Henderson neighborhood faces condemnation or rapidly climbing HOA fees, officials search for solution

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Residents at Somerset Park are still unsure of their future after they were notified by the City of Henderson that the HOA has less than two weeks to get a broken water system fixed. If they don’t get it fixed their neighborhood could be condemned.

As leaking water continues to flow through Somerset Park, local officials told 8 News Now to search for a solution. They said it could come within a week, according to City of Henderson Councilwoman Carrie Cox and Assemblywoman Danielle Gallant. The assemblywoman also owns a unit in the neighborhood.

“Within the next seven days is our goal, and that is to be able to work with a company that will repair the problem, and they would carry the loan,” Cox said.

In the short term, the solution looks like a quick repair of the system. Down the line, the plan is to replace the system, with individual water meters for each townhome.

While the plan is for the construction company to do the repairs to handle the upfront costs, paying off the loan would eventually fall on the residents of Somerset Park.

“It’s either a special assessment that’s going to be like in the tens of thousands of dollars per home, or it’s going to be about $900 to $1,000 a month per unit,” Rick Martinez, Somerset Park resident said.

Martinez told 8 News Now that many of his neighbors are on fixed income or disability, and said the costs would price people out of their own homes.

Assemblywoman Gallant said she hoped individual water meters would offset the possibly increased HOA fees because right now, water costs are included in that monthly payment.

Regardless, it’s either pay for repairs or risk getting condemned.

“Sometimes we have to go through a little bit of a rough patch in order to get out on the other side, in order to salvage their life savings,” Gallant said.

In a statement, the City of Henderson told 8 News Now they are working with the residents affected by providing information and resources for housing and legal aid. They also put up safety barriers around the neighborhood.

The city also said if the HOA is unable to implement a repair plan, the city will consider any necessary and appropriate steps to protect the residents of Somerset Park and the city.

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