Mountain of Woe at Summit Park

One of the key concerns of the Bankruptcy Court overseeing reorganization of the Baldwin Co. should be bringing relief to homeowners in the firm’s uncompleted condominium developments. When Baldwin, one of Orange County’s major developers, filed for bankruptcy last July, it had 20 projects underway. Half a dozen, including Summit Park, were in Anaheim Hills.

Buildings in Summit Park now stand unfinished; a community center and a pool have not been built. Especially pernicious has been quarreling among residents, who in better times might have become friends as well as neighbors. Instead, some grew so upset at a lack of maintenance and warranty work after the bankruptcy that they refused to pay monthly homeowner association dues. That, understandably, upset those who were paying.

Among the victims of Orange County’s own bankruptcy were small businesses that needed the money they were owed to stay alive. A private firm’s bankruptcy also can cause suffering to those at the end of the line in court. The court needs to act quickly to get money freed that will allow completion of Summit Park and help those living there.