After years of decay, crime, and half measures, Orange County commissioners on Tuesday signaled they are ready to clear out Tymber Skan on the Lake, the long-troubled condominium complex off South Texas Avenue. County staff laid out legal tools that would let the county knock down what is left, clear the titles, and eventually put the land up for sale for redevelopment.
The approach presented at the July 14 work session would allow the county to terminate the condominium associations, ask a court to appoint a receiver, and offer relocation help to people still living on the property while the transition unfolds. The packet was pitched as a request for direction, not a final vote, according to Orange County Legistar.
What remains at Tymber Skan
Built in the 1970s as a 49-building, roughly 321-unit complex, Tymber Skan has been stripped down to eight standing buildings and about 56 occupied units, according to county records and local reporting. Officials said the county now owns more than a third of those remaining units after earlier demolitions and title transfers, as reported by WFTV.
Safety, utilities and the toll on residents
A county code enforcement special magistrate has already labeled the remaining buildings a public safety threat, pointing to failing infrastructure, illegal dumping and nonworking fire hydrants. Some units have no running water at all, and the county has paid to demolish other buildings on the site and forgiven nearly 50,000 dollars in unpaid water bills during past efforts to stabilize the property. “Orange County is not in the business of preserving dilapidated, substandard housing that poses a threat to the life, safety and health of our residents,” Mayor Jerry Demings said, while some residents told commissioners the complex “needs to really be gone,” according to the Orlando Sentinel.
What residents face
Staff said the county intends to provide relocation assistance, temporary housing, and case management to current residents to avoid pushing people into long-term homelessness while the legal work plays out. Orange County has already poured in millions trying to keep the place afloat, including about 3.5 million dollars beyond an initial 2014 intervention for policing, cleanups, and resident services, according to community coverage by ClickOrlando.
Legal path and timeline
Staff cautioned that unwinding the condominium associations, clearing titles, and preparing the property for sale will be a complicated legal process that could take about two years under the plan presented to commissioners. The Board is expected to revisit those recommendations on August 25, 2026, based on the county’s meeting materials and reporting from Orange County Government.
Background
Tymber Skan opened in the early 1970s and took heavy damage from a trio of storms in 2004. Mismanagement, fires, and criminal activity in the years that followed sped up the decline and helped trigger earlier rounds of demolition. Orange County first stepped in more than a decade ago and has repeatedly tried to secure enough authority to address both the safety problems and the tangle of ownership on the site, according to county records and local reporting. The latest work session is the newest chapter in a multi-year debate over whether the complex can be saved or whether clearing it is the only realistic option left.
Commissioners stopped short of a final decision Tuesday. Instead, they told staff to refine the proposed strategies and bring back clearer options that balance public safety with the needs of remaining residents. The back-and-forth is expected to continue as staff prepares more detailed relocation plans and a timetable ahead of the August 25 meeting.
