LAKE OF THE OZARKS, Mo. — Work on the eyesore known by some as the “Beirut Hilton” – Building 4 of the Majestic Pointe Condominiums – may soon be underway.
An uncompleted building in the project, located on Shawnee Bend 2 (Chimney Point Road) and at the 13 MM, has fallen into a state of disrepair and, according to realtors, has lowered values and kept them from selling neighboring properties. Debbie Richardson, a realtor with the Fran Campbell Team at RE/MAX Lake of the Ozarks and Chimney Point resident, described the unfinished project as a “blight on our community.”
“There is only the particle board on parts of it. Sections of the roof have blown off and I believe it has extensive mold from water. In general, it’s a mess,” she said.
“There is only the particle board on parts of it. Sections of the roof have blown off and I believe it has extensive mold from water. In general, it’s a mess,” realtor Fran Campbell said of Building 4 at the Majestic Condominiums.
However, although Dan Stegman, the owner of the project, could not be reached for comment, both real estate agent Helen Riggins, who is the listing agent for the project, and Robert Northcott, fire marshal for the Sunrise Beach Fire Protection District, said they were told reconstruction would soon begin on the dilapidated building. Riggins said in an earlier conversation with the developer, she was told he wanted to get started soon after the New Year begins.
Northcott said that several weeks ago, he met on site with the developer’s construction supervisor.
“We toured the building, looking for fire and safety code issues. Before work can start, he’ll have to get building permits. So far, no one has come in yet to apply for those, but from our conversation, I expect that to happen sometime in the next couple months. I believe they had some financial dealings they had to clear up before moving forward,” he said, adding that it is his understanding that the developer is going to do more than tear off the siding and replace the stucco. “I was told he also plans to remodel the building’s interior. If that’s the case, he’ll have to provide architects designs and stamped engineered drawings before he can move forward.”
Originally touted as a “luxury condominium development,” the original plan consisted of seven buildings with 220 units, ranging from 1,600 to 3,000 square feet. Building 5, which contained 24 units, was completed sometime around 2005, as was a pool, garages and boat docks.
Work on the eyesore known by some as the “Beirut Hilton” – Building 4 of the Majestic Pointe Condominiums – may soon be underway.
The units were sold and are currently occupied and operating as a separate entity. However, according to Northcott, only two units were completed inside the second building, which is 10 stories high, before the development failed, various contractors filed mechanic’s liens for work and materials provided by them, and the bank foreclosed on the property. Those units included a penthouse condominium, which sold for $1.6 million, and a bottom floor unit, which was to be used as a sales office.
“The owner at that time stopped paying the bills so the electric was shut off in the 10-story building, which meant the elevator was no longer operational. Because no electric also meant there was no heat in the building, the lines were drained, so the sprinkler system wouldn’t work. Because of those two issues, we couldn’t issue an occupancy permit so the people that bought that penthouse unit never got to live there,” Northcott said.
He also said because the previous owners had secured the building, which prevented youth from getting inside and possibly getting hurt, there was nothing they could do about the condition. Kim Wiley, Camden County’s Planning and Zoning administrator, also said she had no enforcement powers when it comes to requiring repairs on a building.
