Claytor told commissioners that deteriorating conditions and mounting code violations had changed her assessment of whether the property could be saved.
Redevelopment could eventually follow
The county’s action does not determine what will ultimately replace Tymber Skan.
If the courts approve termination and the property is eventually sold, redevelopment could follow. That makes what happens to existing homeowners and residents—and what eventually replaces their community—issues likely to remain under scrutiny.
Demings said he hopes the process will lead to broader revitalization.
“My hope is that this action will be the beginning of a revitalization that brings not only physical improvements but also a safer and brighter future for all existing residents,” Demings said. “We will work together to ultimately transform the property into something better for our community.”
For the people who remain at Tymber Skan, however, Tuesday’s vote is the beginning of the process—not the end. The legal proceedings, resident assistance, potential property sale and any future redevelopment have yet to play out.
