Man is Only Occupant in 32-Story Condo Building

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - Victor Vangelakos, a Weehawken, N.J., firefighter and his family are the only occupants of a 32-story condo development when they visit their vacation home reports The Fort Myers (Fla.) News Press .

Vangelakos bought the $430,000 condo last year and closed in November 2008, but because he is the only buyer to have taken residence, he is trying to get out of the contract.

For those who put deposits down for a condo in the 32-story Tower 1 Oasis high-rise project in downtown Fort Myers, very few have actually closed on them. Most of them accepted deals with developer The Related Group to trade their unit in Tower 1 for a unit in Tower 2.

The Vangelakos family stayed at their condo over the holidays last year, and said that it was “very creepy” to be the only people in the building.

The developer has to maintain the building to some extent because they do have occupants; although Vangelakos says that he doesn’t get down to visit often.

Vangelakos said, “They're maintaining the pool, but they don't heat it. I only have the lights on my floor and I'm the only one there.”

He also says that the lighting fixtures on each floor along the walkways are beginning to attract birds that are building nests and leaving their droppings behind reports The News Press .

The situation is not ideal for either party, but neither is compromising and the matter has been brought to a circuit court in Miami where the developer is based.

John Ewing represents several Oasis buyers, including Vangelakos, and says that this is an unusual circumstance not just because Vangelakos is the only occupant in a high-rise, but also because most of the other buyers didn’t close.

The Related Group is willing to swap out Vangelakos’ condo in Tower 1 for one in Tower 2, but Vangelakos just wants out completely. The payments are tough and he doesn’t want to back down because he thinks he is in the right.